Wake on WAN is within my grasp (with your help)!

September 10, 2009 8:25 AM

I'm so close to getting Wake-on-WAN to work, I just need a little more help! Wake-on-LAN works...

Currently I can wake up my desktop from my laptop using this setup. But if I enter my external IP address instead of my internal (192.168.1.101), nothing happens. What am I doing wrong?

Also: is there any risk in showing my MAC address publicly? If so please hack me :-)

Desktop: Windows 7
Laptop: Win XP
Router: WRT54G

posted by bering to computers & internet (7 comments total)

The WOL packet isn't routable. It has to be on the same network segment.
posted by GuyZero at 8:32 AM on September 10

You need to set your router to forward UDP port 9 to the desired computer.
posted by kindall at 8:37 AM on September 10

Here's a collection of links :

http://forums.linksysbycisco.com/linksys/board/message?board.id=Wireless_Routers&thread.id=107410

http://geekswithblogs.net/twickers/archive/2007/02/21/106877.aspx

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,16398580

http://forums.remote-exploit.org/general-discussion/22147-wake-wan-troubles.html

That should help.
posted by PROD_TPSL at 8:40 AM on September 10

@kindall That's already set up, doesn't make a difference.

@PROD_TPSL I've seen some of those links before, but there is also some new information. Unexplored options there include setting up a VPN connection and using DD-WRT instead. Has anyone gotten Wake-on-WAN to work with DD-WRT?
posted by bering at 8:50 AM on September 10

Seems like the guys in this link (mentioned above) solved it by installing DD-WRT. I should probably try that then.
posted by bering at 9:05 AM on September 10

Bering, I would recommend doing just that. After all, these are consumer routers with consumer firmware. Basically they are built for light network loads and ultra simple configuration... for the general computing public.

For more specialized functionality... you really need a full featured firmware.
posted by PROD_TPSL at 9:18 AM on September 10

I have used the WOL with DD-WRT. It works on the laptops and a desktop, but oddly enough, it doesn't work with the server. I haven't gotten around to figuring out that issue.

If you use a solution like that, it would be wake-on-lan versus wake-on-wan since the packet is originating on the LAN segment.
posted by Climber at 10:06 AM on September 10