How to make server power settings apply even when computer is activated by WOL

networkingpower-managementwake-on-lan

I have a computer with 9 hdds as a storage server in the next room for me and my family (movies and such) connected to the router. The computer is without keyboard and monitor, all works fine, but in power options I have it set to sleep after 2 hours of inactivity. When I power-on that computer normally, it really goes to sleep in 2 hours. But when I wake it up through the LAN – Wake On LAN (WOL) magic packet, it starts perfectly in 3-5 seconds but goes to sleep in a few minutes — maybe after 3 or 5 minutes or so.

I'm sure if I attach a keyboard and touch any key, it will remain awake for 2 hours, but when I wake it up through the LAN, it goes to sleep shortly after I am not accessing it. There is 2 hours in power option, so it should go to sleep as I mentioned, but it doesn't work when I wake this computer through the LAN with WOL magic packet.

Any ideas how can I make this computer stay awake for 2 hours after I wake up it through the LAN without touching it?

Best Answer

I solved the problem by setting the default system unattended sleep timeout in the Registry. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\PowerSettings\238C9FA8-0AAD-41ED-83F4-97BE242C8F20\7bc4a2f9-d8fc-4469-b07b-33eb785aaca0\DefaultPowerSchemeValues. When you expand it there are 3 keys:

  • key 381b is for Balanced
  • 8c5e for High Performance
  • a184 for Power Saver

The default value for all is 120 seconds. I changed it to 7200 (2hrs) for both AC and DC and it works perfectly.

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