wakeonlan
A small python module for wake on lan.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. wakeonlan is a stable, actively maintained, single-purpose tool with minimal dependencies and no security issues. Install it if you need to remotely power on computers via wake-on-LAN; the low friction and permissive MIT license make it a straightforward choice. The only prerequisite is that wake-on-LAN must be enabled in your target hardware's BIOS.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Wake-on-LAN must be enabled in the target computer's BIOS; the target computer must have a MAC address but does not need an IP address at wake time.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with a single lightweight dependency (typing_extensions).
- Active maintenance with a recent release 47 days ago and 309 repository stars.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal attribution requirements—no licensing friction for any use case.
last release 2026-06-28 (47 days) · last repo commit 2026-06-28 · 309 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 209,215 downloads/mo, #9,517 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install wakeonlan
import wakeonlan
wakeonlan.wake('ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff')
# Or with custom host and port:
wakeonlan.wake('ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff', host='192.168.1.1', port=9)- Whether the package handles IPv6 wake-on-LAN in addition to IPv4 (CLI shows both flags but Python API documentation is not detailed).
- Performance characteristics when waking many computers in sequence or in parallel.
What it is and what it does
wakeonlan is a lightweight Python module that implements the wake-on-LAN protocol to remotely power on computers across a network. It sends specially formatted magic packets to a target MAC address, optionally with SecureOn password authentication, and can route packets through specific network interfaces or external hosts. The package works as both a Python library and a standalone command-line tool.
Typical use cases include remote system administration, lab automation, and power management in networked environments. The module requires only typing_extensions as a runtime dependency and supports Python 3.10 and later. It is actively maintained, production-stable, and carries no known security vulnerabilities.
Use it for
- Wake a single remote computer by MAC address for scheduled maintenance or remote access.
- Power on multiple computers in sequence for lab or cluster initialization.
- Integrate wake-on-LAN into automation scripts or system administration tools.
- Route magic packets through a specific network interface or external gateway for cross-subnet waking.
- Enforce SecureOn password authentication when waking sensitive network devices.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
wakeonlan is a stable, actively maintained, single-purpose tool with minimal dependencies and no security issues. Install it if you need to remotely power on computers via wake-on-LAN; the low friction and permissive MIT license make it a straightforward choice. The only prerequisite is that wake-on-LAN must be enabled in your target hardware's BIOS.
Install
wakeonlan on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with a single lightweight dependency (typing_extensions). Active maintenance with a recent release 47 days ago and 309 repository stars.
Wake-on-LAN must be enabled in the target computer's BIOS; the target computer must have a MAC address but does not need an IP address at wake time.
License in practice
MIT license permits unrestricted use, modification, and distribution with minimal attribution requirements—no licensing friction for any use case.
Quickstart
pip install wakeonlan
import wakeonlan
wakeonlan.wake('ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff')
# Or with custom host and port:
wakeonlan.wake('ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff', host='192.168.1.1', port=9)Verify before relying
- Whether the package handles IPv6 wake-on-LAN in addition to IPv4 (CLI shows both flags but Python API documentation is not detailed).
- Performance characteristics when waking many computers in sequence or in parallel.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagetyping_extensions |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 47 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 209,215 / month, #9,517 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: System AdministratorsProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: System :: NetworkingTyping :: Typed |
Evidence: wakeonlan-4.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
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