Solved Connecting NAS to PC (directly) - can ping it but can't see it...

[Jaybee]

Hi all,

I have a small Stardom RAID Gigabit NAS with just under 1TB of data that I want to back up to another drive. It has a very slow USB port (5Mb/s) so I cant use that, but it has Ethernet (obviously).

My router is not Gigabit rated so transfers from the NAS back to the PC (Win 7 x64 Ultimate) are only running at about 11Mb/s. Backing up like this is going to take days.....

So.... thought I'd try and connect the NAS to the PC directly via Ethernet as my Mobo has a second Ethernet port. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, it's probably something really obvious so would be grateful for any help. I just want to be able to see the folders on the NAS just like I can when it's connected to my Home Network via the router (but hopefully it will transfer data much faster!).

Here's what I did:

1) Connected the NAS to my spare Ethernet Port (used a conventional cable and assuming LAN card is detecting the need to Auto-Crossover, this gives the following additional location in Network Settings showing a new "Public Network":



This appears to be "set" like this. Double clicking the park bench icon should allow a name change but I cant type in the box (or change the icon) or change the "type" of network (not sure if I need to or not).

2) Opened the new Network Adapter Properties and assigned an IPv4 address:



3) I had preset the NAS with a static IP before I started this:



The NAS now appears in the Network screen as an "Other Device". If I double click it I go straight to the admin screen in a browser. I can carry out all admin functions and access the NAS. It does not appear up top in the "computers" section as it does when it's connected via LAN2 (the home network).



So I can access it via the admin screens, I can ping it successfully too on 192.168.1.33 but I can't see it's folders.

Here's my IPConfig screen showing both LAN ports:



I'm obviously doing something wrong . Network Sharing is ON and I've lowered the encryption from 128 to 40-50 in the Advanced Network Changes screen. Can't think what else to do.

Hope that helps...!

TIA

Jaybee

 

[Jaybee]

No ideas anyone?

I'm completely stumped here. I'm sure it must be possible to connect these together to share files but how? Dhcp server on the NAS?

 

[ickymay]

you will need a Crossover Ethernet cable, otherwise the "listen pin" is talking to the "listen pin" at the other end etc, so a conventional cable will not work.

Also make sure the PC and NAS are on the same sub-net and make sure that the IP addresses you give to the NAS and your PC's wired ethernet are outside the range used for your router.

You may also need to setup internet connection sharing (ICS) on your PC (via your ethernet port) ?

otherwise it should work ?

Or you could use a switch ?

 

[Jaybee]

Thanks for the pointers. I'll have to get a crossover cable, I had thought my relatively new (18months old) Asus mobo nic would auto-detect!

That said I can ping the NAS fine, does this not mean the cable is connected correctly?

Both subnets match (see above screenshots)

Ip range not conflicting with the two other devices on the network.

Tried the ics setup but it screwed up LAN2 which is working fine via the router so I didn't pursue that route.

Might just be easier to get a Gigabit switch though I wanted to avoid any expense (only need the connection to back the 1tb of data up then I can backup all new stuff at the slower speeds as and when new stuff goes on.

Cheers!

 

[Jaybee]

Ah I had no idea I could get a Gigabit switch for about £20! That will save all this faffing, should be plug and play from the spare Ethernet port. Will report back & mark solved once she's working OK.

I was obviously trying to go about this the long way round... doh! :banghead:

Cheers all

Jaybee

 

[ickymay]

yes they are cheap as chips and more efficient and there is far less problems with "collision"

I have everything at my home/office going to the switch then a single connection from the switch connects to my router for all Internet in/out and the switch negates the need for any special crossover cables

 

[Jaybee]

yes they are cheap as chips and more efficient and there is far less problems with "collision"

I have everything at my home/office going to the switch then a single connection from the switch connects to my router for all Internet in/out and the switch negates the need for any special crossover cables

Finally got round to getting a switch (£15 off Amazon) and I can now connect to the NAS and share files over a Gigabit network. However still have a couple of problems seeing the RAID initially and the transfer speeds are not what I'd expected...... will start a new thread! At least this TP-Link device solved the connectivity issues. It was plug and play. Now have ADSL router and all PCs going into it as a hub.

TL-SG1005D - Welcome to TP-LINK

Jaybee