IP address unreachable

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 08 Apr 2015 19:35

I set up nas4free on several PCs without any problems. This time I have a problem with Zoostorm 7200-6005.
I installed nas4free version 9.3.0.2.1349 - using the full installation option with a static IP address.
This works fine provided I don't restart the server or shut it down and start it again - meaning that I can ping it from another PC and log into the web interface. However, when I restart it or shut it down and start it up again, the IP address is unreachable - I simply cannot connect to it. I haven't come across this problem before. Does any body have any ideas?
Here are the specifications:
Processor

Intel Core i5-4460 3.2Ghz Haswell CPU
Max Turbo Frequency: 3.4Ghz
Cache: 6MB

Memory

8GB DDR3 1600Mhz RAM
Supports up to 16GB
2 x DIMM sockets (1 Used)

Hard Drive

500GB SATA HDD 7200rpm

Optical Drive

DVDRW

Software

Operating System: No Operating System Included

Chipset

Intel H81 Express

Graphics

Intel HD 4600 graphics

Audio

High Definition Audio, 5.1 channel

Networking

Realtek 10/100/1000 LAN

Power Supply

250 watts 80+ PSU

Dimensions

Height: 330mm
Width: 96mm
Depth: 393mm

Interfaces

1 x PS/2 Keyboard Port
1 x D-Sub VGA Port
1 x DVI-D Port
4 x USB 2.0 Port
2 x USB 3.0 Port
1 x RJ-45 Port
3 x Audio Jacks

Expansion

1 x PCI-e x 16 Slot
2 x PCI-e Slots
2 x 3.5" Internal Bays (1 used)
1 x 3.5" External Bay (free)

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 09 Apr 2015 14:46

I am still hoping someone will be able to help. The motherboard is
GA-H81M-DS2V
gigabyte ga-h81m-ds2v intel h81 (socket 1150) motherboard

onboard LAN is:
Realtek® GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)

I wonder if the problem I am having has to do with the onboard LAN. If there is a driver I should get for this to try, please, can you pint me to it.

Thank you.

Lee Sharp · Post by **Lee Sharp** » 10 Apr 2015 17:37

Reatek nics are crap. I would pick up and intel based gigabit nic, and put it in there and not mess with this one.

Tom Light · Post by **Tom Light** » 10 Apr 2015 20:06

I had the same problem,
than downloaded the embedded image, and installed on USB from another PC (USB is my NAS bootdrive)
Inserted back in the nas and, reloaded settings (i saved them before the update), and it runned without a problem.

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 13 Apr 2015 17:35

I would prefer to do the full installation - it seems that the full installation causes this problem?
I really would like to get to the bottom of this.

Post by **b0ssman** » 13 Apr 2015 17:46

Tell us the reason that you think that you need the full installation.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 13 Apr 2015 18:11

I am still not very clear on why I should use the embedded installation. I know that it is easier for
future upgrades. On the other hand, it saves me a lot of headaches in case I need to reboot the system. Besides I am not always there when the system crashes (due to a power cut and suchlike), so nas4free would be have to be restarted by just pressing the power button which can be done by anybody.

Lee Sharp · Post by **Lee Sharp** » 13 Apr 2015 19:35

All of my embedded installs reboot clean, even without a keyboard attached. Why do you feel the full install boots easier?

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 13 Apr 2015 19:44

It is just something I read on the Internet - somebody was advising against it for this reason.
So, which option should I use for the install? Option 2 for installing it on the HDD? I am afraid
I don't really understand what the Install Install 'embedded' OS on HDD/Flash/USB + DATA + SWAP partition
means. Would I be installing it on the HDD or Flash or USB? This is
what worries me - as I would prefer nas4free to run from the HDD, not the USB drive which is
what the option implies.

Post by **ChriZathens** » 13 Apr 2015 20:55

The embedded installation is the recommended type.
It boots from the stick and is loaded to ram. The usb stick is never accessed again, unless there is a config change.
You can install the embedded on a hard disk but it is a waste of space and sata port

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 13 Apr 2015 21:03

Thanks for this. But if you can bear with me - is nas4free actually installed onto the HDD?
It's the word "embedded" which I am not sure what it actually means in this case.

Post by **b0ssman** » 13 Apr 2015 21:07

embedded means it loads the system into ram.
no changes except for the config are permanent.

Lee Sharp · Post by **Lee Sharp** » 13 Apr 2015 23:12

Alice wrote:It is just something I read on the Internet -

This is the beginning of a lot of bad stories...

The "Embedded" term goes back to m0n0wall, and pfSense soon after they split. m0n0wall was designed to work in any old PC, but was also designed to work in the new "Embedded Systems" from PC Engines and the like. To do this, it was installed to a flash drive, and booted into ram to keep the logs from burning out the flash drive. There was no special term for this until pfSense came along and made a full install version that was easier to add on to and hack. Now they needed a term for the old style image that could burn to the flash in embedded systems, and so...

Later Askozia forked off for a phone system, then went commercial and Linux. And FreeNAS came out. It used the pfSense terminology, but found the significant advantages of running "Embedded." (One of which is not tying up a drive port...) But the big one is, a ram based system is essentially "rebuilt" on each reboot. Makes troubleshooting easy.

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 14 Apr 2015 14:11

Thank you very much for the explanation. I have not tried the embedded yet.
However, before I do so, if you could bear with me (because I have not actually done it yet), where do I actually
install nas4free if I choose Option 32? HDD, Flash or USB? If it is not installed on HDD, does the USB stick have to stay in the PC all the time?
Also, what worries me is that if any changes are made, they are wiped out on reboot. So, if I a new user or change something in the WEBGUI, will these changes be wiped out on reboot? Also, what should I do about SWAP? The memory in the PC is 8GB.
Many thanks.

kenZ71 · Post by **kenZ71** » 15 Apr 2015 11:57

Not sure if the usb stick needs to stay in the machine. But why risk losing it?

