How to Assign a Reserved IP to a NAS Device on an Edimax Router
A reserved IP address gives your NAS a predictable place on the home network without forcing you to configure a manual address directly on the storage device. The Edimax router continues to manage DHCP, while always offering the same local address to the NAS whenever it reconnects. This is useful for file shares, media libraries, backups, surveillance recordings and mobile apps that need to find the NAS reliably.
The menus differ slightly between Edimax models and firmware versions, but the method is consistent. You identify the NAS by its MAC address, open the Edimax router setup page, create a DHCP reservation, and then test the result from a computer or phone. The process suits Australian homes using an NBN connection, a separate modem, or an Edimax router operating behind an ISP-supplied gateway.
| Network arrangement | Where to create the reservation | Typical address to check |
|---|---|---|
| Edimax is the main router | Edimax DHCP or LAN settings | 192.168.2.1 or 192.168.1.1 |
| Edimax is behind an NBN gateway | The router providing DHCP | Check the device listed as the gateway |
| Edimax is in access-point mode | The upstream router | The Edimax may not offer DHCP controls |
| NAS uses Wi-Fi | Edimax wireless client list | Use the NAS wireless MAC address |
| NAS uses Ethernet | Edimax wired client list | Use the NAS Ethernet MAC address |
Prepare The NAS And Network
First, connect the NAS to the same local network as the Edimax router. Ethernet is preferable for a permanent storage device because it provides steadier throughput and avoids wireless interference. A NAS in a Melbourne apartment, for example, may compete with neighbouring networks on the same busy 2.4 GHz channels, while a wired connection keeps backups and large media transfers more predictable.
Find the NAS MAC address before opening the router settings. It may be printed on a label, shown in the NAS administration panel, or listed in the router’s connected-client page. A NAS with two Ethernet ports can have two different MAC addresses, so record the address belonging to the port that is actually connected.
A reservation is different from typing a static IP into the NAS itself. With a DHCP reservation, the router allocates the address based on the NAS network adapter’s MAC address. This reduces the risk of duplicate addresses and keeps the network settings in one place. If you later replace the router, you will need to recreate the reservation on the new equipment.
Details To Record Before Configuration
- The NAS device name or hostname shown in the client list
- The active Ethernet or Wi-Fi MAC address
- The current local IP address assigned to the NAS
- The Edimax router’s gateway address and administrator login
- Whether another device already uses the address you intend to reserve
Do not choose an address at random if the router’s DHCP pool is unclear. Many Edimax configurations allocate addresses such as 192.168.2.100 through 192.168.2.200, although the exact range depends on the model. Reserving the NAS’s current lease is usually the simplest option, provided it is visible in the DHCP client list and does not conflict with another entry.
Open The Edimax Setup Page
Use a computer or phone connected to the Edimax network. In a browser, enter the router’s local gateway address rather than a public website. Common Edimax addresses include 192.168.2.1 and 192.168.1.1; the correct value is shown as “Default Gateway” on Windows or “Router” in the Wi-Fi details on macOS, iPhone and Android.
If the page does not load, check that the device is connected to the Edimax network and that the router is powered on. A second router in the home can cause confusion, particularly where an NBN provider has supplied a gateway and the Edimax has been added for better Wi-Fi coverage. In that arrangement, the Edimax may be working in access-point mode, so the upstream gateway is the device handing out IP addresses.
Sign in with the router administrator account. Avoid changing wireless settings while creating the reservation unless necessary. Edimax menus commonly place the relevant controls under Network, LAN, DHCP Server, LAN Setup, or Advanced Settings. Look for terms such as “Static DHCP,” “DHCP Reservation,” “Address Reservation,” or “Fixed Lease.”
Third-party setup pages are not a substitute for the local Edimax interface. A general feature comparison guide for an unrelated app, for example, cannot identify your NAS or configure a router. Use the address printed in the router documentation or confirmed from your device’s network details, and be cautious with pages that request administrator credentials.
