Set Wake-on-LAN remotely

[edcirh]

I've a sneaking suspicion that the answers I get for this will include lots of s but here goes...

Is there a way I can set each machine's BIOS to enable wake-on-lan via some sort of batch-file/script/whatever, so that I don't have to visit each of 180+ machines in 80+ different rooms individually?

We've not had our budget set for this year yet, so I'd prefer freeware if possible. Many thanks.

[srochford]

It depends on the make of PC but for most modern PCs the answer is yes. HP and Dell both have utilities to allow you to make BIOS settings remotely; the HP is easy to use, the Dell less so.

If the machines have vPro or AMT stickers on then you've got complete remote management facilities (and a replacement for WoL if you want it) otherwise look for terms like "SMBios" (System Management BIOS I think!) and a utility to go with it.

Even if the answer was "no" I wouldn't expect anyone laughing at you - the question you're asking is absolutely spot-on in terms of common sense. Anything which requires you to go and "touch" hundreds of machines is a bad idea so looking for a way to automate that is totally sensible!