New remote 'Power On' command added

[Andy]

We've added a new experimental feature that allows you to power on a remote computer from the Tutor Control program. We added this function a while ago, but decided not to release it due to the technical difficulty in setting up the remote machines to accept the 'Wake Up' command.

A few users has now asked for this feature, but we are still a little apprehensive is releasing it. So we've added the feature, but under a special key command (Ctrl+P).

We would very much like to hear about your experiences with this feature. If it's a success then we will add it as a viable command to the program.

Thanks for your help.

Andy


[b]To test this function you must:[/b]

1: Update the Tutor and all client machines to version 3.8
2: Find and Connect to all clients once (This is so the client can inform the Tutor Control program about it's network card)
3: Make sure the remote computers are added to a Classroom Group. This is so the machine are added to the Tutor Controls list even when they are power off and not found by the normal network scan.
4: Make sure the remote client machines are configured to use the Wake-on-LAN function (See below for some pointers)
5: Power off the remote clients
6: Close and restart the Tutor program and select the Group that contained your remote machines.
7: The Computers will appear in the list with a status of 'Not found during network scan'
8: Highlight 1 or more machines and press Ctrl+P
9: A message box will be displayed informing you about this command. Press OK to send the Wake-up command.


Now the hard part!!

To use Wake on LAN technology you need a Wake on LAN network adapter, Wake on LAN enabled motherboard

[b]Requirements: [/b]
1: You must have an ATX 2.01 (or above)-compliant power supply, and an ATX motherboard with a WOL connector. (Most modern computers will have these)
2: You must have a WOL-compliant network card with a WOL connector.
3: Your BIOS must support WOL, and the WOL option in your BIOS setup must be enabled. If you don't see a WOL option, check the manufacturer of your motherboard for an updated BIOS.
4: Your network card drivers must also support WOL; check with your network card manufacturer for the latest drivers.

[b]Configuring your Network Card: [/b]
In order for WOL to work, your network card must go into "standby mode" when you power down your computer. If any of your network card's lights are still lit after you shut down, then it's configured properly, and you can skip the rest of this section. Otherwise, if none of the lights remain lit after powering down, you'll need to do the following.
1: Double-click the Network icon in Control Panel, or right-click on your Network Neighborhood icon and select Properties.
2: Select your WOL-compliant network adapter from the list, click Properties, and choose the Advanced tab.
3: Highlight NDIS Driver Version, and change it's value to NDIS 4 (the default setting is Auto Select). If either the Advanced tab or the NDIS Driver Version setting are missing, then you'll need to obtain more up-to-date drivers from the manufacturer of your network card.
4: Also in the Advanced tab, change the settings for Wake on Link and Wake on Magic Packet accordingly, if they're there.
5: When you're done, click Ok, and then Ok again. Confirm that you want to restart Windows when asked.
6: After restarting, shut down and check the light again. If it still doesn't work, contact from the manufacturer of your network card for support.

[weltym]

I updated my clients.
I found and connected to all machines.
I added the computers to a group.
I configured the client machines.
I shut down the machines with the program.
I started the machines with the program (worked well).
Tried this several times, success each time.
Then I closed the control program, started the control program again, tried to turn on the machines, but it did not work. I manually turned on the machines, connected, turned off and used the program to successfully turn on the machines. Worked several times.

Is this normal or can I do something to make it work even after closing and starting the control program up later?

[Andy]

Hello All

I'm just adding the comments sent to me by e-mail from a user who has tested the Wake-on-LAN feature. It all seems to work OK, but as I expected, you need a fair amount of technical know-how to make it function successfully.

The comments are from John Riezebos from Schoevers Opleidingen in Holland.

"Well, as promised, we have tested the WOL option in 3.8. On most modern machines it?s functioning just fine (Pentium IV, Dell standard pc?s) although you have to ?visit? the BIOS first, most of the times Remote wake up is Off. We also have some older Compaq Deskpro systems (Pentium II and III), and even with Remote wake up ?On? in BIOS it?s a matter of determining the capabilities of the Operating System, and especially the NIC-driver. The standard driver, issued by the installation of Win XP doesn?t always give the right options to set Wake Up Lan, i.e. by use of ?Magic Packets? and ?direct packets?. This we have conquered by downloading the latest NIC-drivers from the NIC-manufacturer, which then allows to give the proper settings for the NIC, and also is needed for the modern machines.

But it is a difficult task, and it?s so very Machine-dependent. There?s is no major rule which could describe in good terms so that everybody, regardless what machine-type, can get the Wake Up working properly. But when it functioning, it?s a job well done. I saw on the forum that not everybody could get it working properly. The main issue here is: check BIOS, check NIC-driver in Windows. That is a good start for the common settings to make WOL in AB Tutor functional. If I have some time left, I will place this comment on the forum as well, to help others."

[wilberforce]

Just tested the remote power on. Works successfully by following the instructions, but just make sure that WOL is set in both the BIOS and the software driver (magic packets). Great feature!