Turn Computer on/off From a Website?

[Lectum_]

Ever since I watched the video with Anthony (Video) presenting the PiKVM, an idea sparked in brain.
I have a computer running Unraid and Plex that I share with some people. However since electricity prices in Europe is getting insane, I don't want to have it on all the time.
So why not host a website from a Raspberry Pi, get the PiKVM, slap it on and make a website where you request to have the computer on for X amount of hours.
The reason for X only being able to turn it on, is because a friend instantly talked about just going on the site to turn it off whenever.

I imagine I could Google how to write the "application" as I have some basic understanding of SQL and PowerShell.
But after getting an overwhelmed with how to get started, could someone advice me in which tools they would recommend for a project like this.
Is doesn't have to look pretty, it just has to work.

[Dedayog]

16 minutes ago, Lectum_ said:

Ever since I watched the video with Anthony (Video) presenting the PiKVM, an idea sparked in brain.
I have a computer running Unraid and Plex that I share with some people. However since electricity prices in Europe is getting insane, I don't want to have it on all the time.
So why not host a website from a Raspberry Pi, get the PiKVM, slap it on and make a website where you request to have the computer on for X amount of hours.
The reason for X only being able to turn it on, is because a friend instantly talked about just going on the site to turn it off whenever.

I imagine I could Google how to write the "application" as I have some basic understanding of SQL and PowerShell.
But after getting an overwhelmed with how to get started, could someone advice me in which tools they would recommend for a project like this.
Is doesn't have to look pretty, it just has to work.

I found it much easier to just have the PC plugged into a Smart Home wifi outlet that you can just turn on and off via the app.  Set your PC to wake on power, with no log in, and anytime the power is on, the PC will power up and be ready in minutes. Infact, I have mine without a monitor or keyboard, so I never have to login physically.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RCNB2L3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

When the gf calls me at work and says she can't get on Plex, I power off, wait 5 mins, power back on, and let her know to try again.

 

If you're set on making it work as you posted, I can't help, sorry.

 

[Eigenvektor]

Turning a server off remotely should be as easy as connecting to it through SSH, then run "halt" or a similar command. To turn it on, you could look into Wake on LAN (WOL).

[Lectum_]

I like the suggestions, I could add it to turn it off if I'm having problems.
The reason I want it to be a website, is because I want my parent to be able to press a button, wait 5 minutes and then watch movies. They're not technical so using SSH isn't something they would be able to do.

[Eigenvektor]

Just now, Lectum_ said:

The reason I want it to be a website, is because I want my parent to be able to press a button, wait 5 minutes and then watch movies. They're not technical so using SSH isn't something they would be able to do.

That should be easy enough to accomplish with a script.

 

If you set up public key authentication you can log into SSH without needing to enter a password. Then you can just create a batch script that does something like

ssh root@<ip> 'halt'

Place the .cmd file on the desktop. Now you just have to double click it to turn the server off. You could probably write a similar script for WOL.

[Dedayog]

4 minutes ago, Lectum_ said:

I like the suggestions, I could add it to turn it off if I'm having problems.
The reason I want it to be a website, is because I want my parent to be able to press a button, wait 5 minutes and then watch movies. They're not technical so using SSH isn't something they would be able to do.

Too bad you don't have an outlet controlled by a light switch.  Would be the easiest thing.

[Dedayog]

16 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

That should be easy enough to accomplish with a script.

 

If you set up public key authentication you can log into SSH without needing to enter a password. Then you can just create a batch script that does something like

ssh root@<ip> 'halt'

Place the .cmd file on the desktop. Now you just have to double click it to turn the server off. You could probably write a similar script for WOL.

My question, from a layman and idiots point of view.... what will the parents have to do turn the server on and off?  Exactly the steps.   Cuz I can't see how that works and my parents or myself wouldn't know what to do with what you two are talking about here.

 

I can't see what's easier than a damn light switch or "Alexa, turn on Server" (which turns the wifi plug on).  

[Eigenvektor]

9 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

My question, from a layman and idiots point of view.... what will the parents have to do turn the server on and off?

