Smart Utility does not see NAS on network

[pauldonnelly]

Running Smart Utility version 1.00.10 results in Operation Timeout. Please try again or check your Firewall.
This occurs with the software firewall (MacAfee and Windows Defender) turned off. The router is a Linksys wrt610n.

The N2200 is visible as a DHCP client on the Linksys wrt610n, and I can ping the n2200 successfully at the allocated ip address.

I have tried downloading and using version 1.00.12 of the Smart Utility and have the same problem. In fact there are further problems when trying to install and use this version:

a) When unzipping there is a "copy failed" message after the lines Extract shell.dll, output folder...Thecus Smart Utility

b) When using v 1.00.12 there are errors "attempt to write to a readonly database" and an exception of class NetObjectException was not handled./

What else should I try such as configuring the router? There is little in the user documentation to help with this problem. Or is it a software fault with the Smart Utility?

[pauldonnelly]

This was solved by directly connecting the NAS to the PC. It seems that the NAS had a default IP address in the same range as the router ...which may explain the problem.

[rekna]

How did you directly connect it? Did you just connect with an ethernet cable between the two devices? Did you have to manually configure the ip address? What network settings did you use?

I am seeing this same problem but have yet been able to figure out a way around this.

[pauldonnelly]

Sorry for slow feedback - have been travelling.

This was the response from Thecus:

"Would you please try to connect N2200 directly to your computer and try again?
When directly connect, if you can not ping N2200 with the DHCP IP, please change your computer IP to 192.168.1.X segment , and try N2200 with 192.168.1.100."

Connect your PC direct to the NAS.
Then set you IP address according to your windows version eg for vista follow this link.
windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-TCP-IP-settings

[richardfx]

I am very suprised that Thecus gave this as a reply.

If you have to plug the unit directly into the PC, there is little point of buying a more expensive network attached storage device, because a simple USB HDD set up as a shared drive across the network will do most of the functions that people would buy this unit for.

Also most people do not have 2 ethernet ports on the back of their PC. And if they did, they would then have to leave that PC on all of the time if they wanted to use the NAS's other features, such as streaming media over the network, or use it as a print server. Again, if you had to leave that PC on all of the time, you could just set that PC up as a print server or media server anyway.

I sell PCs and hardware, and have come here after a query from a customer, who experienced simliar warnings with his new N2200 as in original post. The IP address range apprears configured correctly, and the unit functions perfectly across the network otherwise. The main problem seems to be using features such as the backup function in the Smart Utility. I am interested if anybody else has had a similar problem, and did it turn out to just be simply the Smart Utility itself?

[madster1818]

Hi there

The above method is still not working for me. I am still keeping the same error after I try to change the IP address.

I am using XP, can anyone help me please???

[richardfx]

I think I was off track with my post above, it was more to do with the Smart Utility Software and other functions such as backup, rather than seeing the unit with the software.

To answer "Smart Utility does not see NAS on network", I just think the Smart Utility software is pretty useless myself and needs putting in the bin in the first place, as you do not need it anyway. The hardware is really awesome though.

You can access the units configuration utility through a web interface (eg typing 192.168.0.X or whatever IP address it is given, into firefox or explorer), and setting up the unit itself from there.

You can access the unit's shared folders (once set up with web interface) through 'My Network Places' etc, and can map the shared folders as drives to use them. As for the backup function, I am going to try Comodo Backup or Win7 user & image backup utilities (set to backup over the network, by browsing through my network places to find the folder you would like to use etc).

Not sure if that helps anyone, but I think the Thecus software needs putting in the bin. There is nothing that you can not use other software for.

My customer wrote to Thecus Customer Support months ago, and is still yet to hear back. It is a shame that poor software and customer support is really letting down such a brilliant product!

[madster1818]

Hi there

You get me even more confused! So if we can configure the N2200 thru web interface, do we connect to router or direct to PC?

How do we get the IP to type in IE in order to configure?