Most changes are written to an xml config file that is saved to the usb. Very easy to use the built-in in backup process to save the file. Just keep in mind, if your nas is unavailable you need the Config to get back in. So storing that tiny file on drop box / Google drive or something similar is advisable. Heck, you can email it to yourself!

Swap is usually not needed.

kenZ71 · Post by **kenZ71** » 15 Apr 2015 11:57

ooops double post

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 15 Apr 2015 12:06

Thank you very much for your reply.
I am a little confused - if the OS is embedded on the USB, then the USB has to stay in the PC.
What method did you use for installing nas4free? I assume you do not use the USB?

Post by **ChriZathens** » 15 Apr 2015 16:41

You can use the livecd version, or the live usb version
In case of live cd you only need a usb to install the O/S to.
in case of liveusb you need to have 2 usb sticks - one with the liveusb version and the other where the OS will be installed to..
The usb is needed to boot, then it is loaded to RAM. If you remove the usb after booting no problem. You only need it in case of a reboot.

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 15 Apr 2015 17:15

Yes, now I understand. Well to answer kenZ71's question why risk losing the USB stick:
the PC resides in an office - I am rarely there - so if there is a power cut, they will
have to reboot the PC - which means the USB stick would have to stay in - which is not the
best secure method.
Many thanks.

Post by **ChriZathens** » 15 Apr 2015 18:01

Well, most server motherboards have internal usb ports, exactly for reasons like this...
But you can always get one of those tiny usb sticks which, when plugged, are only few millimeters long, so they cannot be unplugged by mistake.
Or you can get something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Moth ... B002GNU2V6

Check on ebay, you will find one for about 5 dollars/euro

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 15 Apr 2015 18:47

Thanks very much for everything.

Lee Sharp · Post by **Lee Sharp** » 19 Apr 2015 23:09

If people can wonder your server room and yank out USB sticks, you have bigger problems then this...

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 21 Apr 2015 18:32

That's all very well, but some organizations such as charities cannot afford super premises with an office they can use for a secure server room. That is why I preferred the full installation to embedded.
Be that as it may, in case a stick gets lost, does one simply reinstall the OS and imports the backed up configuration file and finds all the data and shares intact after that? Is this the recommended backup for cases like this (apart from the backup of data which is a different matter)? Thank you.

Post by **ChriZathens** » 21 Apr 2015 23:07

Yes, embedded is the recommended installation
In case the usb stick gets lost you only need to install to a new and import the configuration
Everything will be as it was before the usb loss.

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 21 Apr 2015 23:13

Very much appreciated - thank you for your helpful reply.

armandh · Post by **armandh** » 08 Jun 2015 15:28

one can install the embedded ver to a small Hdd that is [later] installed but not mounted and set to spin down
viewtopic.php?f=63&t=7842
or mount the USB flash inside

it is just a place to store the OS and config for the next boot
the OS runs from ram [and faster I might add]

full install runs from the Hdd [not as fast]

in the early days B4 USB boot, folk ran from the live CD and a floppy [or USB] for the config.
saved the IDE lines for storage drives

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 19 Jun 2015 13:34

I am afrad that I have to come to the original problem - this server is not reachable after restart or shutdown.
I always have to configure the IP address every time for it to work.
I was advised to get an Intel based Gigabit NIC (Intel® EXPI9301CT). Alas, this does not work either - it's even worse.
I tried everything: I disabled the onboard network controller and tried to connect the Intel card - the light is on,
which means that it works, but when I try to connect to the nas4free from another computer, it's not available.
Likewise, when I do a test ping on the nas4free interface, there is no response. I enable the onboard controller
again and tried to conect to the Intel as a second option - no success. So I had to try the onboard
LAN controller again which works - but when I shut down or restart the nas4free, the IP address is unreachable again.
So I have to go for option 2 again to set the IP address again (even if it shows the same one I set up in the
first place - 192.168.1.135) and then I get the usual confirmation that I can enter the GUI using this address
and it works again.

I am most frustrated - as I said before, I set up nas4free on several computers without any problems,
also using the Realtek NIC. I didn't really think that Realtek was the problem. Please, help.

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 20 Jun 2015 11:40

I'd like to add that the fact the network connection is not reestablished after every boot
indicates that something overrides nas4free LAN connection on startup. Is something like
this at all possible?

Post by **alexey123** » 20 Jun 2015 12:16

In first - Nas4Free lost ip after reboot, when LiveUSB used.
Can you check over console shell

Code: Select all

ifconfig
cat /etc/platform

?
If adress for NIC valid - try ping any host, such router.

Second - may be any device have some IP ? For example router have dhcp server enabled and it give some IP for any mobile device ?

Alice · Post by **Alice** » 20 Jun 2015 13:05

Thank you very much for your suggestions - alas, they don't apply in my case.
I have been trying to solve this problem in the last two months.
The IP is never lost, it is always the same: 192.168.1.135. I always try to
ping host after reboot - it is never successful. It is successful only when I go
back to Option 2 - to configure the IP address even if it is still the same.
After I enter it again, I get the confirmation that I can now enter the WebGUI -
only then the network connection works without any problems - until the
computer shuts down or restarts - then I have to do the whole thing again.
There is no other IP conflict on the network - this is a static IP address, so
there are no devices which would have the same address. So this leads me to think
that somehow the boot overrides the LAN in nas4free every time the PC restarts.
Edited: As an afterthought, it occurs to me whether there is a setting somewhere
in nas4free which would enable the networking or something similar automatically
after each restart.

XigmaNAS