Wake-on-LAN (WoL): An effective solution for unrestrained remoting

Wake on LAN capabilities enable you to turn on computers remotely all across the world, without any onsite assistance. Whether you are offering technical support to customers or managing a company IT system, the freedom this feature affords ensures a smoother service for your business. Implementing critical updates can take some time and has the potential to disrupt regular work patterns severely. However, a WoL tool allows you to log into machines at your convenience to avoid disrupting employee workflows and run important updates during low activity periods. Should any problems occur within the system, Wake-on-LAN can be used to turn on a PC remotely in order to address the issue without any delay.

Wake on LAN is a protocol made possible by the sending of so-called magic packets from a client to a remote device. These packets are able to locate the specific computer you intend to wake using its network card’s MAC address (a media access control address). The only requirement for operating Wake-on-LAN over the internet is that the remote device is connected to a power source and is connected to the internet via a network cable. This way, most modern PCs are able to keep their Ethernet card on an alert for arriving packets while in a low power state, or even powered off. A large majority of PCs support Wake-on-LAN, even if it is not necessarily advertised.

TeamViewer’s ability to power on a device located anywhere is a particularly useful feature for IT admins, remote workers, and technical support staff alike. When paired with remote desktop functionality, WoL is made even more powerful, allowing not only unlimited access to unattended devices but full immersive control of them too. This all-in-one service ensures companies can offer the highest level of technical support with the least disruption to business operations. This powerful combination allows IT experts to control a remote device with the touch of a button, or even from a smartphone app.

Wake on LAN is a cross-compatible protocol that can be used with TeamViewer on Windows, Windows 10, macOS and Linux devices. This versatility ensures that any technical support offered using WoL is consistent across machines; no matter your customers’ or clients’ preferred operating systems, you can move seamlessly between them. The initial set up process may vary slightly depending on the operating system you use, but each requires only a few simple steps to get started. In addition, TeamViewer lets you wake a computer remotely from your smartphone or tablet, so that even when on the go and following a busy schedule, nothing can stop you from being connected.

The Wake-on-LAN tool offers companies great flexibility and peace of mind: whenever a remote computer unexpectedly enters sleep mode, you can have absolute confidence that you will still be able to connect to it. This means that projects run on time and there are fewer unforeseen obstacles. Furthermore, the Wake-on-LAN utility enables you to make significant cost savings. With the ability to quickly power machines on and off, you can drastically reduce electricity usage by ensuring computers are completely shut down when not in use.

The WoL settings for all of the devices on a network can be centrally managed with TeamViewer, so the process is simple to carry out. Wake-on-LAN also ensures that fewer people are required to fulfil tasks: computers can be completely unattended before you connect, meaning no member of staff needs to be onsite to interact with the device for you.

Configure the BIOS

To activate Wake-on-LAN in the BIOS, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer.
2. Press the F2 key (or the equivalent) to access the BIOS set-up. > The BIOS set-up will open.
3. Open the Power tab.
4. Activate the Wake-on-LAN option.
5. Save and exit the BIOS set-up.

Note: If there is no option to activate Wake-on-LAN in the BIOS, check the manual of the
motherboard to make sure that it supports Wake-on-LAN.

Configure the network card

The computer’s network card must be configured in such a way that it is supplied with power at all times. It may be necessary to adjust the properties of the network card for this purpose.

Note: Administrative rights are required for this process.

Note: Configuration of the network card can vary depending on the type of network card and operating system version.

To activate Wake-on-LAN for the network card under Windows, follow these steps:

1.  Start the computer.
2. Open the Settings.
3. Click Devices.
4. Under Related settings, click the Device Manager link.
   > The Device Manager window will open.
5. Under Network adapters, choose the Properties option in the context menu (right click) of the network card.
   > The Properties of dialog will open.
6. Open the Power Management tab.
7. Activate the Allow this device to wake the computer option.
8. The network card now supports Wake-on-LAN.

Note: If the option described in Step 7 is not activated, you must first activate the Allow the computer to turn off the device to save power option.

The computer’s network card must be configured in such a way that it is supplied with power at all times. It may be necessary to adjust the properties of the network card for this purpose.

Configure the network card

To activate Wake-on-LAN for the network card under Mac OS X, follow these steps:

1. Start the Mac.
2. Open the System Settings.
   > The System Settings window will open.
3. Click Save Energy.
4. Click the Power Supply tab.
5. Activate the Wake for Wi-Fi network access option.
6. The network card now supports Wake-on-LAN.

Assign the computer to your TeamViewer account

In order to guarantee that the computer cannot be wakened by an unauthorized person, it must be ensured that the computer really belongs to you. You must therefore assign the computer to your TeamViewer account. Only the TeamViewer account linked with the computer can wake it up.

Note: If the computer (that is to be wakened) is in a shared group, all TeamViewer accounts with which the group is shared can wake up this computer.

To assign the computer to your TeamViewer account, follow these steps:

1. Start TeamViewer on the computer.
2. In the main menu, click Extras | Options.
   > The TeamViewer settings dialog box will open.
3.  Select the category General.
4. Under Account assignment, click the Assign to account… button.
   > The Assign to account dialog box will open.
5. Enter the email address of your TeamViewer account in the E-mail text field.
6. Enter the password of your TeamViewer account in the Password text field.
7. Click the Assign button.
8. You have assigned the computer to your TeamViewer account.

Wake-on-LAN via a TeamViewer ID in the network

If the computer does not have a public address, you can also wake it up using another computer in its network. The other computer must be turned on and TeamViewer must be installed and configured for starting with Windows.

If this is the case, you can activate Wake-on-LAN via the network in the TeamViewer options. Afterwards, enter the TeamViewer ID of the computer via which you intend to wake up the computer. The signal to wake up is then sent from your computer to the computer that is to be wakened via the defined computer.

To activate TeamViewer Wake-on-LAN via a TeamViewer ID, follow these steps:

1. Start TeamViewer on the computer.
2. In the main menu, click Extras | Options.
   > The TeamViewer settings dialog box will open.
3. Select the category General.
4. Under Network settings | Wake-on-LAN, click the Configure… button.
   > The Wake-on-LAN dialog will open.
5. Click the TeamViewer IDs within your network option button.
6. In the TeamViewer ID field, enter the TeamViewer ID in your network via which the signal to wake up is to be sent and then click the Add… button.
7. Click the OK button.
8. The computer can now be wakened via the saved TeamViewer ID.