@george1421 I was pretty close with my limited knowledge of this.
google-fu: router forward wol broadcast to different subnet
AI response
To forward Wake-on-LAN (WOL) broadcast packets across different subnets, you’ll generally need to configure your router to forward these packets, as they don’t inherently route like standard IP packets. This often involves enabling directed broadcasts or using a WOL proxy agent.
Here’s a breakdown of the process and some common methods:
Understanding the Challenge:
WOL relies on a “magic packet” sent at the Ethernet layer, not the IP layer.
Routers primarily handle IP traffic and don’t typically forward broadcast packets across subnets by default.
Methods for Forwarding WOL Packets:
Subnet Directed Broadcasts:
Configure the router to forward broadcast packets to a specific subnet.
This involves using the broadcast address of the target subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.255 for 192.168.1.0/24).
The router at the destination subnet needs to be configured to recognize and forward the WOL packet as a true broadcast.
This method allows you to target multiple subnets.
WOL Proxy Agent:
A WOL proxy agent acts as an intermediary, receiving WOL requests on one subnet and rebroadcasting them as a directed broadcast on the target subnet.This is often used for WOL over the internet or when directed broadcasts are not desired.
Using a Router with WOL Support:
Some routers, like those from CommScope, have native support for forwarding WOL packets.You may need to configure specific settings, like forwarding UDP port 9 (or 7) and using helper addresses.
Example Configuration (using Subnet Directed Broadcasts):
Identify the Target Subnet: Determine the IP address range of the subnet you want to wake up.
Find the Broadcast Address: Calculate the broadcast address for that subnet (e.g., for 192.168.1.0/24, it’s 192.168.1.255).
Configure the Router:
Configure a helper address on the router’s interface facing the WOL server, pointing to the target subnet’s broadcast address.
Ensure UDP port 9 (or 7) is included in the forwarding rules.
Send the WOL Packet: Send the magic packet to the target subnet’s broadcast address.