Which Macs support power on after AC restore or other remote power-on (and how to enable)?

[aseering]

I have a few older Macs from the late-68k/NuBus era to the early PCI era. I have limited desk space; I'd like to be able to tuck them into a basement corner and turn them on and remote-access them when I just want to use them quickly. I'd rather not just leave them running 24/7.

Is there a way to somehow get them to boot remotely? Either on power-up (WiFi power outlets are pretty cheap these days), or over the network, etc.

I'm most interested in ideas for a PowerMac 7200/120 and a Power Computing PowerBase 240. (Thoughts welcome for other models of that era, too.) I recall the Energy Saver control panel having an option for this on some Mac models, but it doesn't on these. There's also the Auto Power On/Off control panel that has this setting, but I haven't yet found a Mac that it works with?

 

[Phipli]

Anything with a latching power button or rocker switch, combined with an IOT power brick? I'd consider swapping in a modern power supply though as I wouldn't be mad about running a 30+ year old power supply unattended.

Stock machines with physically latching power switches include... pizzabox LCs, IIcis, IIcx, IIvx, IIvi, Q700s, C650s, possibly PM7100s, absolutely the PM6100 if you want a Nubus PPC. All of the B&W compact macs.

Some things I've not mentioned because I haven't used them, the Q700 and PM7100 I'm assuming because they have the same power switch as machines that do latch and I doubt it changed.

If you have a machine in mind, name it and we can double check. The machines with a twist lock button I'd want to double check on a specific machine because it isn't actually a feature I exactly use that often!

Edit : IIsi, Quadra 9*0... Centris 610 Centris 660AV...

 

[Phipli]

Just saw the second part to your question rereading.

Most are obvious, just a rocker switch for power. The funny ones, IIcx, IIci, IIsi, C650, Q700, IIvi, IIvx, PM7100 and other similar cases, have a push button with a slot in it like a screw head. If you push it in, is a normal push to make button and the machine boots and shuts down normally. If you push it in and twist it, it latches power on, and you effectively can't turn the power off.

Q9*0 has a power key switch I believe.

Things in the 610, 660 and 6100 case have a latching push button (not twisting, it just toggles).

 

[Phipli]

Lastly... if there is another machine you have in mind that isn't covered, it is easy as pie to make something that emulates someone pushing the power button on the keyboard!

So basically, you could use any mac you like. Best choice would be something with soft power, and use a ESP8266 on your WiFi network, wired through a small relay or transistor, to trigger the soft power in the ADB port, then shut down from the special menu. If you didn't mind the trickle power from the idle PSU that's all you actually need, just leave it on at the wall if you are OK with leaving an old machine on 24/7.

 

[robin-fo]

Lastly... if there is another machine you have in mind that isn't covered, it is easy as pi to make something that emulates someone pushing the power button on the keyboard!

This would also have been my proposal!

However, I‘d still recommend to be on the safe side and be able to physically interrupt mains power when the Macs are not in use.

Do you already have plans on how you will implement remote controlling?

 

[Forrest]

Expecting a Mac made in the 90’s to just power up and work normally sounds foolish. At best, the Mac won’t power up and at worst, the Mac will die in a cloud of smoke. Just my opinion.

 

[Phipli]

Expecting a Mac made in the 90’s to just power up and work normally sounds foolish. At best, the Mac won’t power up and at worst, the Mac will die in a cloud of smoke. Just my opinion.

If you start with a good board, put good tantalum capacitors on it (with appropriate voltage ratings) and use a modern PSU, this isn't something I'd be worrying about. At all.

It's mainly a stock PSU that would worry me.

 

[mikes-macs]

I just tell the cat to go step on the keyboard until it powers on. Seriously though, some older PPC Macs have a IR sensor which a Sony remote can power it on.

 

[Phipli]

I just tell the cat to go step on the keyboard until it powers on. Seriously though, some older PPC Macs have a IR sensor which a Sony remote can power it on.

And some 630 family 68k macs.

 

[aseering]

Thanks for all of the replies!

The models are a PowerMac 7200 and a Power Computing PowerBase 240.

I plan to shut down the machines normally. The remote power switch is for safety; also I have a newer machine (PowerMac G5) that I’ve configured to boot when power is restored even if it was shut down properly. Is that so dangerous with old PSUs?

How simple is ADB? Could I wire something up to fake a power-button press? Or I guess I could check if there’s a pin I could short to emulate pushing the button on the case?

For remote control, I have an old IP KVM, and these machines have working USB PCI cards for the keyboard/mouse.

 

[Phipli]

How simple is ADB? Could I wire something up to fake a power-button press? Or I guess I could check if there’s a pin I could short to emulate pushing the button on the case?

The soft power button on the keyboard doesn't actually use the ADB protocol - there was a spare pin in the connector and they just connect it (possibly through a resistor, I'd have to remind myself).

Basically all you need to do soft power is a resistor and a switch wired to the right pins.