I’m running an old server at home, an IBM system x3400 m3, rocking two x5675 intel processors.

I currently have Windows Pro (NOT Server) installed on it and connected to it remotely through Parsec (opened a port on my router). I’ve tried using duckDNS to associate my IP with a domain, and got the service running on my server to automatically refresh the IP.

This server is my primary rig, used for gaming but also to host my family’s photos through Plex and backup photos from phones through Resilio file Sync.

However, the server doesn’t have the best power consumption, so I’d like to use WoL to remotely turn it on. I’ve enabled it in the BIOS, have checked the drivers to enable it, and tried using TeamViewer to use Wake on Lan, but it doesn’t seem to work.

Any suggestions on how to remotely turn it on? (the server also has KVM I think, or at least an apparently useless network port, tho I’m not exactly sure what that does)

  • @drudoo
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    1411 months ago

    What I do is using OliveTin behind a reverse proxy (traefik with auth) on a Pi. I then have a button in olivetin that sends WoL commands through local network to turn in my ‘big’ server. You can probably run it without issues on a Pi0.

    Alternatively, if you have a VPN to your home network, is using an app on your phone to send WoL commands when connected to the VPN. I have tested with both ‘Magic Packet’ and ‘Net Status’ on iOS through WireGuard.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      111 months ago

      I like your funny words magic man. Now more seriously, how could I create a VPN to my home network without having an additional computer to spare? Could I use a router for that? (Currently using the crappy ISP provided one just as a modem and using Google stuff to handle WIFi. To get wired to my server I use one of those Powerline things that is connected to the ISP stuff)

      • grahamsz
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        511 months ago

        I run a wireguard service on my Unifi Edgerouter and it works pretty well for that situations. I can also (in theory) send WOL packets from home assistant but i’ve never tried.

      • @drudoo
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        311 months ago

        Some routers can act as a VPN, but I don’t think an ISP provided one can.

        I would suggest you get a raspberry pi zero W or equivalent(like orange pi zero) and setup a WireGuard server on that. It’s only like $15.

        That way you can vpn to your network and access devices / services without opening any additional ports.

      • @[email protected]
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        11 months ago

        Yes, your router can likely act as a VPN server, but I would definitely have a hardware firewall if you’re going to be exposing ports to the public internet.

        Also, a wifi adapter for the server is going to be better than a powerline adapter. What I did for my home lab was bought some cheap Netgear routers and turned them to bridge mode and hooked all 4 ports from the server to the router.