ERR: Specified Network Name is No Longer Available

[cyberwolf42]

(Note 9/29/06: I renamed this thread to more accurately reflect the problem and error message. The original title of this posting was: "100Mbps Router and a 1Gbps Switch?")

Not sure where to start here but I need help. I have contacted Thecus and eAegis.com to no avail.

I have an N5200BR, with the 4-port gigabit switch built in.

Seems to me as if I can't use the built-in gigabit switch because the LAN side has to be on a separate subnet as the WAN, so then all of my port-forwarding from my router won't work properly.

First question: Is the above true? If not, how do I configure things?

Second Question: What is wrong with my new setup? Here are the details:

I picked up a Netgear gigabit 5-port switch and hooked it up as follows:

100Mbit Linksys Router ===> Netgear Gigabit Switch ===>[N5200BR WAN Port, and PC1, and PC2, all gigabit]

That is, my Linksys router is hooked up to my Netgear Gigabit switch and in the switch I also plugged the N5200BR (via the WAN port) and all of my PC's that are Gigabit.

Except now I can't seem to copy anything over to the N5200BR. I can read files, create them, create directories, etc. However, when I attempt to copy either large files or lots of smaller files to the NAS volume, I get errors about the destination no longer being available. I suspect that it is because the data may be trying to go from my 1gbps line to my 100mbps router and then back to the 1gbps line, although, I was under the impression that it should have all stayed in the Router. Which way should it work? And how can I accomplish having all of my devices communicate via 1gbps? (while keeping my port-forwarding on my router/etc.)

Thanks!

[zendaver]

cyberwolf42,
There have been other posts mentioning dropped connections when using the WAN port when configured to get an IP address via DHCP. I would recommend you set the WAN port to use a static IP address in the same subnet. In my case I just skipped the WAN port and only used the LAN 4-port switch with a static IP address. The LAN side doesn't even offer the open to use DHCP to get an IP address. I agree that because the LAN and WAN use different subnets, its hard to see how they could both be used effectively. It's NAT features are rather weak compared to any of the consumer NAT routers.

-ZenDaveR

[cyberwolf42]

Zendaver --

Thanks for your reply. I'm only using Static IP.

I can't seem to get this to work. Can you please suggest to me exactly what the various settings need to be and what needs to be plugged where?

I just want to make sure my PC is at 192.168.1.101.
I don't care what the 5200 is as long as it works ;-)

The main problem I'm having may not be cause by the 5200 at all. When I try to do a large copy (large file, or lots of small files) in Windows it starts and then halts, and after 30-60 seconds I get the error message "The Specified Network Name is No Longer Available". Seems to be a VERY common problem and I'm totally boggled as to how to fix it.

SUGGESTIONS ANYONE? PLEASE? I'm at my wits end!

Thanks!

[N2100Owner]

Are you mapping the Network Drives using Netbios name? or IP address?

[zendaver]

cyberwolf42,
Hope you still banging on it and haven't given up. So after too much experimenting around, I ended up just using the N5200 WAN port (on of the four) to connect to my NAT router. I did seem to have trouble under some arrangements getting to the configuration web page it seems, but somehow I did and I set its LAN port to a static IP in my normal subnet but further out in the range. Another place to look for errors... the control panel + Administrative Tools + Event viewer. There's another firmware update recently out, but I'd make sure you had a stable enough environment that it wouldn't lose its connection mid update first. - Good Luck.

-ZenDaveR

[cyberwolf42]

Thanks for your replies. I'm still hanging in there. Except my systems is bursting at the seams and I *need* to start using this for storage.

I'm mapping the name using the Netbios name, not the IP address. Should that make a difference? I suppose I can try the IP address also.

I have the latest (1.00.03) firmware.

I have tried 3 different Gigabit ethernet PCI cards in my PC. The first two had the RealTEK chipset on it and this latest one is a D-Link with a different chipset. The D-Link seems to be better overall but I still have not eliminated the issue. (With the RealTEK chipset cards my system would blank the screen and literally come to a screeching halt (yes, you could HEAR it halt via the sound card/speakers!) when attempting to copy either a large file or a lot of small files to the N5200.) With the new card at least that doesn't happen, although I did get a BSOD complaining about a USB driver -- and no, my N5200 is not connected via USB, only my keyboard, mouse, card reader, and USB hub are.

After hours and hours of refining some Google searches, I have found that many people seem to be having this issue in general but nobody has solved it -- and even one N5200 reviewer had it too:
www.starnet.com/huntntech/article/storage_server_review_thecus_n5200/
I will post a *very long* description of what I've tried so far later today when I dig it up out of my email.

More later...

Help help help help! ;-)

------------------

HERE IS THE EMAIL I SENT TO SUPPORT -- AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK YET.

I've attempted to fully document a problem I have been having with my N5200BR for the past 3 weeks so I can finally get the issue resolved.
Please be sure to see the "RESEARCH" section below, especially the very first link, as it shows that this is a common problem and that the issue most likely lies with the N5200BR's implementation of SAMBA and networking protocols. The lab that reviewed the N5200 had the same issue and believed it was related to DHCP but I am not using DHCP.

