Intel RAID Web Console 2 cannot find server on localhost

[LordLuciendar]

My server has a pair of RAID cards:
Intel SRCSAS18E
Intel SRCSASJV

Both have drivers installed from Intel. SRCSASJV runs an 8x2TB SATA 7200RPM RAID 10, SRCSAS18E runs an 8x300GB SAS 15k RAID 0. The 18E/SAS array keeps dropping disks (breaking the array each time of course), which is a whole separate source of pain... but in the meantime, I've been able to log into the Intel RAID Web Console and manage the array, removing the failed disks, replacing with new disks, etc.

Now, suddenly, I cannot access the Intel RAID Web Console, even when connecting to localhost or 127.0.0.1. It has been working fine for months and all of a sudden I receive this message:

Servers could not be found because server may be down or not installed in the host system.

Anyone have any ideas why?

 

[LordLuciendar]

Now I'm really baffled. Apparently the steps required to fix this were:

Repair RWC2- Did not work
Install Updates- Did not work
Uninstall and Reinstall RWC2- Did not work
Replace LSI drivers with Intel drivers- Did not work
Get frustrated and try to post to Intel's forum, only to find out your username both exists and does not exist at the same time, blocking you from resetting your password and gaining access.
Post to Tom's Hardware with maximum frustration
Try one last time before giving up for the day - Still does not work
Realize you need to be thorough so you change the IP address to 127.0.0.1... - Suddenly it works

Baffled.

 

[LordLuciendar]

After experiencing this issue again, I determined the cause. Communication with the the RAID Web Console framework (RWCFramework Service) is blocked by the firewall. If you shut off the firewall, you can suddenly connect. Why a local application connecting to a locally hosted service passes through the firewall in some instances and is blocked in others, I could not say. Once I re-enabled the firewall (before creating any new rules), RWC worked just fine.