Should I consider implementing Wake on LAN in my Network?
I've been toying with the idea of trying to use WOL on our corporate network for workstations. We have around 60-70 PC's many of which never get turned off. I was thinking that using WOL and having the computer go to sleep after 90 minutes could save a decent amount on the electric bill.
My concerns are that some users connect to our VPN and then RDP into their workstations and how WOL may affect that. As well our Symantec Endpoint Protection updates typically go out overnight.
Has anyone else used WOL across their network and was it more pain than it was worth?
My concerns are that some users connect to our VPN and then RDP into their workstations and how WOL may affect that. As well our Symantec Endpoint Protection updates typically go out overnight.
Has anyone else used WOL across their network and was it more pain than it was worth?
ASKER
Keith-
To my knowledge the only updates that go out to PC's at night is antivirus updates and possibly windows updates. Do you have issues with updates not being applied or anything like that having users shut off their systems at night? I think your solution may be the best option until something more standardized comes to market.
To my knowledge the only updates that go out to PC's at night is antivirus updates and possibly windows updates. Do you have issues with updates not being applied or anything like that having users shut off their systems at night? I think your solution may be the best option until something more standardized comes to market.
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ASKER
Thanks for the notes. We used to have a "shutdown" policy but our old PC's took about 15 minutes to boot up so no one shut down... we are in the process of upgrading all of them maybe we will give that another try now.
Welcome :)
e.g. Switching off of all monitors, printers, computers excluding servers, personal fans, lights etc before leaving the building unless notification that IT maintenance routines were to be run such as overnight updates. An audit was undertaken at least once a week by a senior manager on varying evenings to check that this was being complied with.
If users want to VPN in they will leave a note on their desktop stating this will be the case (still doesn't need their monitor(s) to be on). Again, on a periodic basis this is verified by the audit log on a few individual users.
This has led to an annual reduction of circa 8% on our electricity bill - not mega but with over three thousand devices (many had dual monitors as well) the financial return made it a significant gain for reasonably little effort.