What is a Wake-on-LAN tool?

A Wake-On-LAN tool, therefore, is a network administration tool that is used to wake machines on a local area network (LAN) by sending the WoL protocol or “magic packet” to select machines that have the Wake-On-LAN feature enabled in their BIOS configurations. Of course, as we are just about to see, the Network Interface Card (NIC) should also support the feature and have it enabled.

See also: The Best LAN Monitors

Here is our list of the best Wake-on-LAN tools:

  • SolarWinds Wake-on-LAN with Engineer’s Toolset EDITOR’S CHOICE Generates magic packets for waking remote network-connected computers from sleep or hibernate mode. One of 60 networking tools in the set.
  • ManageEngine OpUtils (FREE TRIAL) A collection of network management utilities that includes a Wake-on-LAN function. Installs on Windows Server and Linux.
  • ManageEngine Remote Access Plus (FREE TRIAL) This remote connection manager for IT support teams provides remote access and remote control and includes a Wake-on-LAN function in its toolkit. Offered as a SaaS package or for installation on Windows Server.
  • Aquila Technology Wake-on-LAN Provides access to the WoL feature in an intuitive GUI which lists network-connected PCs and status by MAC address.
  • EMCO WakeOnLan Good for network discovery can detect computers in domains and workgroups by performing a comprehensive network scan.
  • NirSoft WakeMeOnLan Can scan sections of a network and detect computers with WoL feature enabled and display MAC and IP addresses.
  • Wake on LAN X Includes batch reboot capabilities which is great for working with updates.

Meanwhile, the magic packet is a simple, light broadcast frame that holds in its payload of 102B: 6 bytes of all-255 subnet mask (FF FF FF FF FF FF in hexadecimal) and the target computer’s 48-bit MAC address repeated sixteen times.

The above image is a diagram representation of a WoL Magic Packet being sent from 192.168.2.26 to 255.255.255.255:9

Setting up Wake-on-LAN on a PC

Let’s take a look at how you can enable WoL on a PC computer and make it available for remote booting:

  • Enter the BIOS – sometimes known as the setup menu – using the method that is specific to your computer.

  • Enable WoL– you will probably have to dig a little deeper to find the exact sub-menu that holds the options (it is usually under advanced power options and the default setting is “Disabled”).

  • Next, enable the NIC’s remote awake options – go to the Device Manager, expand “Network Adapters,” right-click on your NIC, go to Properties, click on the “Advanced” tab, and enable “Wake on Magic Packet”.

  • The OS should also be configured to only allow WoL – On the “Power Management” tab enable “Allow this device to wake the computer” and “Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer.”

And that’s it; your PC is now ready to accept WoL packets and power on or off depending on the instructions. Don’t forget, the settings on MAC or Linux machines are a bit different from what we have seen here. And also, remember to enable broadcast packet handling on your routers.

NOTE: You can install a third-party WoL packet sniffer on your computers to keep track of WoL packets.

Why would you need Wake-on-LAN tools?

Here are two scenarios that would require the services of a WoL tool:

  • Perhaps, you can’t come into the office, but need some data from your computer; the easiest way around this issue would be to turn it on using a WoL tool, and then access it remotely.
  • Administrators can work on a computer or server that is in other location as if they were next to it – even if they were on another continent.

All it takes in both instances is to wake the computers up with a few clicks on a good WoL tool.

So, what are the best Wake-on-LAN tools?

Below, we have the 5 tools we have found to be the best-in-class WoL tools that are effective, easy-to-use, and have a light footprint.

1. SolarWinds Wake-on-LAN with Engineer’s Toolset (FREE TRIAL)

SolarWinds Wake-on-LAN is one of the most popular WoL tools out there and is constantly given great reviews by satisfied network administrators. Perhaps what makes it appealing to most of its fans is the fact that it delivers on what it is supposed to do – remotely power on a networked PC; no muss, no fuss.

Key Features:

  • Part of a suite of network tools
  • Runs on Windows Server
  • Easy to use
  • Send magic packet to IP address or MAC address
  • Operates on both local and remote devices

But, one thing is for sure, the tool takes its job seriously: it sends out multiple WoL packets – at intervals – to make sure they reach their destination. This can be appreciated on larger networks or those with high traffic where the administrator can even create batch files that automate the job.

SolarWinds Wake-On-LAN is a pleasant tool to use with an easy-to-navigate interface that can be used to control the computers that are on the same LAN as the administrator’s computer. It can work as well as remote ones that can be accessed remotely – even over the Internet.

This WoL tool can be downloaded as part of SolarWinds powerful premium suite of tools: the Engineer’s Toolset and is available on a 14-day free trial for download and evaluation.

