LabControl

Lab Control is an Android-based Client–Server system for remote control of lab PCs, built with Java and Sockets.

Description

Features

• Command execution
  • Echo
  • Restart
  • Shut down
  • Restore
  • Wake on LAN
• Multiple device selection and deselection
• Device status monitoring
• Network validation and monitoring
• Real-time display of device responses

Command execution

Commands are exchanged between the client (android application) and the server using TCP Sockets. All commands are used to update the name of a device. Purpose of each command:

• Echo: verifies whether a device is online and retrieves its operating system (e.g., Linux, Windows 10).
• Wake on LAN: sends a "magic packet" to power on devices that are either in sleep mode or fully shut down. For WOL to function, the target device must be:
  • Connected to the network via Ethernet
  • Plugged into a power source
  • Properly configured in BIOS/UEFI and OS settings to support Wake-on-LAN

Commands such as restart, shut down and restore are simulations only.

Multiple device selection and deselection

Device selection is managed through a Contextual Action Bar (CAB), which appears upon long-pressing a device. The CAB allows:

• Single or multiple selection of devices through taps
• Select / deselect All functionality
• Access to a command menu, enabling the execution of actions on the selected devices

Device status monitoring

Device availability is checked using a bound service that periodically sends the Echo command to all configured devices. While the app is active, this service monitors whether each device is online and which operating system it is running.

Network validation and monitoring

The application is designed to function exclusively within the lab's local network. To enforce this:

• The app continuously monitors the current network connection.
• If the device is not connected to the lab’s Wi-Fi, the user is notified via an alert dialog and prompted to connect to the correct network.
• To perform network checks, the app requests the necessary permissions and requires location services to be enabled, as Android restricts access to Wi-Fi SSID information without location access.
• If permissions are denied or location services are disabled, the app prompts the user via dialogs and directs them to the appropriate settings.

Real-time display of device responses

Device responses are shown in a bottom sheet that updates live, supports vertical scrolling and adapts its size to fit the number of messages.

Device loading from JSON file

Devices are loaded from a lab_devices_config.json file located in src/main/assets/. Format of the file is:

{
  "devices": [
    {
      "name": "PC01",
      "networkName": "PRPC01",
      "ip": "device_ip",
      "mac": "device_mac"
    }
    // Additional devices can be added here, separated by commas
  ]
}

Requirements

• Android 8.0 or higher
• Wake-on-LAN (WOL) enabled and configured on your PC
• Connected to the lab’s LAN network
• Location permission granted (as required by Android)
• Location services enabled
• Lab Control Server running on PCs within the same network

Configuration

To adapt the application for your own network and devices, you need to:

• Update the lab_devices_config.json file located in src/main/assets/.
• Change the lab’s SSID to your own in Constants.java.
• Change the lab’s broadcast IP to your network’s broadcast address in Constants.java.

Built With

• Android Studio Meerkat 2024.3.1
• Gradle 8.11.1
• AGPL 8.9.1
• Min SDK 26 (Android 8.0)
• Target SDK 35 (Android 15)
• JDK 20.0.1

Screenshots

More screenshots can be found in screenshots folder.