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I have a low-end laptop always turned on whose only purpose is to initiate Wake-on-LAN for a second (primary) computer on the same local network, so I can work via remote desktop on this second computer.
Wake-on-LAN is set up and works perfectly by accessing the low-end laptop over the internet to turn on the primary computer - but only when the primary computer shuts off without error. When the primary computer crashes, WOL fails.
I would be grateful if someone knows how to resolve this problem.
Dan Nissenbaum
Posted 2011-11-25T05:06:37.127
Reputation: 522
Thanks - I do not believe I have a BMC card. Do you know if it is usually possible to install one? - I should note that my primary machine is a Clevo X7200 desktop-replacement system with an X58 motherboard and a desktop i7 970 CPU - but in a (very large) laptop case (~13 pounds). – Dan Nissenbaum – 2011-11-25T06:39:41.267
Also - do you know of another way to determine if the machine has a BMC card? There are very few messages at bootup. – Dan Nissenbaum – 2011-11-25T06:48:29.537
If you're using an old stand-alone NIC, it may have a few pins that you can connect to your motherboard to trigger the power button. The more recent ones can do this directly over PCI, so they tend to omit the pins. Search ebay if you really need the feature, but it is generally much more useful to just make your computer reboot after a bluescreen. It's an option in the computer's properties panel. – billc.cn – 2011-11-25T08:50:00.843
I'm afraid I can't find the "reboot computer after bluescreen" option in the Computer->Properties window. – Dan Nissenbaum – 2011-11-25T14:40:04.933
Also - for the "trigger the power button" feature, what would I search for on eBay? – Dan Nissenbaum – 2011-11-25T14:45:27.730
BMC cards are usually installed on servers, sometimes on high end workstations. What you can find on ebay is a "Power Distribution Unit" ( PDU ) manageable via a web interface. Search "switched pdu" and read carefully the specs before buying it since sonce model only give you the wattage but do not allow you to control each socket. – Olivier S – 2011-11-25T19:45:27.620
I have posted a follow-up question (http://superuser.com/questions/361483/how-to-force-restart-a-pc-with-vpro-technology), related to a possible new computer which I might purchase which may support a similar technology (vPro), because it has become clear to me from this answer+comments that my current computer will under no circumstances support hardware- or software-based force-restart. Thank you, all.
– Dan Nissenbaum – 2011-11-25T21:05:28.717