NAS Shared Folder Mount Failure After DNS or DHCP Changes
Applicable Products
QTS, QuTS Hero
Scenario
When the IT administrator modifies DNS or DHCP settings on your network, Windows clients may be unable to resolve the NAS hostname. As a result, attempts to browse or map shared folders on the NAS may time out or fail.
Symptoms:
- Running net view \\<NAS-hostname> on a Windows PC times out.
- Mapping a drive (e.g. net use H: \\<NAS-hostname>\share) fails.
- The NAS no longer appears under Network in Windows File Explorer.
Incorrect or outdated DNS/DHCP records cause the NAS hostname to resolve to the wrong IP address (or not resolve at all), preventing Windows clients from locating the NAS.
Solution
- Verify DNS Records
- Log in to your DNS server (or router acting as DNS).
- Confirm that the A record for your NAS hostname points to the correct IP address.
- If you use DHCP to assign DNS, ensure the DHCP scope options are updated accordingly.
- Flush DNS Cache on Windows Clients
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
- Run: ipconfig /flushdns
- Use Direct IP Address (Temporary Workaround)
- In File Explorer or Command Prompt, connect by IP: net use H: \\192.168.1.100\share
- Edit Windows Hosts File (Alternative)
- Open Notepad as Administrator.
- Edit C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts and add a line:
192.168.1.100 mynas - Save and then retry mapping \\mynas\share.
- Check SMB Service on the NAS
- Log in to QTS.
- Go to Control Panel > Network & File Services > Win/Mac/NFS.
- Ensure Microsoft Networking (SMB) is enabled and correctly configured (SMBv2/v3).
- Restart the NAS Properly
- In QTS, click your username (top right) > Restart.
- Avoid pulling the power plug unless absolutely necessary.