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Firmware 6.9.1 - Enter Network Password
Hi, Since updating to firmware 6.9.1 on my ReadyNAS 202, a windows security dialogue box pops up prompting me to enter Network password. This has never happened before, are there any reasons for this ...
bretty wrote:
I currently have an 8 port Netgear FS208v2 fast switch and a 5 Port D-Link DES-1008D fast switch. Should I replace the 8 port with a Gigabit switch which currently serves the ReadyNAS and the Router and leave the 5 port without any real problems or should i replace both with say a 16 port gigabit switch? What Gigabit switch would you suggest?
You should replace both. Gigabit took over from fast ethernet some years ago.
If the switches are co-located, then a 16 port switch would give the best performance. If they aren't, then two 8 port switches would do. Which switch makes sense depends on your bonding mode, so more on that below.
bretty wrote:
I have a combination of CAT 5 & CAT 5e cables between 5 computers, a printer, a router and the ReadyNAS 202, is this sufficent?
You should be using CAT 5e or better with gigabit, so I suggest replacing the CAT 5 runs. There's no need to replace the CAT 5e. CAT-6A would be a good replacement for the CAT 5 (and likely about the same price as CAT 5e).
bretty wrote:
The knowledge base link for bonding: https://kb.netgear.com/25509/ReadyNAS-What-Bonding-Teaming-Mode-Should-I-Use says that it should be a switch that supports IEEE802.3ad LACP. If this is absolutely necessary, which switch would you recommend?
Since your PCs are gigabit, the only time bonding improves performance is when you have more than one PC accessing the NAS at the same time. Even then, the gains are often modest. So the first question here is whether you need bonding at all.
The RN202 can deliver about 100 megabytes/sec on a gigabit link, which generally is enough performance for a home system w/o bonding.
As far as 16 port switches:
- An unmanaged GS316 has a street price around $55 (Amazon US pricing). With this switch you can use the TLB and ALB modes (though some users do find that they misbehave).
- A GS116Ev2 smart switch has a street price around $150. This switch would let you use static LAG (round robin).
- A GS716Tv3 has a street price around $200. This switch lets you use either static LAG or LACP.
Personally I don't think paying the $100-$150 price premium to get more bonding modes is a good value for most home users.
bretty wrote:
Will a new Gigabit NIC card make a huge difference?
I'd stay with the NIC card you have, at least for now.
You might have been using guest credentials before - Windows is tightening up on that.
Whatever the reason, the fix is to open the Windows Credential Manager on the PC. Delete any existing credentials for the NAS first (both IP address and hostname).
If you access the NAS by its hostname, then create a windows credential for the hostname - using the username/password of a NAS account. The NAS admin account will work for this.
If you access the NAS by its IP address, then create a windows credential for that also.
Hi Stephen,
Thank you for your reply.
Unfortunately it didnt do the trick.
We work through windows explorer to access the files on the ReadyNAS 202. FW v 6.9.0 made the saving of the files VERY slow and when v 6.9.1 came out, i was hoping this was going to fix it but not only is saving files VERY slow now, the: "enter network password" has added to the problem.
At the moment the work around is either of the following options:
1. Wait
2. Restart
3. Login to the server via the web page
Could the DNS be the problem?
Hi Stephen,
DNS was a shot in the dark, I suspected it because I changed ISP
Maybe i am missing something but it seems like youre a little alarmed but, yes we have been accessing the files through windows explorer for a very long time without any issues.
bretty wrote:
Maybe i am missing something but it seems like youre a little alarmed but, yes we have been accessing the files through windows explorer for a very long time without any issues.
Not sure which Stephen you meant.... but I'm not particularly alarmed. You raised two issues - password prompts and write speed.
The two approaches to the password problem are to either (a) Create NAS accounts that use the same credentials as the user's Windows logon or (b) add NAS credentials into the Windows credential manager on each PC. Both prevent guest access, which is becoming more problematic as Microsoft tightens up security.
On the NAS write speed I suggested a specific benchmark. If you want us to pursue it further, it would be helpful if you used it, and provided results. I followed up on confirming SMB access, since your work-around explicitly accessed the NAS via the web browser - which I found (find) confusing.
Disk issues can also reduce NAS performance, so it might be useful to look in the logs for evidence of frequent volume syncs, reallocated sectors, etc. The file system might also need maintenance (running defrag and balance).
- DNS would not be issue here. Have you tried a different workstation?
Otherwise maybe one of the Netgear guys on here have some other suggestions.
If you use user accounts then make sure local users and passwords match. For guest or everybody access it shouldn’t matter.Adding windows credentials for the NAS does eliminate guest access, so if it was done correctly it should eliminate the password prompt.
Slow speed is something else again. Can you measure throughput with NasTester, and report back with the results? http://www.808.dk/?code-csharp-nas-performance
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