Windows 8.1 problems connecting to N4F server after Plex

[poit57]

I'm not really sure where to ask this question, but my main issue is networking with Windows 8.1, so I thought this might be the best place. I've been using my current Nas4free server (formerly Freenas) since 2011. I use Windows Media Center, so mostly this is used for archiving TV recordings from my HTPC. I have 3 household computers that have access to my NAS.

Over the weekend, I started experimenting with Plex, so I configured my Nas4free build as a Plex Media Server. To complete this setup, I switched from my embedded install of 9.2.0.1.972 to a full install of 9.3.0.2.1480. I reconfigured the share and mount point the same as before (only a single 2TB drive connected to N4F). Other than the Plex package installation, the only service I am using on my N4F server is CIFS/SMB.

Two of my household PC's had the share set up as a mapped network drive, but the third did not. Since changing my Nas4free installation, I've had a lot of issues connecting to my storage. The Windows PC's that had the mapped drive could see the N4F machine under Networking in File Explorer, but gave an error when trying to connect. The third machine without the mapped drive had no issues connecting to the N4F machine.

I disconnected the mapped drives on the other PC's and reset and flushed the DNS. Upon rebooting these PC's, one of the machines was able to connect to the N4F right after booting, but loses the connection shortly after. After multiple reboots last night, I finally got a stable connection from this PC. The other PC that previously had share mapped still cannot connect to the N4F share. The third computer that previously was not having issues connecting had lost connection when I checked this morning. It took a reboot of that PC to reconnect to the N4F server.

It seems that the transfer speed when copying files from the N4F server has also dropped considerably since I set it up as a Plex media server. I'm wondering if I should abandon the effort to get the Plex server going, or if there could be something else causing all these problems with my Windows network connections to my N4F server.

Until I get this sorted out, I've been trying to offload about a terabyte of video, so that I can still watch them from my HTPC. It is the one that still cannot to the Nas4Free share at all.

[b0ssman]

please read
http://wiki.nas4free.org/doku.php?id=faq:0073

Also, bear in mind that if you use a Full install, you cannot expect support if something breaks. There is no way that anyone would be able to guess what part(s) of the system you damaged (accidentally or intentionally). You have been warned.

[poit57]

So, you're basically saying that full installs are expected to break the functionality of Nas4free no matter what, so there's no use in even asking for help? That seems kind of weird, but okay.

I was already leaning toward reverting back to my previous configuration on the embedded install, but I thought someone might know something about using CIFS/SMB for sharing on a Windows network before I abandoned my endeavor into Plex.

[b0ssman]

plex can be installed in a jail on embedded installs.
see
viewtopic.php?f=79&t=4971&hilit=plex

[poit57]

Okay, I've abandoned my attempts at Plex and gone back to the embedded installation and reconfigured al my shares the same as they were before. I'm still running into some issues with Windows intermittently losing connection to the shared folders. I think I may have noticed a pattern of behavior.

It seems that Windows is losing the share from various computers when large amounts of data is being accessed at the same time. The issue first appeared when I added the Plex Media Server and it was scanning my media libraries. I then continued to have issues as I was trying to copy my video recordings for fear that I would lose access to them from my living room PC. After reinstalling and configuring my NAS with the embedded install, I noticed that I had forgotten to disable the recycle bin on one of my mount points. The disk status showed that 1.2 TB of 1.8 TB was still in use even though I had almost completely cleared my NAS.

As I used the web interface's file manager to delete the recycle bin folder from that mount point, suddenly, I lost access to the shared folder through Windows File Explorer again. Once the deletion was completed, I was able to access the shared folders once again.

I'm thinking large amounts of video files being accessed/scanned through Plex is what caused the networking issues that I saw after I set up the Plex Media Server on my Nas4free machine. Now my question is this: Is there anything I can do to improve this networking issue other than try to refrain from how much data is accessed on the server at once?

Here is my setup
Nas4free version: 9.3.0.2.1408 x64 embedded
Motherboard chipset: Intel G41
CPU: Intel Celeron E3400 2.6 GHz, 1MB L2 cache
RAM: 4GB
Boot device: 4 GB USB 2.0 flash drive
Storage: 2 TB Hitachi HDD on SATA III controller
Network adapter: 10/100/1000 LAN
Gigabit router and switch with Cat 5e and Cat 6 Ethernet cables throughout the house

[b0ssman]

what network card are you using?

anything in the nas4free log files?

[poit57]

what network card are you using?

anything in the nas4free log files?

The only documentation for the network card I can find just says Realtek 10/100/1000Mbps chip.

I don't know where to find the log files or what I would be looking for.

[b0ssman]

under Diagnostics|Log

and realtek cards sometimes cause weird problems.
get a cheap intel card.