Excessive Broadcasts

[Steffen Frederiksen]

Hi

First, is this the correct forum til ask Procurve related problems?

If it is..:
I have some J4899A Procurve 2650 access layer switches. On some of them i'm getting this error i their local log: Procurve: FFI: port 30-Excessive Broadcasts. See help.

What does this error mean?

Software version is H.10.74 and can't be updated right now, we have a radio station using those switches for transmitting.

Regards, Steffen.

[Tore Valberg]

Hi Steffen

The error means exactly what is says. Port 30 is seeing quite a lot of broadcast traffic.

It could indicate a loop in the network. Do you have spanning-tree enabled in your network?

Could you past the complete log here?

Tore

[Steffen Frederiksen]

Full log:
I 08/02/10 12:13:28 ports: port 28 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:13:30 ports: port 28 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 12:13:33 ports: port 28 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 12:14:01 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:14:04 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 12:14:07 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 12:14:11 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:14:13 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 12:14:16 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 12:14:20 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:14:23 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
W 08/02/10 12:14:25 FFI: port 42-Excessive Broadcasts. See help.
I 08/02/10 12:14:25 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 12:31:57 ports: port 37 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:31:59 ports: port 37 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 12:32:01 ports: port 37 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 12:37:45 ports: port 28 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:50:20 ports: port 2 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:50:22 ports: port 2 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 12:50:25 ports: port 2 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 12:51:45 ports: port 33 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 12:51:48 ports: port 33 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 12:51:50 ports: port 33 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:02:16 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:02:18 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:02:21 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:02:35 ports: port 2 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:02:37 ports: port 2 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:02:40 ports: port 2 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:05:41 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:05:43 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:05:45 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:17:18 ports: port 37 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:17:20 ports: port 37 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:17:22 ports: port 37 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:18:24 ports: port 37 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:18:26 ports: port 37 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:18:29 ports: port 37 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:31:28 ports: port 33 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:50:37 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:50:40 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:50:42 ports: port 27 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:50:56 ports: port 33 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:50:58 ports: port 33 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 13:56:37 ports: port 2 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 13:56:40 ports: port 2 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 13:56:42 ports: port 2 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 14:18:46 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 14:18:49 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 14:18:51 ports: port 27 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 14:34:07 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 14:34:09 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 14:34:12 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 14:57:55 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 14:57:57 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 14:58:00 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 15:01:55 ports: port 43 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 15:04:11 ports: port 21 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 15:19:40 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 15:19:42 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 15:19:45 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 15:30:04 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 15:53:26 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 15:53:28 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 15:53:31 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 16:08:48 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 16:08:50 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 16:08:53 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 16:26:59 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 16:27:02 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 16:27:05 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 16:28:01 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 16:28:03 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 16:28:06 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 16:59:34 ports: port 17 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 17:05:57 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 17:06:00 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 17:06:02 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 17:35:53 ports: port 37 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 17:41:31 ports: port 33 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 17:45:52 ports: port 19 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 17:54:20 ports: port 17 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 17:54:23 ports: port 17 is now on-line
W 08/02/10 17:54:37 FFI: port 17-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
W 08/02/10 17:54:37 FFI: port 17-Excessive Broadcasts. See help.
I 08/02/10 17:57:27 ports: port 17 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 17:58:13 ports: port 2 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 17:58:15 ports: port 2 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 17:58:18 ports: port 2 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 18:06:38 ports: port 2 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 19:28:31 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 22:55:42 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 22:55:44 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 22:55:47 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/02/10 23:16:09 ports: port 44 is now off-line
I 08/02/10 23:16:11 ports: port 44 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/02/10 23:16:14 ports: port 44 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 04:03:01 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 04:03:04 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 04:03:07 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 04:03:11 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 04:03:13 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 04:03:16 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 04:03:21 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 04:03:23 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 04:03:25 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:33:55 ports: port 43 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:33:57 ports: port 43 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:34:11 ports: port 43 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 08:34:14 ports: port 43 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:34:16 ports: port 43 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:34:52 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:34:55 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:35:09 ports: port 39 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 08:35:11 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:35:14 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:39:06 ports: port 13 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 08:39:08 ports: port 13 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:39:10 ports: port 13 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:39:27 ports: port 13 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 08:39:29 ports: port 13 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:39:32 ports: port 13 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:49:55 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:49:57 ports: port 27 is now on-line
W 08/03/10 08:50:07 FFI: port 27-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
I 08/03/10 08:50:08 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 08:50:12 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:50:15 ports: port 27 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:50:57 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 08:51:01 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:51:04 ports: port 27 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 08:51:46 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 08:51:48 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 08:51:50 ports: port 27 is now on-line
W 08/03/10 08:52:08 FFI: port 27-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
I 08/03/10 09:14:30 ports: port 19 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 09:14:33 ports: port 19 is now on-line
W 08/03/10 09:14:45 FFI: port 19-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
W 08/03/10 09:14:45 FFI: port 19-Excessive Broadcasts. See help.
I 08/03/10 09:14:49 ports: port 19 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 09:14:52 ports: port 19 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 09:14:55 ports: port 19 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 09:27:16 ports: port 39 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 09:27:19 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 09:27:21 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 09:30:31 mgr: SME TELNET from 10.31.45.77 - MANAGER Mode
I 08/03/10 09:35:34 ports: port 39 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 09:35:36 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 09:35:39 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 09:36:05 ports: port 39 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 09:36:11 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 09:36:13 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 09:36:20 ports: port 39 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 09:36:23 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 09:36:25 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:08:06 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:08:08 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:08:19 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:08:22 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:08:25 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:29:10 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:29:13 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:29:15 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:29:41 ports: port 39 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:29:43 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:29:46 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:29:59 ports: port 2 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:30:01 ports: port 2 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:30:16 ports: port 2 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:30:19 ports: port 2 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:30:21 ports: port 2 is now on-line
W 08/03/10 10:30:39 FFI: port 2-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
W 08/03/10 10:30:39 FFI: port 2-Excessive Broadcasts. See help.
I 08/03/10 10:31:09 ports: port 19 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:31:11 ports: port 19 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:31:14 ports: port 19 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:32:23 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:32:25 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:32:28 ports: port 27 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:43:00 ports: port 13 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:43:10 ports: port 13 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:43:13 ports: port 13 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:46:49 ports: port 27 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:46:51 ports: port 27 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:46:54 ports: port 19 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:46:54 ports: port 27 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:46:56 ports: port 19 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:46:59 ports: port 19 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:46:59 ports: port 39 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:47:01 ports: port 39 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:47:03 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:47:04 ports: port 39 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:47:06 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:47:08 ports: port 32 is now on-line
W 08/03/10 10:47:12 FFI: port 27-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
I 08/03/10 10:51:17 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:51:29 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:51:31 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 10:51:52 ports: port 32 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 10:51:55 ports: port 32 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 10:51:58 ports: port 32 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 11:20:29 ports: port 13 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 11:20:48 ports: port 13 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 11:20:51 ports: port 13 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 12:14:01 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 12:14:03 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 12:14:06 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 12:14:10 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 12:14:12 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 12:14:15 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 12:14:20 ports: port 42 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 12:14:22 ports: port 42 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 12:14:24 ports: port 42 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 12:26:42 ports: port 19 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 12:26:45 ports: port 19 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 12:26:47 ports: port 19 is now on-line
I 08/03/10 12:36:22 ports: port 19 is now off-line
I 08/03/10 12:36:25 ports: port 19 is Blocked by LACP
I 08/03/10 12:36:27 ports: port 19 is now on-line
W 08/03/10 12:36:44 FFI: port 19-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
W 08/03/10 12:36:44 FFI: port 19-Excessive Broadcasts. See help.
I 08/03/10 12:40:30 mgr: SME TELNET from 10.31.45.77 - MANAGER Mode
---- Bottom of Log : Events Listed = 1000 ----

