Wake-on-LAN is a features that allows you to remotely start your computer by sending magic network packets to the LAN interface, but it requires support from your motherboard. So Ben Wang, an Australian high-school student, decided to make his own little board called RemoteBoot to power off and reboot computers that do not support the feature, or even access the serial console on embedded boards.
The board is pretty basic and includes an ESP8266 module:
- ESP12-E WiFi module
- 2x digital switching outputs for power and reset buttons
- 2x digital protected inputs for power and activity LEDs
- 3x extra general purpose inputs/outputs broken out
- Tx/Rx for serial console
There’s also a feature disabled by default, where a watchdog monitor the activity LED, and automatically reboots the computer after a user-defined timeout.
Everything will be control via a simple web interface, and if you have multiple RemoteBoot devices, access to Remoteboot Cloud will allow managing all these devices individually. Documentation for the board, e.g. how to install it, and source code are currently nowhere to be found.
RemoteBoot is now on Kickstarter, and already funded, but it has not exactly been optimized for cost, as you’ll need to pledge $25, plus $5 shipping to get the device in April 2016.
Via Phoronix
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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