I'm trying to create a solution allowing me to wake my home computers (from sleep) from the Internet. I can't use straight Wake-on-LAN capability for two reasons: 1. my router will not pass WOL through from the Internet to the local network and 2. one of the computers only connects via Wifi and I can't do Wake-on-Wireless LAN.
My current idea is to have a small, low power device powered on all the time and connected to my wifi network. On that device, I'd like to run a simple TCP or UDP server that I can receive a custom wake message from an Internet-based client. When the message is received, I I'd like to send a WOL message to the PC that is connected via wired LAN and for the Wifi-connected PC, I'd have this device act as a USB keyboard and send a keypress to wake the PC.
After doing some reading, it sounds like the Arduino ProMicro might be a good starting point because it is able to emulate the USB keyboard. But I didn't really find any examples of how I might be able to connect it to my Wifi network so I could run a my custom TCP/UDP server.
Any suggestions on what hardware I'd need? I'm not dead set on a ProMicro, so if you know of something that fits my needs better, feel free to suggest it.
An interesting challenge, with conflicting hardware requirements.
An ESP32-S2 board would give you WiFi natively and support USB emulation.
However you also need Ethernet.
I wonder if you can reduce your requirements. Since you need Ethernet, can you connect to your network and router with that and manage without a wifi connection, and go with the ProMicro?
A MKR board (not sure which one, for WiFi the MKR 1010 WiFi) plus a MKR ETH shield might be better suited. The shield will give you the wired network capability; all MKR boards seem to support HID functionality.
Actually, I don't really need Ethernet. I can send the WOL packet to my Ethernet PC through my Wifi connection. I know that works because I do it today with my android phone. So really I just need Wifi and USB keyboard emulation.
So you think something like the ESP32-S2 Feather might work? Can it be used standalone or does it need other boards? Also curious if it can be powered from the USB connection even when the PC is in sleep.