Pros:

  • Easy to use, quickly sends out multiple WoL requests to multiple machines
  • Includes a suite of other helpful tools, specifically designed for network administrators and on-site technicians
  • Can be set to send Wake on LAN packet at scheduled times and at specific intervals
  • Can help verify DNS and DHCP functionality for different devices
  • Can easily export or import results from previous scans

Cons:

  • Could benefit from a longer 30-day trial time

2. ManageEngine OpUtils (FREE TRIAL)

EDITOR’S CHOICE

SolarWinds Wake-on-LAN is our top pick for a Wake-on-LAN tool because it is lightweight and easy to use. This no-fuss utility gets the job done. It can send a magic packet to a device on a local network or to a remote device across the internet. The tool is part of a bundle of utilities, called the Engineer’s Toolset that provides a library of network monitoring and management utilities, so you have utilities to use on that device that you just turned on.

Download: Get a 14-day free trial

Official Site: https://www.solarwinds.com/engineers-toolset/registration

OS: Windows Server

ManageEngine OpUtils is a bundle that includes an IP address manager, a switch port mapper, and other useful network management tools. One of those other tools is a Wake-on-LAN utility.

  • A secure WOL
  • Local and remote action
  • Part of a network and server monitor
  • Scheduling

The ManageEngine Wake-on-LAN system is a lot more secure than typical WOL implementations. The service is able to startup endpoints that are fully turned off, as long as they are plugged into a power supply. The WOL message can be sent to specific machines, to groups of endpoints, or the entire network, turning everything on.

The ManageEngine Wake-on-LAN records each remote WOL action. The command can also be issued on a schedule. The OpUtils interface will automatically scan the network and list all the devices on the network, showing the MAC address for each. This enables the network manager to monitor the actions performed on all equipment without forgetting to register some of the devices.

The ManageEngine OpUtils package installs on Windows Server and Linux. ManageEngine offers the package on a 30-day free trial.

  • Offers a suite of tools that provide WoL, IP address management, and physical switch port mapping

  • WoL commands can be sent to specific groups at certain times and scheduled for certain days

  • Identifies new machines via autodiscovery, great for larger deployments

  • Available for both Windows server as well as Linux

  • The tool is designed for sysadmin, home users will likely find the tool complicated

ManageEngine OpUtils Download 30-day FREE Trial

3. ManageEngine Remote Access Plus (FREE TRIAL)

ManageEngine Remote Access Plus is a package for IT support teams that provides WoL and remote shutdown utilities as part of its remote device access facilities. This system allows a fleet of devices to be accessed on a regular basis both for unattended access and for remote desktop control during an attended support session.

  • WoL and remote shutdown
  • Stores connection settings
  • Includes system health checks

The Remote Access Plus system allows a technician to turn a computer on for maintenance with WoL. Whether the remote device needs to be turned on or if it is already up, Remote Access Plus will scan the computer and provide a status summary to the technician. The interface also provides troubleshooting tools and a file transfer utility.

Remote control sessions are supported with a chat panel that includes options for voice and video chat. This mode gives the technician a full view of the remote desktop.

Remote Access Plus is a cloud-hosted SaaS package but you can opt to download the software and run it on Windows Server. There is a Free edition that enables the regular support of 10 computers and the two paid versions can be accessed on a 30-day trial.

  • Remote access and remote desktop

  • Troubleshooting tools for manual investigations

  • Voice and video chat for communicating with the user during a support session

  • Doesn’t include a ticketing system

ManageEngine Remote Access Plus Download 30-day FREE Trial

4. Aquila Technology Wake on LAN

From Aquila Technology we get a WoL tool that is rich with features that can really help administrators by, for example, pinging computers and performing remote desktop access, and emergency shutdowns.

  • Easy-to-use console
  • Device discovery
  • Emergency shutdown

With the help of its simple GUI, administrators can also send out WoL packets to MAC addresses via broadcast IP or to a fully qualified domain name. The reply received can then help discover and add computers to the tool’s directory, and it can also listen for WoL packages – meaning there is no need for additional software to keep track of the packages.

The configuration can be exported and stored offline for future use, while Aquila’s event logs can help with troubleshooting issues.

Aquila’s WoL allows both CLI (Command Line Interface) and GUI interfaces and can be used on both DHCP and static IP address networks, and can even be used to shutdown Linux machines.

  • A simple user interface displays each machine and its state

  • Offers WoL support along with basic troubleshooting features like ping and remote shutdown

  • Customizations can be saved and exported, making reinstalling the tool a painless process

  • Not designed for large-scale networks

  • The interface doesn’t scale well with a larger number of machines

5. EMCO WakeOnLan

Although EMCO offers free and premium versions of their WoL tool, the former one won’t disappoint administrators. As a matter of fact, this tool was purposely designed to be a heavy-duty tool aimed at larger or corporate networks with heavy traffic flow through.

