[PROBLEM] RHEL 4.8 on ProLiant BL460c G6 freezes network when uploading >~100Mb with iptables on

[Paulo L. Carvalho]

Issue:
------

RHEL 4.8 on HP ProLiant BL460c G6 hangs network traffic
when an upload (>~100Mb) is performed (outgoing traffic)
and the iptable_nat kernel module is loaded.

Steps to Reproduce:
-------------------

1. Install RHEL 4.8 on HP ProLiant BL460c G6
2. execute as root 'modprobe iptable_nat'
3. Perform an upload >100Mb to another machine

Expected Result: upload stalled and network communications freezed.

Workaround:
-----------

Stop iptables service before performing upload or disable iptables service altogether.


Notes:
------

1. To recover from this freeze, restart the network service by running (/etc/init.d/network restart) or reload the bnx2x module


Additional information:
-----------------------






]



# cat /etc/redhat-release
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4 (Nahant Update 8)

# uname -a
Linux camaleao 2.6.9-89.ELsmp #1 SMP Mon Apr 20 10:33:05 EDT 2009 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

# modinfo bnx2x
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.9-89.ELsmp/kernel/drivers/net/bnx2x.ko
parm: debug:default debug msglevel
parm: poll:use polling (for debug)
parm: use_inta:use INT#A instead of MSI-X
parm: disable_tpa:disable the TPA (LRO) feature
version: 1.45.23-1 B114C49645399AF0EEF6784
license: GPL
description: Broadcom NetXtreme II BCM57710 Driver
author: Eliezer Tamir
alias: pci:v000014E4d00001650sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000014E4d0000164Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000014E4d0000164Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: libcrc32c
vermagic: 2.6.9-89.ELsmp SMP gcc-3.4


The bnx2x related messages in the attached log file were collected with the latest available Broadcom NetXtreme II driver (bnx2x) from the HP Support Pack. This issue is also present with the HP version (1.48.107 20902A577FD50037E2D2498) of the driver:

# modinfo bnx2x
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.9-89.ELsmp/updates/drivers/net/bnx2x.ko
parm: debug: Default debug msglevel
parm: mrrs: Force Max Read Req Size (0..3) (for debug)
parm: poll: Use polling (for debug)
parm: int_mode: Force interrupt mode (1 INT#x; 2 MSI)
parm: disable_tpa: Disable the TPA (LRO) feature
cvs_version: $Revision: #25 $
version: 1.48.107 20902A577FD50037E2D2498
license: GPL
description: Broadcom NetXtreme II BCM57710/57711/57711E Driver
author: Eliezer Tamir
alias: pci:v000014E4d00001650sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000014E4d0000164Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v000014E4d0000164Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends:
vermagic: 2.6.9-89.ELsmp SMP gcc-3.4

 P.S.This thread has been moved from ProLiant Servers - Netservers to HP BladeSystem Server Blades-HP Forums Moderat

[Jeroen_Kleen]

Hello Paulo,

Can you let me know if you where able to raise a case on this with HP Support? IF so can you let me know your CaseID?
If not: would you be in position to open a case with HP so we can help you further?

Best Regards, Jeroen Kleen
HP ISS GCC NL

[Ray Dassen]

This issue is now covered in the Red Hat knowledge base as "How do I remedy network freezes when the iptable_nat module is loaded in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4?",
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/docs/DOC-21399