Weird NAS/network issue

[Project86]

My NAS is an Asustor 602T, and their forums is way small compared to QNAP or Synology. So I figure I have a better chance finding good help here. Plus, the problem likely stems from my networks and not the NAS itself.

It all started when my HP Elitebook 840 G1 refused to boot. Somehow the Windows 7 install became corrupted. And I learned the hard way that the big partition on the SSD labelled as a restore drive, was not really able to do anything useful. And this device doesn't have an optical drive nor did it come from the factory with restore discs for Windows. So I had to use an old copy of Windows 7 Ultimate I had laying around from another system.

Long story short, I've got it up and running, not completely ideal yet as I still need to hunt down drivers for a few things (thanks for automating that, HP!) However I'm 90% there.

The problem: My NAS is on the network and my HP is on the network but somehow can't get in to the NAS via local network. I use the IP which is 192.168.1.12:8000 and it just doesn't load. I get "This webpage not available". Can't get there by using \\Asustor from file browser either. BUT I can still get there through the MyAsustor.com web portal. When I install the Asus Control Center it "sees" the NAS on my network, shows the proper MAC address and IP address, but says status is "not ready".

If I try any of the above from any other computer on my network, I get in to the NAS right away. Asus Control Center says "Ready" and I have no issues.

I'm sure it's a network settings thing, but where should I start?

 

[frowertr]

Since you can access your NAS from other computers on your LAN, the NAS is functioning fine by the sounds of it.

Sounds like your HP isn't on the same subnet as the rest of your LAN. Open up a command prompt in Windows and type in 'ipconfig'. What does it say your IP address and subnet are for your local adapter?

 

[Project86]

It shows 192.168.1.11 and the same 255.255.255.0 subnet. BUT I just discovered something very odd. Using the Fing iPad app, I scanned my network.... and I find two separate entries for this computer. 192.168.1.11 and 192.168.1.15. They have different MAC addresses and both are able to be pinged from the Find app.

I have no other computer which has the same name on the network (named EliteBook to keep track of which computer it is). Interestingly, one entry lists the Vendor as HP, the other lists Intel for the vendor.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

It shows 192.168.1.11 and the same 255.255.255.0 subnet. BUT I just discovered something very odd. Using the Fing iPad app, I scanned my network.... and I find two separate entries for this computer. 192.168.1.11 and 192.168.1.15. They have different MAC addresses and both are able to be pinged from the Find app.

I have no other computer which has the same name on the network (named EliteBook to keep track of which computer it is). Interestingly, one entry lists the Vendor as HP, the other lists Intel for the vendor.

What's the other computer at .15?

Sometimes computers with two NICs (Ethernet and Wifi, for example) show up twice if both are plugged in / turned on.

 

[Project86]

I think it may have been just that - Ethernet connection on the .11 and wifi at the .15 spot. This is a laptop that lives in a dock 99.9% of the time but every once in a while a reboot causes it to connect via wifi when I normally use it by Ethernet. Either way, I can't get through to the NAS from here.... unless I use the web portal.

 

[frowertr]

Wonder if there is an ip conflict. Is your router dishing out IPs via dhcp or are you using static?

Have you tried changing the IP of that laptop?

 

[Project86]

DHCP.

I just noticed something else amiss as well, possibly related. Other computers on my network can see this Elitebook and play shared music from it, or open shared pics, etc. Works just as well from looking at Homegroup or Network.

But when I use the Elitebook I can't see other computers on the network at all. I go to Homegroup and it says no other homegroup computers currently available. I played around with leaving the Homegroup and starting it up again - if I start it from this Elitebook, my Surface Pro will see it right away. If I start from the Surface Pro, the Elitebook never sees it and thus can't join... it only gives the option of creating a new, presumably separate Homegroup.

So, there's definitely something weird with my setup.

 

[XavierMace]

Is everything else using WiFi or wired? I'd try disabling one on your HP and see how things look then.

 

[Project86]

Mix of Wifi and wired.

Interesting.... I rebooted my router several times during the troubleshooting process, but this morning I did it once more and now everything works fine. Not sure that's a satisfying answer but whatever, I'll take it.

Thanks for the help everyone.