How to access my NAS on campus?

Ease · 29 Sep 2010 at 23:19

So our Uni has a stupid program we need to download and run, which checks for up to date antivirus, before we can access the network in any other way. To get my PS3 online I had to force my PC to have the same MAC address as the PS3 and run the program, which registers that MAC address and it can now go online. However, I can't access my NAS to find out its MAC address as I can't get to its Browser UI without it being on the network. All I have available right now are a dozen ethernet cables, my PC, my PS3, and a 5-port switch. Any advice?

(I can probably get hold of a cheap router, though I can't risk plugging this into the Uni ethernet as we have been told we will be expelled if we are caught with a router. Only switches are allowed.)

ruskie · 29 Sep 2010 at 23:46

Check the NAS case, you might be lucky to find the MAC address written down somwhere.

Alternatively, connect the NAS and PC to the switch and ensure they are on the same subnet. Ping the NAS from your PC and ensure you receive ping replies. Open up a cmd prompt on your PC and type arp -a. Look for your NAS ip address from the returned list. Right next to the IP you will find the MAC address.

blueacid · 30 Sep 2010 at 00:39

Do you want to connect the NAS to the wider internet, or just to your desktop?

PistolPete · 30 Sep 2010 at 10:33

Cross over cable from your PC to your NAS, ping it and then look at the ARP table.

Simples

JonJ678 · 30 Sep 2010 at 13:35

If you're sent down for having a router, does it say anything about putting a NAS behind a desktop that's playing the role of a router? You can certainly argue that internet connection sharing isn't the same as a router, apologise and cease doing so if caught.

Oddly mine charges a tenner per device if using a switch, gets angry if you use a wireless router, but all is well if you use a wired-only cable router.

Ease · 30 Sep 2010 at 15:32

I pretty much just want the NAS connected to my PC and my PS3 (although not fussed about the PS3). Found the MAC address, and got that registered by using my PC, but the NAS still doesn't appear on the network. Not really sure why. I think I'm going to borrow a Router, plug in just my desktop and NAS, and move over the files I care about. Might end up buying a 1.5Tb from OcUK to fit it all in =P

memyselfandi · 30 Sep 2010 at 15:39

Hold on, you say you have a switch and cables as well as the devices. So it should just be as simple as connecting them both to the switch and accessing the NAS from the PC? You don't need to be connected to the Uni network to do that. The only stumbling block is if your PC is using DHCP ... if it is then you will need to manually set the PC's network address to be something in the same subnet as the NASes address (assuming the NAS isn't acting as a DHCP server) if you are not connected to a network providing DHCP.

You probably can't see the NAS at the moment as you are probably getting a DHCP address off the Uni network on the PC which is in a different range to that being used by the NAS hence you cannot connect to it.