Packet loss on ce interface.

UNIX Solaris
1

Hi,

I am using the ce interface on my Solaris 9 server and there is significant packet loss when transmitting large packets. Does anyone have a fix for this?

----10.1.0.0 PING Statistics----
51 packets transmitted, 42 packets received, 17% packet loss
round-trip (ms) min/avg/max = 91/91/98

Thanks,

Sparcman:confused:

2

have you patched the machine with some newer patch cluster? i remember some problems with ce interfaces which are fixed by patches... also check the cabel and the switch port settings... if this is a new problem and not something that was always there, a hardware problem might be more likely.

1 Like
3

Hi DukeNuke2,

I've installed the 9_Recommended patch cluster and the problem still persists. This has been a problem for a few months. I will check out the Oracle website to see if there is anything there regarding a patch.

Thanks,

Sparcman

4

Check your duplex setting :

$netstat -k ce5| egrep 'link_speed|link_status|link_duplex'
lp_cap_asmpause 0 lp_cap_pause 0 link_T4 0 link_speed 100 
link_duplex 2 link_asmpause 0 link_pause 0 link_up 1 mac_mtu 1522

The output has the following meaning:
link_up - 0 down, 1 up
link_speed - speed in Mbit/s
link_duplex - 1 half duplex, 2 full duplex, 0 down

Following will set interface to 100-FD, Forced config. Enable autoneg if you wish to use it.
You have to make relevant changed on switch side also

ndd �set /dev/ce instance 0
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_100T4_cap 0
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_1000fdx_cap 0
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_1000hdx_cap
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_100fdx_cap 1
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_100hdx_cap 0
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_10fdx_cap 0
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_10hdx_cap 0
ndd �set /dev/ce adv_autoneg_cap 0
5

Beware that forced configurations like the one suggested are a very common root cause of networking issues and are only advised if you are sure there won't be a mismatch risk with the other connected end. Resetting to the default, i.e. auto-negotiation, is almost always a safe bet. Unless you are using old routers/switches with bogus firmwares, there should be no need to force the speed or the duplex mode.

6

Hi,

Thanks for all your replies.

The settings of the interface are below. These settings are forced. When I use auto-neg the speed of the interface drops to 10 half duplex even though it should auto-neg to 1000 full, so I can't use auto-neg. We don't know why this happens either.

lp_cap_asmpause 0 lp_cap_pause 0 link_T4 0 link_speed 1000
link_duplex 2 link_asmpause 0 link_pause 0 link_up 1 mac_mtu 1522

I've been told a patch may help?

Thanks,

Sparcman

7

have you checked the cable and the switch and another nic (if you have one in your machine)?

8

The autonegotiation is probably failing because of the same hardware problem that's causing your packet loss.

It's broke.

Effectively saying, "WORK!!! **** YOU!!!" with forced configuration settings isn't going to change that.

1 Like
9

+1 !

10

Will try that. Thanks.

11

I have seen this problem when interface choose a lower duplex setting. Generally i use this simple trick.

  1. enable auto neg with all options enabled
  2. disable all capabilities except adv_1000fdx_cap.

This will make interface run auto-neg but it will not negotiate anything below 1000Full.
I have more than 10 machines running like this. no issue since past 9 months :).
Just make sure to add a start up script to make these changes available after reboot. or if you are comfortable you can edit /etc/system file.

Hope it helps.

1 Like
12

Hi mtomar,

Thanks for your post. Here are my settings for the ce4 interface which are set in an init script. How do I enable all auto-neg options? I would usually just set the ndd -set /dev/ce adv_1000fdx_cap 1 to 0 and the autoneg to 1?

ndd -set /dev/ce instance 4
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_1000fdx_cap 1
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_1000hdx_cap 0
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_100fdx_cap 0
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_100hdx_cap 0
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_10fdx_cap 0
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_10hdx_cap 0
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_autoneg_cap 0

Thanks,

Sparcman

13 
ndd -set /dev/ce adv_autoneg_cap 1

Enables auto neg.