Create The DHCP Reservation
Open the DHCP client list or connected-device list and locate the NAS. The entry may appear under its hostname, a generic label such as “Linux,” or only a MAC address. Compare the displayed address with the one recorded from the NAS. If the NAS has recently connected, the current lease makes identification easier.
Select the NAS entry and choose an option such as Add, Bind, Reserve, or Static Lease. Enter the preferred local address if the Edimax asks for one. Keeping the existing address is normally sensible because applications, mapped drives and bookmarks may already refer to it. If you choose a new address, ensure it belongs to the router’s LAN subnet and is not already assigned.
For a typical Edimax network using 192.168.2.1 as the router address, a reservation such as 192.168.2.20 may be suitable if it is available. The NAS, router and client devices must share the same subnet. Do not enter a public IP address, the router’s own address, or an address belonging to another device.
Settings Worth Checking Before Saving
- The reservation is linked to the correct MAC address
- The chosen IP uses the same subnet as the Edimax router
- The address is not reserved for another client
- The lease remains active after a router restart
- The NAS is using automatic DHCP rather than a conflicting manual address
Click Apply, Save, or Submit, then wait for the Edimax to finish updating. Some models restart the DHCP service or briefly interrupt the network. Avoid pressing the power button during this step. If the router offers a separate Save to Flash option, use it so the reservation survives a reboot.
Restart the NAS network connection after the reservation is saved. You can do this by disconnecting and reconnecting its Ethernet cable, disabling and re-enabling its network interface, or restarting the NAS if the management panel offers no simpler choice. The router should then issue the reserved address to the matching adapter.
Verify Access From Local Devices
Check the NAS network panel to confirm the address. It should match the reservation shown in the Edimax interface. From a computer on the same network, enter the address in a browser or use it to open the NAS management service. Windows users may test a shared folder, while macOS users can connect through Finder’s “Connect to Server” function.
A simple command-line test can confirm that the address responds. On Windows, open Command Prompt and run ping 192.168.2.20, replacing the example with the reserved address. On macOS or Linux, use Terminal with the same command. A successful ping proves that the device responds to the local network, although some NAS firewalls disable ping while allowing file-sharing services.
Test after a complete restart of both the Edimax router and NAS. The reservation should remain in place, and the NAS should receive the same address after the network becomes available. This matters for scheduled backups in Australian households where the NAS may run overnight and be accessed from laptops, smart televisions or phones in different rooms.
If the NAS receives a different address, review the MAC address and DHCP authority. The most common cause is that the reservation was created for the Wi-Fi adapter while the NAS is connected through Ethernet, or that another router is actually providing DHCP. A second possibility is that the NAS has a manually configured address that overrides the router’s lease.
Maintain A Reliable And Safe NAS Address
A reserved local IP makes everyday access easier, but it does not make the NAS automatically available from the internet. Avoid forwarding NAS administration ports to the public internet unless there is a carefully designed, maintained remote-access solution. Direct exposure can attract automated scans and may create serious privacy risks for family photos, documents and business files.
Australian users should also consider how personal information is stored and shared. The Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles are especially relevant to organisations handling customer or employee records, although a household NAS used for personal files has different obligations. A small business in Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide should still restrict access, use strong accounts and maintain offline or separate backups.
Keep the Edimax firmware and NAS software current, but schedule updates sensibly so they do not interrupt an important backup window. NBN connections vary widely by plan and location, and upload performance can be limited even when local transfers are fast. A reserved IP helps local services find the NAS; it cannot improve NBN upload speed or compensate for an unreliable upstream connection.
Use a separate administrator account for routine file access, disable unused services, and enable multi-factor authentication if the NAS supports it. If the NAS offers SMB, FTP, SSH or web administration, turn off any service that is not required. A stable local address should support a smaller, clearly controlled set of services rather than encourage wider exposure.
When the NAS, router or network layout changes, revisit the reservation. Replacing an ISP gateway, switching from router mode to access-point mode, or moving the NAS from Wi-Fi to Ethernet can change which device controls DHCP. The next practical step is to open the Edimax client list, copy the NAS’s active MAC address, and reserve its current local IP before changing any other network setting.