"Blind" Datalogging to PC over LAN

Definition of "Blind" : Data is sent without checking the result.

Setup : Arduino (Mega+Ethernet shield) connected to local LAN via router with DHCP enabled.
Laptop is connected to same router as Arduino.
Router has internet connection.

Current operation: I log data blindly to an online MySQL database (enabled with #ifdef).
Optional operation : I can log data to a file on the Ethernet shield SD card (enabled with #ifdef).

Objective: Aside from the above 2 logging options that are already implemented, I also want the option to "blindly" log data over the LAN to the laptop or any other PC connected to the LAN i.e. if the selected PC is on, data is logged, if the PC is off data is lost - period.
Logging can be simple .txt file.

Remarks:
I know there are solutions like Putty etc to capture serial output, but that is NOT what I am looking for.
I don't want to post to a "local" database on the PC - just a plain file.
If possible, I prefer not to run any program to capture the data i.e. if the PC is on, data must be written to the file in background.

Appreciate any guidance for a good concept to achieve my objective.

The simplest setup probably would be for the arduino to supply data to the pc when the pc request data.

zoomkat:
The simplest setup probably would be for the arduino to supply data to the pc when the pc request data.

That would probably mean starting a process to request data - I suppose that could be in a batch file which runs on start-up.

FWIW data to be posted is received from multiple RF sensors. Sensors might only transmit once or twice per day i.e. there is no constant stream of data.

For online logging, I post to a PHP script which writes to the MySQL database.

From searching I note Python is often used when logging to a PC although that appears to be over a serial (USB) connection. Will Python work over LAN?

The other option I note used is Processing. Will it work over LAN?

FWIW in both the above cases, installation of another application is required.
Is there anything native to windows 7 that can be used?

aisc:
Will Python work over LAN?

YES

I don't know exactly what you have in mind but it would be very simple to build a small webserver on your PC using the Bottle web framework and have your Arduino send data to it. You can get the Bottle demo working in 2 or 3 minutes after downloading the program. A few lines of extra "Bottle" code should receive your data and then you just need some Python code to save the data.

...R

Robin2:
YES

I don't know exactly what you have in mind but it would be very simple to build a small webserver on your PC using the Bottle web framework and have your Arduino send data to it. You can get the Bottle demo working in 2 or 3 minutes after downloading the program. A few lines of extra "Bottle" code should receive your data and then you just need some Python code to save the data.

...R

aisc:
Objective: Aside from the above 2 logging options that are already implemented, I also want the option to "blindly" log data over the LAN to the laptop or any other PC connected to the LAN i.e. if the selected PC is on, data is logged, if the PC is off data is lost - period.
Logging can be simple .txt file.

I really just want to record the data in a text file without webserver etc.
In essence I want replicate logging to a file on the Ethernet sd card, but instead log to a file on a PC/laptop.

aisc:
I really just want to record the data in a text file without webserver etc.
In essence I want replicate logging to a file on the Ethernet sd card, but instead log to a file on a PC/laptop.

I have no doubt you can do that with Python, but I don't know how.

There is no value doing without a webserver if developing the alternative requires more of your time.

...R