Re: timed pc power up and down

[kimble <kim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

seniorsimon wrote:

> Is there a way to configure a pc to either power off, hibernate or
> standby at certain times, then turn itself back on at other times.
> Obviously I could just use a time switch on the psu, but I need the
> pc to shut down first rather than just kill the power.

I assume you're talking Windows, as this is a real no-brainer under a
unix OS[0].  I believe there is a command line that causes a windows box
to shut down, which I expect you could set up as a scheduled task.

For switching back on, if you're lucky there will be a boot-at-time
option in the BIOS.  Failing that, if there is a boot-on-mains-on you
could simply use a plug-in timer to cycle power when you want it to
start up (it should already be shut down by the scheduled task).
Alternatively, you could use wake-on-LAN to start it up (automatically)
from another machine[1].  If none of those are an option you'll probably
have to do something in hardware, or train a monkey[2] to press the
power button at the appropriate time.


kim.
xxx

[0] stick a "shutdown -h" in crontab.

[1] I used this technique for my old fileserver machine, which
conspicuously lacked a boot-on-mains-on option.  I made the router box -
which was fed from the same UPS - send a wake-on-lan packet to the
fileserver as part of its boot sequence.

[2] This works, but will make your server smell of bananas.