Windows 11 Machine Not Waking Up: Wake-on-LAN Packets Received in WireShark

This article focuses on the topic of Wake-on-LAN (WoL) packets in the context of a Windows 11 machine. Specifically, we will discuss a scenario where a Windows 11 machine doesn't turn on despite confirming that WoL packets are received by the network interface card (NIC) using a tool like WireShark.

Understanding Wake-on-LAN

Wake-on-LAN is a network standard that allows a turn off or sleeping computer to be turned on remotely. This feature relies on the NIC's ability to listen for a special "magic packet" sent over the network. Once the NIC receives this packet, it sends a signal to the motherboard, which then wakes up the machine.

Prerequisites

For Wake-on-LAN to work, the following requirements must be met:

• The NIC must support WoL.
• The BIOS or UEFI settings must enable WoL.
• The operating system must have WoL support and enabled.

Confirming Packet Reception with WireShark

WireShark, a popular network-monitoring tool, can be used to capture and examine network traffic. We can use WireShark to filter and verify the presence of WoL packets in the network.

Instructions for capturing and filtering WoL packets

• Set the capture filter to: bootp or udp.port == 7 to listen for both DHCP and WoL packets.
• Start the capture when the sending machine is transmitting the WoL packet.
• Check if the captured packets match the pattern of a WoL packet. Note the source and destination MAC addresses.

Machine Not Waking Up After Confirming Packet Reception

In the event that a Windows 11 machine does not start up despite confirming that the NIC receives the WoL packets, consider the following:

• Check if the destination MAC address in the received packets corresponds to the target machine's NIC MAC address.
• Verify the power management settings of the NIC (e.g., disable power saving mode).
• Ensure that the WoL packet was sent with the correct Magic Packet in accordance with the standard.
• Inspect your network infrastructure, like a router or switch configuration, to ensure it's passing WoL packets.

Additional Steps for Windows 11 Specifics

• Enable WoL on the NIC through the Device Manager by following these steps:

1. Expand the Network Adapters category.
2. Right-click the NIC, and select Properties.
3. Go to the Power Management tab.
4. Select the box "Allow this device to wake the computer" and "Only allow a magic packet to wake the computer."

• Run the following commands in an elevated Command Prompt to enable WoL on Windows TCP/IP:

powercfg -devicequery wake_armed
powercfg -deviceenablewake "Device Name"

Wake-on-LAN is a feature that enables remote booting of machines. When facing issues with a Windows 11 machine not waking up, ensure all prerequisites are met, like check both sending and receiving machines' NICs, power management settings, and network infrastructure. Using the WireShark tool, you can filter and validate the WoL packets' receipt, aiding in better troubleshooting capabilities.

References

• Wireshark - Network Protocol Analyzer
• Wake-on-LAN (WoL) for Windows Device Drivers
• Network connection powersaving turned off and can't wake my computer - Intel