[tugman]

madstar1818 -
first thing to do is turn off your PC's firewall - either windows defender or aftermarket, whatever you are using.
If still having problems after that, let us know.
Good luck.

[richardfx]

haha Tugman, you are right, that is the first place to start for the majority of people probably coming to this post (if it is not an IP address problem like it turned out to be for Paul).

I assumed we were just talking about a situation where Windows can see the NAS, but the Smart Utility can't.

(in all fairness, I am yet to try v1.00.1220 released 09.12.14 on this client's PC, I was a little harsh above saying to throw the software in the bin, as was using the CD release on Win7 x64. It wasn't around when I installed the unit, and just noticed it now).

[madster1818]

Hi there

Finally managed to get Smart Wizard working! I try maunally map those drives but I dun see anything on my network place.

Still can't see the NAS from my XP laptop...the Win7 laptop is working well.

What I should do to map the network drive etc?

[oemnic]

Mar 17, 2010 21:21:08 GMT 7 madster1818 said:

Hi there

Finally managed to get Smart Wizard working! I try maunally map those drives but I dun see anything on my network place.

Still can't see the NAS from my XP laptop...the Win7 laptop is working well.

What I should do to map the network drive etc?

Hi,
Am having same problem too.

After running Wizard & after assigning alphabets to the various folders (NAS Picture, iTunes Server, Movie, USBCopy, etc), I got to the acknowledgement page which asks me whether to start backup or go to browser. But despite that, I still don't see any of those folders in my Windows Explorer. What else should I be doing?

I tried to use Windows' Add Network Place wizard to map the folders according to the wizard's Network Disk Setup page ie. to \\192.168.1.100\ NAS Picture but error msg "folder entered is invalid". (anyway, shouldn't the wizard have done the mapping for me automatically?)

I can get to Web Admisntrator interface & under Sys Network tab, LAN has some IP address, etc - but dunno if I need to adjust anything there. I am running XP SP3.

p/s: I have also asked the Thecus support but no further reply from them after they asked me for IP address. Have also checked their FAQ, dug around this forum & re-read thecus' manual & still found nothing to tell me what I shld see after finishing the Wizard and what else to do.

Help! What else shld I do and what should I expect after completing the Wizard?

Thanks!

[richardfx]

Hey guys, just checking back to check this post after moving house.

Funnily enough I bought myself a N2200 and am very impressed with the hardware (was just working on a clients before).

Sounds like both of you are just having trouble finding the NAS with Windows. Windows 7 is very easy, as the Network is nicely listed under Network as simply "N2200". With XP however (this is embarrassing as I don't have XP installed to check, so doing it from memory), you would have to navigate to My Network Places, and Navigate to Entire Network then find the Microsoft Workgroup that the Thecus is in. To find it manually you would type in \\N2200\'share name'.

To Map a Network Drive, it is incredibly simple. Navigate to the Thecus in Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) through My Network Places/Workgroup Name (as above), and when you see the list of shared folders, simply right click on the one that you want to share, and you should see 'map network drive' as an option there. Just select a drive letter, and then in My Computer, that Network Share will come up in there.

However as tugman said, make sure you have checked your firewall settings. Eg, if you are using ZoneAlarm, make sure you add your local network IP range into the trusted zone.

As for the Start Utility, my opinion is still the same. Actually the only thing I needed it for, was when I delibrately destroyed a RAID array, it needed the install files from the CD to get the system going again (or fresh download if you updated firmware as in my case). Apart from this use for the program, the Smart Utility would always have a warning about something (forgot exact warning now) when you startup Windows (seems whatever version) if you set Smart Utility as a startup application. There is no need to install this software once you have the N2200 up and running, as there is plenty of really good Backup Software that can backup across a network.

Good luck guys anyway, I hope this helps, read the documentation in the manual, it is really good if you are still stuck. Once you have set it all up, it is very easy to use. The best toy I have bought in years to be honest.