Scenario: Windows Server 2012 (R2) Essentials, Small Business Server 2011 Essentials and Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials or Windows Home Server 2011 is used as backup server in a small business environment. 

Intention: Run server for client and server backup, sleep the rest of the day to conserve energy. 

• Standard delay and action: 5 minutes, suspended mode or hibernation.
• Monitored sources: Only “Always on during configured backup time”.

Disable “automatically wake server...” on all clients (computers page tab). 

Windows Server 2012 (R2) Essentials, Small Business Server 2011 Essentials and Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials or Windows Home Server 2011 will wake-up and stay online for client and server backup, then go into standby saving energy. 

• Add client computers to uptime chart (but do not monitor).
• Configure an action after backup for client computers which have trouble with standby.
• Wake clients on demand with a magic packet (Wake-On-Lan) or a timer.
• Run a second backup outside of the client window (requires a calendar entry to wake the server)

How-tos and best practices