Ncontrol doesn't always appear in the remote log of nware 1.7.2. Requires reboots until it appears.
Anyone else seen anything similar?

Network switches will "Shut" (turnoff) an Interface because it sees the "I'm a NION and here is everything important" multicast network packet as a broadcast storm.  A restart will cause the network switch to automatically change the Interface back to No-Shut.  These details are discussed in more depth in the Pandad Administrator Guide then is appropriate here.
http://peaveyoxford.com/kc/index.htm#3863
Next time you can't find the nControl, shut down Pandad as a Service and start Pandad Interactive Mode, then use remote_link to see if that clears the problem.  Again, more details on how this is done in the Guide.
Let us know the results.
Fergy