Wake-On-LAN

What Does Wake-On-LAN Mean?

Wake-on-LAN (WoL) is a particular function that allows a computer or workstation to be powered up from a low-power state by a message from another part of a local area network. Companies and other entities may use Wake-on-LAN to conserve power in networked computing.

Advertisements

Techopedia Explains Wake-On-LAN

Using Wake-on-LAN, administrators can provide for computers to be working remotely through Ethernet or wireless cards. The Wake-on-LAN signal can come from a computer or device on the same LAN or from somewhere on a different network, through subnet directed broadcasts or through a Wake-on-LAN Gateway service.

In Wake-on-LAN, a sleeping computer is looking for a ‘magic packet’ sent to the entire network with its particular MAC address contained. This will provide the signal for that computer to essentially boot itself up from a sleeping or hibernating state. Developers can use BIOS to enable Wake-on-LAN.

Advertisements

Related Terms

Latest Networking Terms

Related Reading

Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…