Can I reset LAN machines remotely?

[Godfodda]

I have a couple of machines with attitude problems. They work fine while I'm home, but when I leave on a work trip, they freeze. That's not good for my SETI totals. Is there a way that I can restart them remotely when this happens? I'm guessing it would involve using the LAN control headers on the NIC and motherboard, but I'm unfamiliar with how any of that works.

I will attach layout pics in following posts. I'm using VNC from the main machine to monitor the rest of them. The main is on the "wrong" side of the hub since I want full speed when using it and the hub is only 10Mb. That is one of the machines freezing, though, so I'm thinking of using another trouble-free unit in its place while travelling, so that I can maintain a connection and the same IP address (variably assigned).

I still haven't configured VNC to allow remote access, but I can get that done. I would want to access the trouble-free machine with it, and then reset any machine(s) not responding. Not asking too much, is it? :)

Any input is appreciated. I would, of course, prefer to stay away from new hardware/software purchases, but I am open to the idea if that's all I'm left with. Also, if there's some "non-standard" way of doing this (serial port controlled relays?, very long stick? :D), I'm open. I have no problem with making a big frickin' mess of it so long as it will work. TIA

[Godfodda]

Current

[Godfodda]

This is what I would change while travelling. It would allow to me to maintain the same IP so I could use VNC. The new machine would probably be a slow one not used for anything else. Need to use linux for something like this?

[JaY_III]

What OS are you running?
NT/2K/XP have remote admin built in.. So you can take over the machine remotly... can be done that way.
Otherwise you may have to look at 3rd part products, PCAnyWare is one i belive that may be able to do that for you....

But when you say they frezee, that could be YOUR problem as a frozen PC cant run programs... and if you cant run programs, you wont be able to login and admin the computer remotly as it is frozen.

So you 1st got to fin out why they frezee on you. Unstable?

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by jay
What OS are you running?
NT/2K/XP have remote admin built in.. So you can take over the machine remotly... can be done that way.
Otherwise you may have to look at 3rd part products, PCAnyWare is one i belive that may be able to do that for you....

But when you say they frezee, that could be YOUR problem as a frozen PC cant run programs... and if you cant run programs, you wont be able to login and admin the computer remotly as it is frozen.

So you 1st got to fin out why they frezee on you. Unstable?

Sorry about that. They're all on ME right now. Will be migrating one (maybe two) to Mandrake sometime.

The inablility to run anything is the problem I'm trying to shortcut. That's why I'm hoping there is some sort of work-around that would allow me to reset the hardware without having to access the software.

I'm still trying to determine what the cause is. Instablility, heat, problematic RAM... as far as I can tell now, it could be anything. Still searching. But if I can figure out how to remotely reset, I could at least keep them crunching while I'm away from home.

I have a couple of NT4 packs here that I was going to run on 486 machines, but had problems doing it. Is there anything in that OS (or Mandrake) that could help with what I'm trying to do?

[Godfodda]

bump

[rogerdugans]

Hey, Godfodda!

Sorry to hear about the troubles : (

I usually managed to get all mine stable before leaving on road trips, but at one point I had just redone two: I cut way back on the oc just so they would be stable while I was gone.

As far as remotely rebooting after a hard lock-up: thats a tough one!
I haven't tried anything like that, or heard of anyone else who did.
Sounds like it would need a good bit of work to me.

I haven't used WinME much, but most of what I've seen and heard suggests that it isn't the most stable thing out of the box, for most: os change maybe? Linux rocks on some of my rigs right now: 1 lockup and that was due to heat (TBird 900)

Another thought: how about getting the rigs to automatically reboot after a period, and auto-login? You'd lose a small bit of cpu time every reboot, but thats better than a hard lockup for 3 or 4 days, and possible hardware damage.....?

[eh?]

netbus. it will let you connect to them and reset them open the cd rom tray, type stuff etc....

[AMD'er]

XP has a great remote access feature built in. The only other thing is PCanywhere, but the key is to set it up so that it starts when the computer restarts.

Another this is to look into Win2k. I know that if all machines are running Win2k, you can shutdown or restart. But like someone said eariler, "A frozen computer is a frozen computer" and I haven't seen anything yet that will allow you to remotely restart a frozen computer. Ya know it usually takes you pressing the power button to fix a frozen machine.

[Godfodda]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I didn't think there would be anything, but I was hoping. I have a few ideas for how I could make this work, so I'll research a bit and see if I can make it happen.

I'm also considering the possibility (read: grasping for straws) that the network itself could be to blame. One of my original concerns was it was heat related, but I just stuck a space heater to the side of the 1333 machine and ran it to 54C CPU / 42C case with no locks or hangs. I've read in the BIOS guides that certain features being enabled (such as SMART) can cause problems over a network, but I think I've disabled everything like that. Has anyone had experience with the actual network locking one of the systems up?

rogerdugans: Any idea how to set up for auto reboots? I wouldn't mind doing that until I can track down the problem. If I can get it going, I'll try one machine on that method and one disconnected from the network.

[Crash893]

i know at radio shack you can buy this thing that hooks to your telephone and you can turn your lights on and off from remote locations

i dont see why it couldnt be comptuers instead of lights

sorry i dont know what its called or the partnumber but its in there home security stuff

[Godfodda]

Thanks for the note, crash. I'll check into that. I've also found something else that will do the trick... with a little work. I'll post a new thread after I get it and try it.

[Anonymous Jeff]

It's possible that if you get a remote admin tool that you could get a UPS and run them off of that...then just reset the UPS (better have the stable machine when you're gone, though)...I'm assuming that you can reset the UPS with the feedback option, of course. :)

[Crash893]

wouldnt persueing a software option kinda be unreliable becuase the comptuers might crash and become unresponsive

or you could hire a neigboor hood kid to be "on call"

just come in hit the button ever time you page him or something ( youll have to tell him you work for the cia or something so youll know if he screws around)

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by crash893
wouldnt persueing a software option kinda be unreliable becuase the comptuers might crash and become unresponsive

or you could hire a neigboor hood kid to be "on call"

just come in hit the button ever time you page him or something ( youll have to tell him you work for the cia or something so youll know if he screws around)

Yep. No software. I've found a ready-made hardware option that I can adapt to my needs, but I think I'm gonna try to build it instead. Just need some time and visit to an online electronics store.

I live on the wring side of the tracks, so the neighborhood kids around here would steal everything. :D