Network chaos: will renaming help?

ralphholmes · 02 Jul 2020

I have a LAN at home with three PCs (and a WDTV Live). All three PCs are running up-to-date 64-bit Windows 10, Version 1909 (OS Build 18363.900)
I'm having problems with linking to them on my LAN.
It looks as if there are several LANs on the system, called "Network", "Ralph-Network" and "Ralph-Wireless", all of which, despite the "wireless" in the name are Ethernet connections.
Would it make connecting PCs a reality if all the networks had the same name?
If I go to Settings - Network & Internet - change adapter options and then select the network and rename it, this seems to change the wrong thing.

Network chaos: will renaming help?-image.png

In the picture, what I think I need to change is the middle line, but I don't know how to do this.
Is there a kind whizz-kid out there who can sort me out, please?

Caledon Ken · 02 Jul 2020

My first step would be to reset the network on all Window 10 devices.

Start > Settings > Network and Internet > scroll down right hand side > Reset Network > Restart machine

This does reset VPN's and specialized communication software. May need to be re-installed or reconfigured. FYI

Then review this tutorial on sharing. SMB is likely disabled.

Share Files and Folders Over a Network in Windows 10

ralphholmes · 02 Jul 2020

Thank you for replying so rapidly.

I'll try that. I sort of wondered is that might be the answer anyway. Each PC seems to have set up its own network.

What is SMB, please? I've never been very good with acronyms.

Cheers

Ralph

Caledon Ken · 02 Jul 2020

Small Message Blocks.

Windows 10 shuts off SMB 1.0 as it is a security risk. Unfortunately that is how most people see their network in Explorer rather than mapping to drives.

Google SMB 1.0 security.

ralphholmes · 02 Jul 2020

Thank you.

First, that seems to have solved my networking problem: there is only one Ethernet network now and all three PCs can see each other.

Second, thanks for the SMB enlightenment - when you stop learning, you're dead!

Cheers

Ralph

Caledon Ken · 02 Jul 2020

Great.

The unfortunate thing .... you may have to do this again in several months. I have no proof other than real life experience.

I've done this twice to my network in the last 9 months. I'm not sure what is actually breaking. Of course I change things so it might be self inflicted.

Check those SMB settings. You want to uncheck SMB Automatic removal.

Yes a guy I use to work with said "I learned something today, I'm not going to die today".

Stay safe

Ken

jimbo45 · 03 Jul 2020

Caledon Ken said:

Small Message Blocks.

Windows 10 shuts off SMB 1.0 as it is a security risk. Unfortunately that is how most people see their network in Explorer rather than mapping to drives.

Google SMB 1.0 security.

Hi there.

And pray sir how do you map to a drive if the file explorer doesn't map the network in the first place --surely you aren't suggesting a "little round objects" method of getting users to enter IP addresses are you !!!!

for HOME networks this paranoid issue over SMB1 and security is totally over the top --especially if you are using a Windows machine to connect to older NAS boxes which still only work with SMB1 type connections or some devices like Amazon fire sticks and smart TV's using things like a KODI client on the Amazon fire stick.

The latest (insider) versions of Windows just hose up any sort of network browsing via file explorer -- it's NOT OK to get unskilled users to connect to a NAS server using an IP address -- in any case if your NAS is on a DHCP assigned router or similar there's no guarantee that the IP address will even remain the same -- and as for getting unskilled users to type out IPV6 type addresses -- just forget it.

There's 100% no reason to worry about SMBV1 (SMB1) on HOME networks -- we aren't running networks for commercial customers or those that need CIA type robust enterprise strength security.

Sometimes I think these security people in I.T are just doing a lot of this stuff to protect their own (increasingly unimportant) jobs when it comes to HOME networks -- OK for Enterprise and Work stuff. Home users need to be more concerned with getting scammed by quite simple means (no A/V system will protect against a lot of common scams) rather than making it almost impossible for family and visitors to access Files and HDD's on a NAS on your LAN so they can play movies etc on their devices.

WD these days is more than adequate for security protection (I'm addressing HOME computers - not commercial websites, e-commerce, enterprise servers etc here of course)-- and the latest updates even have PUP protection as well --that's been available for ages but you used to have to activate it via a registry fix.

Linux NAS servers even sharing files / data via SMB1 has almost ZERO problems with security anyway -- it's difficult to break in - even the old UNIX UUP-UUP "get around" where you could theoretically get root access has long been fixed --and if you also set up your router firewall properly (yes routers have good firewalls in them believe it or not) then you are doubly protected against intrusion from outside anyway.
Cheers
jimbo

EdTittel · 03 Jul 2020

Can't resist chiming in, sorry. SMB is actually "Server Message Blocks" as explained in this nice little introduction to the protocol: An Introduction to SMB for Network Security Analysts.
HTH,
--Ed--

Caledon Ken · 03 Jul 2020

Thanks Ed.

Errors need to corrected.