Set up a device to awaken via a network connection using an internet link.
Set up a device to awaken via a network connection using an internet link.
Yes, you can set up remote wake-up using a router or a proxy that forwards traffic from your LAN to the internet, allowing the PC to receive commands without needing a public IP or another local machine.
Join your internal network via a VPN. Then link your remote device to that connection. When I refer to VPN, I mean a genuine Virtual Private Network, not a generic traffic routing service meant to obscure tracking. These standard public VPN options won’t work here.
You can also utilize free dynamic DNS services such as no-ip.com, which eliminates the need to remember or type your IP address. Running their agent will retrieve your IP and refresh it automatically. Many modern wireless routers provide VPN functionality as well. Your router might support dd-wrt or Tomato, offering both WOL capabilities and VPN protection. WOL appears to be a unique broadcast packet format that uses a MAC address instead of an IP, which is likely blocked by ISP gateways upon use. Consequently, it seems unlikely to implement WOL over a wide area network.
You're wondering if having a public IP or forwarded ports is necessary for connecting via VPN. While it helps, you can still use a VPN without it by setting up your router to route specific traffic through your ISP.
I'm not sure about the exact details you're referring to. Since I don't understand what WOL packets are being sent, let's consider a typical scenario. If you link to a VPN, your device will appear protected by its firewall. Sending a WOL packet from one location to another requires connecting to the same network or using secure methods like VPN or SSH. Avoid exposing your router or firewall to the public internet; instead, use remote connections to send the packet properly.
You must set up a VPN in a region with a public IP address, such as a VPS from DigitalOcean or AWS. Link your local network to that VPN and share your network with it. Once connected remotely, you’ll be able to reach your home network from outside.
Thanks! I plan to use a Raspberry Pi connected to the network to transmit the WOL. It looks like the simplest approach.
I faced the same problem as you did. I purchased a Mikrotik router and used DDNS from my ISP to connect through Winbox. From the router's interface, I send packets in my local network. RANT: of course Microsoft messed up WOL on Windows 10—it’s that.