Router wakes Server every hour on the hour

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

So I have been having trouble with my home network. I run several machines (win10) but my server (win10) is causing me the issue. First off Wake-on-LAN is on and I need it to be. So turn wake on off wake on lan comments won't help me. I spent a few weeks trouble shooting this and narrowing things down. I have run all the typical cmd line interface commands (ie powercfg -randomcommand) to find the culprit.

My server is hooked up to my internet through a Netgear 24-port managed switch which is connected to a Asus RT-AC66U router then to my cable modem. I am fairly certain my router is doing the waking. I disconnected my server from the switch and it didn't wake...same when i had it plugged into the switch without the router being plugged into the switch. When tried disconnecting my cable modem from the router while leaving the server connected to the switch which was connected to the router...as soon as the hour past my server again emerged from sleep right on the hour as it did when hooked up normal. My question is does anyone know why this is happening and if so how i can stop it. I recently moved and electricity is much more expensive here and is the driving factor behind me wanting to keep power usage to a minimum. I use my server both at home and a-far and that is one of the many reasons i need WOL to be working.

Ultimately I can live with the hourly wake up if I have to since it goes to sleep five minutes later but if possible I would like to find a fix. those five minute increments every hour add up over the month. Thank you for your help.

BuddhaSkoota · Dec 18, 2015

atomicWAR :

It might be that the DHCP renewal process is somehow causing this.

Try assigning the server a static IP address outside of the DHCP range.

boju · Dec 18, 2015

I wont begin to know what im talking about here but did look around and 'learning'

Just thought i'd post this hoping it can come in handy.

http://www.ghacks.net/2015/09/23/use-powershell-to-manage-scheduled-tasks-in-windows/

Its probably not new to you, but running powershell/typing powershell in taskbar search then Get-ScheduledTask. Might reveal/show something of interest to you.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

BuddhaSkoota :

that's been my best guess too. I'll see if i can and keep everything else working the way i need it.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

Think I have my static IP address set-up properly. I'll update you all at 11pm hawaiian standard time to see if it worked.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

goofed my static IP and bonded it instead (which didn't fix issue). just set static IP correctly? i believe this time. will update at 12am.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

yeah static IP made no difference.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

going to try and see if setting another machine to WOL gets the same results. Hopefully this will help rule in the router for 100% (99% certain now) as the cause of waking every hour. I have double checked to make sure no wake timers, task manager or any other programs are the root cause. I have updated the drivers. Made sure the server can sleep with a remote client having files open etc.

jsmithepa · Dec 18, 2015

I suspect your NIC is mistakenly configured for WAKE UP VIA LINK CHANGE, under properties.

Then always check the Scheduler. Moving from XP to Win7 I noticed MS took the liberty of scheduling a bunch of who-knows-what.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

scheduler was my very first suspicion...i double checked to be sure but didn't see anything that fit an hourly task that wasn't already disabled. My nic didn't have a wake up via link change but it did have a wait for link change so i turned it off. i'll let you know if that worked.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

so yeah wait for link didn't help. i also finally set another PC to wake on lan (feel alseep last night before i tried) and it also popped awake at the hour. So i am certain it's my router at this point. unless i see some more recommendations i guess i'll be forced to live with the hourly wake. might check my router firmware one more time (for the umpteenth time)

jsmithepa · Dec 18, 2015

Am skeptical, a router can only (force) wakes your machine via a Magic Packet (WOL), everything else requires you to intentionally configure your PC NIC to accept a wake event.

That's all I got.

boju · Dec 18, 2015

Have you looked in the bios? There's usually stuff in there regarding this, also possibly another menu you can get into at POST.

https://communities.intel.com/thread/29566?tstart=0

right at the end of the POST there's a prompt to press CTRL+P to enter Intel ME

Considering what has been tried in the os and router, there might be somewhere else you've overlooked.

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

@ boju couldn't find a Intel ME setting in bios or during post thx though.

@jsmithepa The fact my router is waking any PC with WOL at the hour suprises me as well but it's still happening.

Thanks so much everyone. I'll keep looking and updating things i have tried as i figure them out. I can count on two hands the times i have needed help on tom's and one hand the number of times i couldn't find a fix. Usually I am doing the helping lol. Just goes to show there is no such thing as a computer expert, just a bunch of tech savvy people with great ideas

Thanks again all!

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

found a fix and it's not what i expected. I had to disable wake on pattern. FYI i also found the wake on link change though it was already disabled. didn't scroll down all the way and it was the last choice. thanks so much!!!

boju · Dec 18, 2015

Great that you've figured it out, the guys above were really close. I guess picking you atomicWar ba is ok?

atomicWAR · Dec 18, 2015

can't choose myself and it's against rules for someone other than OP to choose BA. I am just happy to have my fix. the extra eyes helped though thanks so much!

Router wakes Server every hour on the hour

Glorious

Admirable

Titan

Glorious

Glorious

Glorious

Glorious

Glorious

Polypheme

Glorious

Glorious

Polypheme

Titan

Glorious

Glorious

Titan

Glorious

Share this page