For some reason when I put my local Windows 7 desktop PC fixed/static IPs (192.168.1.X) into Shares > Settings > Network Access > SMB > Hosts it prevents me from accessing the Shares via My Computer > Network.
Yes but these work fine when I remove my PC fixed/static IP from the Hosts section (which I believe is meant to allow/lock down access from just the IPs you kist for security).
@Zippyduda wrote: Yes but these work fine when I remove my PC fixed/static IP from the Hosts section (which I believe is meant to allow/lock down access from just the IPs you list for security).
Understood. However, I would add that the credential in the Windows Credential manager is likely the one being used when you access the NAS from the network section of windows file explorer.
Is the PC directly connected to the same router or switch as the NAS?
Also - do you have the ReadyCloud app installed? ReadyCloud creates a VPN connection which will have a different IP address from the static one you've assigned the PC NIC.
FWIW, that particular approach to security doesn't add much (if any) protection, so it's not a feature I'd use myself.
It's an old mechanism, developed when people were a lot more trusting than they are now.
Looking at the SAMBA documentation, the original intent seems more about limiting access to specific subnets than limiting access to specific machines (192.168.1.x for example). But that use case fails if the outside access is coming through a NAT router.
In general I think that user authentication is much better approach to managing access.
