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13.4

Troubleshooting Network Problems



13.4.6

Wake-on-LAN





Some network interface cards support a
technology known as Wake-On-LAN (WOL). The purpose of WOL
technology is to enable a network administrator to power up a computer
by sending a signal to the NIC with WOL technology. The signal is
called a magic packet. When the magic packet is received by the
NIC, it will power up the computer in which it is installed. When
fully powered up, the remote computer can be accessed through normal
remote diagnostic software. The WOL technology also enables a computer
to power up so that it can have the data on its hard disk drives
backed up to tape over the network.
In the Windows NT Server 4 NT Diagnostics, for example, it is
possible to see information from a select computer. If the computer
that being examined using NT Diagnostics is not powered up, however,
the examination cannot be performed. If that computer has a NIC with
WOL technology, it can be powered up remotely by sending the WOL magic
packet to that NIC. After the computer is powered up, it is possible
to run NT Diagnostics on that computer.