How to fix a disabled network interface
By it's nature, off-the-shelf Home Servers are accessible only by Remote Desktop[1] since these servers are headless units with no video connector. This creates a total and complete dependency on network connectivity in order to be able to interact with your server.
The problem
In the attempt to set a static IP or troubleshoot a networking issue, some users have disabled the Network Interface without considering that this will leave their server completely inaccessible.
Possible Solutions
The resolutions to this issue are to either perform a Server Recovery[2], or build[3] or purchase[4] a video cable that will connect to the server debug connector, or to use a USB keyboard and attempt to blindly interact with the server.
The Best Solution
There have been several different possible mechanisms[5] for attempting to blindly enable a disabled network interface via USB keyboard, and the following instructions by forum member "Qnigma"[6] are recognized as the easiest and most successful.
- Have a keyboard plugged before the Server is turned on
- Turn on the Server
- Wait until you hear almost no disk activity. This could take 10 or more minutes
- Press [ESC] 2 or 3 times
- Press [Ctrl+Alt+Del]
- Hold down [Shift] then press [TAB] briefly 1 time
- Type: administrator
- Press [Tab] (again, 1 brief press)
- Type: your server password
- Press [Enter] and wait 5 minutes
- Press [StartMenuKey] + [r]
- Type: ncpa.cpl
- Press [Enter]
- Wait 60 seconds
- Press [UpArrowKey]
- Press [Enter]
References
- ↑ http://www.mediasmartserver.net/wiki/index.php/Remote_Desktop
- ↑ http://www.mediasmartserver.net/wiki/index.php/How_do_I_perform_a_Server_Recovery%3F
- ↑ http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=622&hilit=header
- ↑ http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3980
- ↑ http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2712
- ↑ http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=42737#p42737