Great idea.
So, first thing I tried was just issuing the command w/o turning things off. There were only 7 dynamic addresses. So I put each address in the browser, and only 1 connected (printer).
All the others would not connect, some with the messageand others sayingrefused to connectI would expect the same response if turning everything else off. No?connection timed out
Mine connect correctly when using their IP addresses in File explorer's address bar. I do not know what stops yours doing the same, assuming they are Windows devices.
- Unless you had only just lost comms with them. ARP interrogates Windows' opinion about what's connected, it does not actively test connections.
I suggested turning everything else off merely so that the only dynamic return was your router not because there would be any change in behaviour so
"I would expect the same response if turning everything else off"
Yes.
My use of the following commands was with the aim of checking which network computers were connected. Identification of my router IP was just a by-product.
You can get further identification data using Tracert commands
Tracert <IP address taken from ARP -A 'dynamic' returns>
For my network computers, the ComputerName appears in the first line of the Tracert response.
My printer's name also appears in its Tracert response but it is an awfully long wait after printer switch-on for it to be listed in the ARP -a response.
My router's name does not appear in its Tracert response but I know its Mac address from my own "turning everything else off" test so I can identify its IP address from the ARP -a response.
You could also try pinging IP addresses to check they are there but ping tests do not provide any other useful data.
- Ping responses start with Pinging for successful ones and just Ping for failures so you do not need to examine the whole of the response.
Putting an IP address into File explorer's address bar or a browser's address bar requires this format
\\192.168.0.251\
The IP address on its own will not always work.
The trailing \ is only needed if you are then following it with a subfolder's ShareName. It can be omitted otherwise but it does not harm in any case.
I used to have to use this format with previous routers but my current one has its own address [modelnameWiFi.com] and does not respond to the expected\\192.168.0.2\ at all [even though it is correct, perhaps it's a security measure?]. So my router's user manual was essential in managing this router otherwise I'd be in the same boat as you.
Best of luck,
Denis
Last edited by Try3; 31 Jan 2022 at 12:19.
I suppose your routers are in bridge mode. I am not familiar with this, but googling on bridge mode and ip number gives several threads with comparable difficulties/questions.
Everyone...thanks so much for your help, effort and direction.
I got it going.. Frankly, I'm not sure what the issue was. May have been getting messed up due to it was plugged into a switch along with the other router in the house.
I ended up disconnecting from the switch and resetting the router; hooked to it as if I was going to use it to do my routing. I then checked my IP address, and gateway. I was able to hook to that via browser and configure.
It was all pretty much wasted effort though. I wanted to use it to hook up a drive and make it available to have Macrium backup my laptop regularly. Would probablyl be slow as heck, but maybe able to do the backup overnight.
Problem is, it is a relatively old router, and it uses SMB 1.0, which has been pretty much deactivate for 2.0 to be the standard for better security.
I've decided it'd be more efficient anyway to hook an SSD via usb that I have here to back up to.
Thanks again folks.
I thought forum discussions about SMB1 said that all / almost all routers still use SMB1 for their drives. So it's not just your router at fault.
Enable or Disable SMB1 - TenForumsTutorials
But, more fundamentally, if your backup drive is always available on your network then it is as vulnerable to malware as your computers are.
So I think your SSD-USB idea is a superior solution.
Personally, I never connect any backup drive while I'm online.
All the best,
Denis
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