· Cannot connect to Roon server from desktop or iOS apps. The device shows up as disconnected in my router interface. This has happened many times in the past. Based on those experiences, I believe Roon Server is running. However, I don't have a monitor attached to the NUC, which is connected to the router via a network cable in another room, so I can't verify this directly without jumping through the hoops of moving it, connecting a monitor and keyboard to it, and all the rest. The frequency with which this happens is frustrating.
Tell us about your home network
· I have Spectrum (NYC) internet. NUC is wired to router, clients are wireless (Windows and iOS).
Update: when I connect my NUC directly to my laptop with a network cable, the Roon client connects. Also, I can access the ROCK OS via my browser and the address: rock.local. However, when I move it back to the router, it does not connect. Needless to say I have rebooted all my devices (modem, router, NUC, client) more than once.
Resolved. I restarted the wireless router from the client user interface and Roon connected. I don’t know if this is what fixed it because I had restarted the wireless router by unplugging it previously, which I assume has the same effect – but maybe not(?).
I am very glad to hear that you got the connection working again!
To answer your question: yes, restarting the router through its software interface (a “soft reboot”) can actually have a different effect under the hood compared to just unplugging it from the wall (a “hard reboot”).
When you unplug a router, the power is cut abruptly. Sometimes, this prevents the router from cleanly clearing its temporary memory, meaning “stale” network data—like locked-up IP address assignments (DHCP leases) or old routing tables—can persist when it boots back up.
When you restart the router through its user interface, it performs a graceful shutdown. It properly clears its cache, gracefully releases connected IP addresses, and resets its routing rules before starting back up.
Because your NUC worked perfectly when connected directly to your laptop, we know the ROCK OS and its network port were functioning correctly. Your router most likely had a stuck IP assignment or a stale ARP cache for the NUC, which it refused to clear during the hard power cycles. The graceful software reboot finally flushed that bad memory out, allowing the NUC to negotiate a fresh connection.
Since everything is back up and running, I will go ahead and close this thread. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you hit any other network snags in the future!
