PC_Programmer,
>Am I mistaken to assume that you're just trying to think of other sources of power >that can be used to power up a machine, and only thought of a CMOS battery as a >possibility? If So, a Power inverter (or even, for short periods, a UPS), would >facilitate that. However, Ithink you're also asking whether a computer can be >remotely powered up without having it's power cord plugged in.
Correct on both accounts.
>I'm not sure, but I don't think a Wireless network card can be used as a WOL >source, since the card itself needs to be connected to the network (facilitated with >wires in the wired case) to be accessed by other computers. a more likely method >would be to access the router that that wireless card is connecting to, and
>(possibly, if the card can recieve packets while the computer is off) somehow get it >to turn on. It's possible with wired NICs, simply because their is no extra device
>(antenna) to power, it just needs a little standby power to monitor the network. >However, a wireless card needs to essentially have full-power just to facilitate >waking the computer, since it will need to remain connected to a wireless network.
This makes sense.
>So- are we actually talking about the laptops main battery? because that is >designed to power up the laptop. In addition, bear in mind that a desktop PC, in >almost all cases, requires far more power then a Laptop (for obvious reasons, not >the least of which is the fact that, for the laptop, power conservation is critical to >good productivity. On the other hand, Power management in desktop computers is >more of a green initiative, (one with the side effect of possibly reducing electricity >bills).
Yes.
>I'm not sure if it has been mentioned, but the best way to secure a wireless >network from access is to use an encrypting protocol, such as WPA or WEP. (I can't >recall the good one off the top of my head. I want to say WEP, though).
I tried both. The wireless network was encrypted. The laptop was password protected. The WOL network card setting was turned off at the Windows XP OS Level. The only thing I have not had time to research is trying so see if like dmrsucks says, you can password protect the BIOS.
>Problem with that is that the secondary battery requires that the computer be put >on standby/suspended (most do it automatically), to conserve power draw.
Ok.
>I believe it was said before, but I believe your looking in the wrong direction. >Features used to remotely boot computer can always be disabled, wireless >networks can be secured, and so forth, what you're looking for (and your comments >on your networking experience) sounds like you've skipped checking those >alternatives(you believe that networks are capable of much more then they really >are, as well- researching things on the net almost surely results in some bad
>information).
I have several comments regarding this answer:
First, as per my previous comment, I have done everything in my power to secure the environment after doing a lot of research (password protected the laptop, turned off WOL, encrypted the wireless network, reduced the number of available connections to the router, changed the default and starting IP addrresses and other things etc.). Any still, very weird things have happened to me. Othewise, I would not be investing my time on this. I have not skipped anything.
Second, as far as researching information on the network, it is like any kind of research. You will find some bad information and you will find some good information. It requires experience, judgement, and knowing who the source is. It can be difficult, but it is another ressource, just like Wikepedia. Sometimes excellent, but sometimes I have seen blatant mistakes.
Third, like I have posted before, networks are not my IT specialty, but I have had to learn a lot about them because they are essential, to protect myself, and to know what is involved as it can be useful for business.
Regards,
Jean-Pierre
