Making sense of UNAS Pro IP address

[u/gomi-panda]

Hi, I am a noob trying to make sense of how my hardware is connected via IP address. If you followed my old posts, I built a Ubiquiti system from scratch and learned along the way. But again, I'm new to this, so I may not use the correct terminology or understand exactly how things work. I'm here to understand how it works.

1. My modem/gateway is covered by my ISP
2. I have a Dream Machine
3. I have a UNAS Pro
4. I operate via Windows
5. I have SMB checked in Unifi in order to access my files via explorer, so my UNAS Pro has its own IP address accessible
6. I originally accessed all of my files via Explorer under \\UNAS-Pro\ as opposed to a specific IP
7. I originally set up PleX to connect with \\UNAS-Pro

A few months ago we had a power outage, and this caused the \\UNAS-Pro address to no longer work. I had to use another ip "\\192.196..." Currently, I cannot access my files via \\UNAS-Pro, but only with the 192 ip address. And I don't know why. I also don't know why the ip address itself changed, but I'm assuming that happened when my ISP was shut down.

What I'd like to know is how I can ensure via Unifi that I can use \\UNAS-Pro, or make permanent a "\\192.168..." address in case I ever have a power outage again. What is the best practice? Due to my media, I have to add a new folder with PleX whenever the ip resets. Thanks!

[u/MarkusN_93]

The reason you can't access it using \\UNAS-Pro\ is probably because during the power outage the DHCP lease timed out, so your UNAS got a new IP address.

So what you want to do is set a static IP address for it, you can do that by locating it under the client devices tab on your Dream Machine, go to the settings page for that client device and check the box that says fixed IP address.
At the same settings page you can also go ahead and check the box that says Local DNS record, and you can type in UNAS-Pro there, doing those things should make you be able to access the UNAS by the hostname again - and after a power outage the UNAS will be assigned the same IP adress again so you shouldn't run into this issue any more.

Edit: Kinda wrote this up from memory, but that should roughly be the process you need to follow.

[u/RIPDaug2019-2019]

• on the UDM network interface, under Unifi devices, select the UNAS Pro. Check the box to give it a fixed IP address. This IP will be reserved and won’t change upon reboots or lease expirations.
• make a DNS entry in the policy engine for whatever you want to call it. This should point to the IP you set as fixed earlier.
• access via the DNS entry or IP.