You may reach me at ANY TIME at <removed> or at <removed>. Please do not hesitate to contact me. I want this issue solved as it is starting to negatively impact my business. I've already spent close to a full week trying to troubleshoot the issue.

Thank you!


THE PROBLEM:
============
I am still having the problem where I receive the error message "Specified Network Name is No Longer Available" whenever I copy either large files or lots of small files to the N5200BR from Windows Explorer via my Gigabit Ethernet connection.


DETAILS ABOUT MY ENVIRONMENT:
=============================

Linksys BEFW11S4 Cable/DSL Router with 4-port 10/100 Switch
IP: 192.168.1.22
DHCP Lease Time is set to 1-day; None of the systems are utilizing DHCP.

Thecus N5200BR
WAN IP: 192.168.1.25
LAN IP: 192.168.2.100
DHCP is off.
Connection sharing is off.
3x500GB HDD's
RAID-5
1 Folder created in volume
1 User, part of group "users", with write access to the folder.

PC1: Windows XP Pro, SP2, ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard, 1GB RAM, multiple IDE HDDs, Linksys Gigabit PCI Ethernet Controller. Motherboard also has two built-in 10/100 Ethernet controllers which I've disabled in the BIOS.
IP: 192.168.1.101

PC2: Windows 2000, latest SP, Dell Latitude C610, 256MB RAM, built-in 10/100 ethernet controller.
IP: 192.168.1.100

Notes:
-All IP Addresses on ALL systems are STATIC.
-Subnet Masks are all 255.255.255.0


WHAT I'VE TRIED SO FAR AND WHAT HAPPENS:
========================================
* I have tried two different Gigabit Ethernet PCI controllers in my N5200BR system to take advantage of Gigabit speeds. One is a TrendNET adapter and the other is a Cisco Linksys adapter. Both are based on the same RealTEK chipset (which may be an issue, I will attempt to locate one with another chipset on it). I get the same error message with both.
UPDATE: I have tried with a 3rd card, and still have the issue, albeit not as often. The new one is a DLink card, not sure which chipset it is but it is not the RealTEK one.

* Everything seems to work fine when I use either of the built-in 10/100 controllers on PC1. I have tried to use a Gigabit Ethernet PCI card with the built-in 10/100 controllers both enabled as well as disabled in the BIOS and it seems to make no difference. Still get the same error message via Gigabit.

* I am using the two Cat5E cables that came with the N5200BR, however, I have tried many other cables in every location and am reasonably certain it is not a faulty cable issue because I always get the same error message.

* Applications seem to be able to write data to the N5200BR on their own without issue (I have ripped DVD's using DVDSHRINK to the N5200BR with no issue), but when I try to use the OS to do so I get problems.

* I have tried many different ways of hooking everything to each other, and all have exhibited the problem, including:

- It works fine if I use my 10/100 Ethernet adapter. Having Gigabit Ethernet on my PC seems to be when the problem comes up.

- I have tried using only the WAN Port, and still get the same error
message.

- I have tried using only the LAN port, and still get the same error
message.

- I have tried removing the Linksys Router entirely and only connecting the PC to the WAN Port on the N5200BR. Same error message.

- I have tried removing the Linksys Router entirely and only connecting the PC to one of the LAN Ports on the N5200BR. Same error message.

- I have tried using a NetGear Gigabit Ethernet Switch to connect the WAN port on the N5200BR and PC1 and still get the same error message.

* I get NO error message when copying files from PC1 to PC2 via the built-in 10/100 adapter in PC1 regardless of how it is connected (i.e. through N5200BR or not)

* I get the same error message when copying files from PC1 to PC2 via the Gigabit Ethernet adapter in PC1 while it is connected to the N5200BR's LAN ports.


Things I still need to try:
===========================

* I still have to see if I get the same error message when copying files from PC1 to PC2 via the Gigabit Ethernet adapter in PC1 while it is connected to my Linksys Router only, both with and without the N5200BR on the network.

UPDATE: I tried this. I didn't have the issue when copying from PC1 to PC2 when the N5200BR was not connected to the network, leading me to believe that the problem is isolated to something the N5200BR is doing.

<< * PLEASE SUGGEST OTHER TROUBLESHOOTING STEPS FOR ME HERE! >>

RESEARCH:
=========
I did a lot of research on the error message. Seems as if it is very
common, and even came up during a review of the N5200 -- Please review all of these but if you only look at one please DEFINITELY look at the first link below:

www.starnet.com/huntntech/article/storage_server_review_thecus_n5200/

forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/404866.html

www.ntcompatible.com/thread21365-1.html

www.network-builders.com/t7694-copying-files-quotthe-specified-network-name-is-no-longer-availablequot.html

www.nthelp.com/50/windows_2000_loses_network_conne.htm

www.infrant.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391

www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg77843.html

reviews.cnet.com/5208-7589-0.html?forumID=62&threadID=19682&messageID=548061

[jamis]

THis looks like the problem i am having for the most part... though my N5200 usually locks up completely in the process requiring a hard reboot.

I have tried copying via both by IP address and netbios name, and have also repro'd the problem using FTP.