RemoteResetArduino

Project RemoteResetArduino
Status	Completed
Contact	User:FooBar
Last Update	2013-08-20

Summary

An arduino program to toggle power and reset buttons on standard ATX PC's, and to read the status of the machine (Powered on or off, Power present @ PSU).

Introduction

I was building a 3-node cluster to test some cluster-filesystems for a client, and used 'wake-on-lan' to remotely boot the various cluster nodes when needed. This worked somewhat, but I was unable to reboot a hanging system, or see if a wake-on-lan packet actually arrived at the system.

Doing some tests with a firmata sketch on an arduino proved that I could easily toggle the powerbutton and resetbutton on an ATX mainboard, bringing this project to life.

Code

The code can be found on https://github.com/sigio/remotereset-arduino

Working

• Connect the arduino to a usb port on a working system (I used a openwrt based router).
• Connect the digital pins to the power and reset lines on an ATX mainboard.
  • Lookup which pins to use in your manual, or look at the board. From the 2 pins for pwrbtn and reset, you need the 3.3v powered pin, not the ground pin
• Make sure the arduino ground is connected to a ground on the pc mainboard
• Make a serial connection to the arduino (115200 baud)
• Configure the pin-numbers (see 'help' command, use 'config' command)
• Toggle reset and/or power buttons with commands 'reset #', 'power #' or 'force #'
  • Force will hold the (power) button for 4 seconds, reset and power only simulate a short press
• Use the 'check #' command to see if a system is powered on

Pictures

Usage Session Example

> RemoteReset-Arduino started

> help

Help: 
 config      Edit configuration
   config [0-7] resetpin pwrpin name
 reset #     Toggle reset switch on config #
 power #     Toggle power switch on config #
 force #     Long-Press power switch on pc number #
 erase #     Erase config number #
 state       Check power state
 dump        Dump configuration to serial
 save        Save configuration to EEPROM
 load        Load configuration from EEPROM
 wipe        Wipe onfiguration and update EEPROM

> dump  

Config
Config: 0    Data: 0 / 255 / 255 / unused
Config: 1    Data: 1 / 7 / 6 / gluster1
Config: 2    Data: 1 / 3 / 2 / gluster2
Config: 3    Data: 1 / 4 / 5 / gluster3
Config: 4    Data: 0 / 255 / 255 / unused
Config: 5    Data: 0 / 255 / 255 / unused
Config: 6    Data: 0 / 255 / 255 / unused
Config: 7    Data: 0 / 255 / 255 / unused

> power 1

Sending power signal to pin: 6