wol rtl8139 or just APM power off problem?

Dear Fellow Subscribers,

I am trying to get my computer to wake on LAN, but it just stays off. I am
not sure where the problem occurs.

I use a perl module called "Net-Wake". I have checked that the machine to
be woken (the target machine) receives the wake-packages by logging all
packets received on that port with ipchains.
My BIOS (Award Modular v4.51 PG, Motherboard: M6VBE-A) has an option WOL
and I enabled it. I also enabled the "PM by APM" option. Is that needed?
I also have a little cable connecting NIC to the proper plug.
When execute /usr/bin/poweroff (that's how I usually turn of my
machine) it turns of power, but it doesn't ever wol. Should the NIC light
be on or something after power of? It's not. Is it clear that I am in ATX
soft power off mode or +5VSB after I do poweroff?

To people with similar problems, the following advice has been given:
Recompile the kernel with CONFIG_APM_REAL_MODE_POWER_OFF (this option is
infact 'n' in my kernel)
or boot with kernel parameter apm=power-off
What does this have to do with it? I thought this only helps you if you
can't do software controlled poweroff?
By the way, apm -v gives APM BIOS 1.2 (kernel driver 1.13). I don't think
it works correctly for when I do apm -s (that's standby) the screen
blanks but the computer never resumes (but I am ignorant with repsect to
apm).
I admit I am confused.
Let me know if you have any helpful information.

(Net_Wake was obtained from
http://www.perl.com/CPAN/authors/id/CLINTDW/, and listed in the Wake on
LAN mini HOWTO)

bw, David