Remotely wake computers using Wake-on-LAN
Wake-on-LAN (WoL) lets you power on computers remotely when they are turned off or in a low-power state, as long as they meet the prerequisites.
You can start WoL from the My Computers menu in the Technician Console or from the Devices section in the Admin Area.
The Technician Console and Admin Area do not send or broadcast WoL packets. They only trigger a WoL broadcast from an online device on the same local network as the target device.
How Wake-on-LAN works in Take Control
WoL uses a special network packet called a magic packet, which contains the MAC address of the device to be powered on. When a compatible network interface receives a magic packet that matches its MAC address, the device powers on.
To wake a device located on a remote network:
- At least one Take Control agent must be online on the same local network as the target device.
- The technician selects this online agent in the UI to perform the WoL action.
When WoL is started, the agent broadcasts the magic packet. If the target device and network infrastructure support WoL, the device powers on.
The Take Control infrastructure coordinates the request between the UI and the selected agent, but the broadcast of the magic packet always occurs in the agent’s local network, not from the Technician Console or Admin Area.
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