Hidden computers and power.

[synaesthesia]

Righto, this should tickle some brain cells. It should be tittled "Hidden computer, crouching technician".

 

We have a suite of machines that are well hidden out of the reach of anyone - including us without getting rather dirty!

So, they have PS/2 (via USB adapters) keyboards with a power on shortcut set in the BIOS, as well as Impero (usually) being able to turn them on remotely.

Both work fine under normal circumstances, but ONLY if the machine has been turned off normally. If they get turned off at the mains/plug pulled, then neither works and we need to get dirty to turn them on.

 

Changing power is not an option (i.e. moving trunking or removing switches).

 

We've had a hunt in the bios and none of the settings appear to help this issue (including restore power from AC loss etc)

 

Our next option is to grab a load of bits from Maplin and jerry-rig us some power switches that are accessible, hard wired to the motherboard but that's messy and time consuming.

Any other suitable suggestions?

Edited April 30, 2013 by synaesthesia

[sted]

a shaped stick that can be used to push the switch

[JJonas]

Wake on Lan?

[Meldrew]

We've found that the switch on after power loss option works great for us - have you checked if there is a BIOS update that makes this work more reliably?

 

Meldrew

[X-13]

Move the computers...

[JJonas]

New ICT Detention task or would it count as a cruel and unusual punishment?

 

We have a suite of machines that are well hidden out of the reach of anyone - including us without getting rather dirty!

 

 

next question: Why?

Edited April 30, 2013 by JJonas

[Gaz]

Is the NIC not coming back on when power is restored? Perhaps a BIOS update is in order? Could there be an issue with using USB adapters?

[bwestlake]

this isn't going to help the issue but have you got any pictures of them?

[synaesthesia]

Not got pictures to hand sorry (did take some but my phone memory card failed afterwards).

 

WOL isn't working properly after the loss of mains. Will probably try a BIOS update actually, oddly didn't think of that. Adapters could be related but we've got one machine that still does it with a dedicated PS2 keyboard. A telling sign is that the light on the USB desk-hub things we have (3 usb ports, headphone/mic jacks and card reader that fit in a standard desk-port) doesn't come on. When the machine is shut down gracefully it remains on.

 

Will try a bios update when we get the chance I think.

[rad]

Some pcs can be turned on by pressing space bar, can this be configured on these?

[synaesthesia]

That's bios dependant. This particular bios offers a choice of a few hotkeys, we use ctrl & esc. The issue is that doesn't work when the machines have lost power from mains.