Windows Home Server suddenly disappears from network? Ideas?

[dydx]

My WHS machine has been running fine for months now. Just recently, the server does not appear on my network. I have not done anything to it, other than occasionally accessing files. From the server side (by hooking up a monitor and mouse) I am able to access the internet. From the client side, I am able to logon to the web based WHS site and also access uTorrent's WebUI which I have setup on my server. However, I cannot directly access the network share because "//Server" does not appear in "Network". The WHS connector also does not work on the client side.

As I mentioned before, everything was working perfectly fine previously. My domain names are all setup properly, and it appears the router is correctly assigning an IP address. I am completely lost on what to try next, so I was hoping maybe you guys would have some suggestions?

EDIT: After some more poking around, Ive discovered that basically in summary, I can access the server by IP address, but not by name. Any ideas?

[Styk33]

If you reboot the server, can you see it again on the network?

[Shockey]

If you can access it by ip then sounds like a DNS and netbios issue.

Try a reboot like styk33 suggested.

[Old Hippie]

Check out the WHS Tool Kit (http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/dougknox/windows-home-server-toolkit-v1-the-nuts-and-bolts.aspx).

It'll troubleshoot the problem for ya.

[dydx]

Rebooting the server or router doesnt do anything. After some more poking around, Ive realized that it probably is a DNS / Netbios issue, but I dont know anything about that. The reason why I suspect so is because if I edit the host file on the client side by adding the name and IP of my server, then I am able to connect to it by name.

After some more reading, Ive found some other users who have had similar problems with their WHS, but there is no definitive answer on how to resolve it other than editing the hosts file.

[Archer75]

sounds like an issue with your desktop and not WHS itself.

I have had issues with OSX not seeing it and I have to manually connect to it.

[dydx]

^Ive also got 2 other computers (clients) that also require modification to the hosts file to be able to connect to the WHS machine by name. "Server" appears in my "Network" folder in all clients as a device, but not as a computer.

[Archer75]

are you using openDNS? Because that will mess with your ability to connect to the WHS. I had to edit the hosts file after I started using openDNS.

However if you aren't using that it still points to some sort of a DNS issue on your machines or router.

[dydx]

Nope, I dont even know what openDNS is. I just bought a new Dlink DIR-655 router and all the relevant settings are at default. Ive had this problem too with my old Linksys WRT54g running DD-WRT. WHS worked just fine with my old router, then one day, poof, it wouldnt appear on the network properly. I am almost certain I have no touched anything on the router, client, and server side, which is why I am completely stumped on this.