  • Free version
  • Scheduled
  • Wake up multiple devices simultaneously

A unique selling point for the EMCO WoL is that network administrators can wake up multiple remote computers at once and on a schedule; this saves time.

You can use the network scanning tool to detect computers in domains and workgroups. Once found, it can find their MAC addresses using one of four methods – Neighbor Discovery (ND), NetBIOS, WinAPI or WMI.

Another exceptional feature this tool brings to the table is its ability to monitor networks in real-time and its well-describing email alerts. And that’s not even considering its web-based reporting API and security event correlations.

  • Features a free and paid version

  • Designed to manage a large number of devices

  • Uses multiple scanning protocols to find machines, workgroups, and domains

  • The interface can get cluttered quickly, a simpler home view would be a welcomed change

  • Somewhatovercomplicated for smaller networks

6. NirSoft WakeMeOnLan

With NirSoft’s WoL, administrators have the power to choose what section – or subnet – of a network they want to scan and then work with. This is because the tool allows for ranges of IP addresses to be set before scanning begins.

  • IP scanner
  • WoL function
  • Free to use

Once done, the result of the scanned network can then be saved in a list that holds relevant information like MAC and IP addresses. It is with the help of this list that the tool sends out WoL packets the next time its services are required – all it takes to wake computers up is a click of a button. Of course, there’s also the option of running it from a CLI.

NirSoft makes sure it regularly updates its tool which is available for Windows 8 and Windows 10 and is also absolutely free.

  • A simple tool, very easy to use

  • Lightweight – uses almost no system resources

  • Provides extra information such as hostname, MAC actress, as well as the current status

  • Can run the program via CLI

  • Lacks graphical reporting or visualization features

  • Not the best option for larger networks

  • Enterprise networks may find NirSoft features lacking

7. WakeOnLANx

WakeOnLANx is a tool designed with administrators in mind and is quite a robust suite of features that let you perform tasks like turning PCs on or off, and even reboot them in batches if need be.

  • Local and remote
  • Scheduled activity
  • Bulk actions

This is a WoL tool that can be run using GUI and CLI modes which can easily be configured for better performance and in-depth results.

A unique feature that comes with courtesy of this tool is that it can tell administrators the last time a computer was booted. If that doesn’t impress you, how about the fact that it can tell how much disk space is available on a computer and also what system services on it have been set to “Automatic” or are simply idle.

Still not impressed? Well, how about the fact that it can be used for remote access? All this, for free, and you get the picture of why it is on this list.

Although we promised to give you five of the best Wake-On-LAN tools, we have a couple more “goodies” for you:

  • Available as a CLI tool as well as standard GUI

  • Provides stats such as hostname, current status, MAC address, and last boot time

  • Can send remote commands to reboot, calculate free space, and run ping checks

  • Lacks graphical reporting or visualization features

  • Larger networks will find it hard to view all machines on the GUI

  • The interface can take time to get used to, needs improvement around the toolbar area

Best CLI WoL

For those of us who prefer to do things by solely using command-line interfaces we have:

  • MatCode MC-WOL – this one is for administrators who want a no-nonsense WoL tool that can turn PCs on even if they are on the same or different LAN segments.
  • Gammadyne WOL – this WoL tool can be used on computers that require passwords before they can be switched on and can be accessed via a specific port.

Wake-on-LAN from your smartphone

Apart from using a computer or laptop to send out WoL packets, administrators can also use their phones to control the machines on their network. The following video will demonstrate how that is possible while also showing how to configure a computer to work with WoL packets.

Things you need to take into consideration with the best Wake-on-LAN tools

Before we leave you with our choice of the best Wake-on-LAN tools, let’s go over some important points to consider before you start using them:

  • A WoL packet is uniquely “addressed” to each computer and can only wake a single machine. The payload of the packet is deliberately kept light with brief instructions so it can be easily executed by the circuitry present on the NIC – which usually runs on minimal power requirements. This means you may need to send out more than one packet to ensure it is delivered and executed.
  • The minimum requirement for sending a WoL packet is the target MAC address. In fact, IP addresses and DNS names aren’t as important as the packet operates at a level that is independent of protocol layers.
  • Since the WoL packet is basically a UDP packet there are no delivery confirmations sent back after delivery; in fact, there is no guarantee that the packet is delivered at all. This, therefore, requires multiple packets (with the help of batch files) to be sent out to ensure that the target computer is indeed up – by, perhaps, using the ping command.
  • WoL magic packets are broadcast packets (due to the ‘FFFFFFFFFFFF’ node number) which are usually frowned upon a LAN. In larger, routed networks, it is, therefore, configurations that need to be made to allow UDP packets to cross over routers and wake computers in other segments.

Once these points have been taken into consideration, it is just a matter of choosing any one of the best Wake-on-LAN tools listed above and implementing it.