I would expect OP to create these scripts. The parents would have to double click an icon on the computer's desktop.

 

Let me add that I do agree that your solution is the easier one and likely the one I'd go with myself.

[Lectum_]

2 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

My question, from a layman and idiots point of view.... what will the parents have to do turn the server on and off?  Exactly the steps.   Cuz I can't see how that works and my parents or myself wouldn't know what to do with what you two are talking about here.

 

I can't see what's easier than a damn light switch or "Alexa, turn on Server" (which turns the wifi plug on).  

So the main point is I want to have the computer off as much as possible and that people make a request to have it on for X amount of time, because electricity is expensive.
The computer is going to be remote, so they won't have access to the light switch, but sharing the Kata Smart Plug app might be possible, but I don't like the idea of just cutting power to the machine.
 

26 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

That should be easy enough to accomplish with a script.

 

If you set up public key authentication you can log into SSH without needing to enter a password. Then you can just create a batch script that does something like

ssh root@<ip> 'halt'

Place the .cmd file on the desktop. Now you just have to double click it to turn the server off. You could probably write a similar script for WOL.

Somehow making a website that can run scripts could maybe work, however the computer doesn't support WOL as it's very old.
The Public Key Authentication is something I could setup on the Pi so it's always allowed to make calls to the main computer.
It's great for security, but correct me if I'm wrong as I'm not too experienced with certificates.

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

I would expect OP to create these scripts. The parents would have to double click an icon on the computer's desktop.

So they have to click an icon on a secondary PC, like a laptop or possibly a tablet?  Can it be done on their phones?

 

 

[Lectum_]

2 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

I would expect OP to create these scripts. The parents would have to double click an icon on the computer's desktop.

This could work, but they only watch Plex from their TV. So asking them to, what I understand, to remote into the Pi to run the script to turn on another computer would be too many steps. I would like it to be convenient for them.

[Eigenvektor]

1 minute ago, Lectum_ said:

It's great for security, but correct me if I'm wrong as I'm not too experienced with certificates.

Yes, it's great for security. In fact, using password authentication with SSH (at least for anything reachable over the internet) is a security no-go these days.

[Eigenvektor]

5 minutes ago, Lectum_ said:

This could work, but they only watch Plex from their TV. So asking them to, what I understand, to remote into the Pi to run the script to turn on another computer would be too many steps. I would like it to be convenient for them.

They're not supposed to remote into the Pi (manually). They're supposed to double click a script on their Windows desktop. The script will do all the remoting.

 

You can likely do the same with a website using e.g. PHP. The PHP script can run whatever you want on the server, provided you're not too concerned with security (i.e. it's only for your local network).

 

6 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

So they have to click an icon on a secondary PC, like a laptop or possibly a tablet?  Can it be done on their phones?

Technically yes, depending on what lengths OP is willing to go to. But as I already said above, your solution is the easier one.

[Dedayog]

21 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

They're not supposed to remote into the Pi (manually). They're supposed to double click a script on their Windows desktop. The script will do all the remoting.

 

You can likely do the same with a website using e.g. PHP. The PHP script can run whatever you want on the server, provided you're not too concerned with security (i.e. it's only for your local network).

 

Technically yes, depending on what lengths OP is willing to go to. But as I already said above, your solution is the easier one.

Didn't see that, sorry (about my response).

 

I'm just very curious the extent regular people can do scripts and automate processes. I am woefully ignorant of coding and apps ;(

 

[Eigenvektor]

Just now, Dedayog said:

I'm just very curious the extent regular people can do scripts and automate processes. I am woefully ignorant of coding and apps ;(

It will take some effort, for sure. If you have zero scripting experience, you'll likely spend some time with Google, trial and error or asking other people for help.

 

I definitely wasn't expecting the parents to do the scripting. However, once you have a script, it should be easy enough for them to use. But a physical switch, Wi-Fi switch or some Alexa automation is a ton more comfortable, no question.

 

I'm very much in favor of your solution if it is intended to be used by every household member. Mine was more of a "I want to tinker with this" solution, because that's the kind of vibe I got from the initial post.