If I issue a "show run" I see no spanning tree configuration..

[Tore Valberg · Accepted solution]

Hi Steffen

What exactly is connected to the problematic ports? If its clients check cables and if anyone is connecting a hub or similar behind the switch.

If not using LACP i would recommend to disable on all ports.
"interface 1 -48"
"no lacp"

W 08/03/10 12:36:44 FFI: port 19-Excessive CRC/alignment errors. See help.
W 08/03/10 12:36:44 FFI: port 19-Excessive Broadcasts. See help.

It could simply be bad cables.

Does the switch have more then 1 uplink port?

Tore

[Steffen Frederiksen]

Hi

It's clients that are connected to the problematic ports. I'll try to install some new patch cables.

LACP is the protocol used for Etherchannels (bundled links) right?

I'm not physical in front of the switch, but i'm pretty sure that it's only have one uplink.

[Tore Valberg]

Hi Steffen

LACP is for link aggregation indeed. By default all ports are set to LACP passive.

If the switch only got 1 up-link port, i think i would recommend enabling loop protect as a preventive measure.

Tore

[Steffen Frederiksen]

Okay.

Thank you for your help so far. :-)

[BOULANGHIEN_1]

Hi, sorry for my english language.

I have the same error on my network. We have 4 switch procurve (3X 2650 and 1X 2848), and we have the errors on all switch with different port.

I have upgrade the NIC Driver, and change the network cable on the error port but we have always the error.

I dont have upgrade the firmware on my switch, it's really necessary for the problem

How have you resolved your problem.

With disabled LACP ?

With activated protection loop ?

Or it's just a bad cable ?

Thank.
Best regards, hubert

[Richard Brodie_1]

It means that a large number of packets sent to the broadcast address are being received on that port.

This could be caused by a loop - but if your network is functioning, this is unlikely. Another cause could be a problem with the end equipment misbehaving.

However, the fault-finder can be a little sensitive - its messages are only 'opinions'. Perhaps the normal traffic load on the network is light, making the broadcast percentage, artificially high.

Best to look at some actual data: either have a look at the interface counters, or put a sniffer on the bridge, collect some samples. If you're receiving 10 packets a second and 90% of them are broadcast, you don't have a problem. If it's 10 000 and 90% are broadcast, you do