[misterhouse-users] Semi OT - Anyone familiar with 'Wake On Lan'?

[GS <gsa...@bi...>]

I use a Linux box as a router, and since beginning next month our 
electric bill is going to DOUBLE due to fuel surcharges, I'd like 
to shut it off when it's not needed, and fire it up when MH wants 
to access the 'web for TV data and whatnot. It doesn't make sense 
to run the computer 24/7 for the limited amount of actual use 
it gets per day.

Obviously I could just use an X10 appliance module to turn it 
off and on, but that seems pretty brutal on the PSU. So I was 
wondering if anyone had played around with the 'wake On Lan' 
feature to switch the PC on and off. The PC and my nic support 
it.

I know a specific lan packet is needed, but have no idea what 
it consists of, or how to create and transmit one, for that 
matter.

(By the way, at least the Linux router doesn't have a hard 
drive to get damaged. I'm using a 16 meg Compact Flash memory 
card as a hard drive, and it works great. No drive grinding 
away and less heat!)

Gary Sanders