Introduction

After enabling the Wake on LAN on the BIOS the OS must be informed to enable it before the shutdown otherwise the machine will not turn on even if everything else is done properly.

GNU/Linux

To check if the NIC supports the WOL then ethtool can be used:

# ethtool eth0
Settings for eth0:
        ....
	Supports Wake-on: pumbg
	Wake-on: d
        ....

If Supports Wake-on contains g then the WOL by magic-packet can be used:

# ethtool -s eth0 wol g
# ethtool eth0
Settings for eth0:
        ....
	Wake-on: g
        ....

The command must be executed before each shutdown.

Microsoft Windows

On major Microsoft Windows OS the WOL is enabled by default so in a general way nothing to be done is needed.

If the machine still doesn't boot then you should check if the OS has the WOL enabled with the magic-packet.

The following specifications can be different, they depends on the driver.

Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/2003

Microsoft Windows Vista/7/2008