ProCurve 2810-48G High CPU utilization

[ErikD_1]

Hi-
I'm having an interesting problem with a few new 2810-48G
switches.
When the 2810 is up-linked to another switch and TAGGED VLANs are
allowed on the uplink port, the CPU utilization jumps up to 45 - 55%,
and the interfaces get sluggish, even with no devices connected to the
2810 switch.
When the uplink connection doesn't have tagged VLANs, just one
untagged (normal) vlan, the CPU utilization drops to around 3-5% which
is normal I believe.
All my switches are ProCurve, and when I replace the 2810 in
question with a 2824, it performs perfectly. However, connecting any
devices (servers, PCs, etc.) to the 2810 when it has this high CPU
utilization causes lots of dropped packets, higher ping times, and
general network sluggishness.

Has anyone seen anything like this before?

thanks,
Erik

P.S. This thread has been moved from Switches, Hubs, Modems (Legacy ITRC forum) to ProCurve / ProVision-Based. - Hp Forum Moderator

[ErikD_1]

Here is some more info about the exact setup, and how to cause the CPU
utilization to go nuts:

Two switches, constant configuration, and two possible wiring options:

Parent Switch: 5308XL
Child Switch: 2810-48G

Vlan Configuration:
Parent:
* Port E4: VLANs 1,2,19, and 3260 Tagged. None untagged.
* Port E2: VLAN 1 untagged, none tagged.

Child:
* Port 1: VLANs 1,2,19, and 3260 tagged. None untagged.
* Port 2: VLAN 1 untagged, none tagged.

The parent is the backbone switch to which many things are connected,
it handles lots of traffic and works great. The child has nothing
connected to it presently except it's link with the parent which I
change between wiring configuration A and B

Wiring Configuration A:
An ethernet cable is run between Parent:E2 and Child:2

Wiring Configuration B:
An ethernet cable is run between Parent:E4 and Child:1

In either configuration there is only one link between the parent and
the child, and nothing else is plugged into the child.

Now, whenever I am in wiring configuration A, the CPU utilization on
the child (2810) switch is low (3-5%). When I switch to wiring
configuratino B (i.e. unplug the cable and move it to the new ports)
the CPU utilization goes up to 45-55%, the interfaces (both telnet and
web) become very sluggish, and if I attach devices to it, packets are
dropped, ping times get high , etc.

I have three new 2810 switches, all with the N_10_09 firmware, and
have replicated this problem with two of them, so it doesn't seem to
be a hardware problem.

Anyone else seen anything like this?

[Matt Hobbs]

Sounds like you've got a reproducible problem there. Have you tried enabling spanning-tree to see if this makes any difference?

Either way I think you should contact HP support for assistance on this one.

[ErikD_1]

Hi-
I have contacted HP support and will post when/if they have some info. I have not enabled spanning tree for two reasons:

1) It's not enabled on any of the other switches in my network (15+ switches...)

2) The other router (procurve 2824) has it off and works fine without it.

Perhaps we should turn it on but I think it would need to be on for all the switches? Am not completely clear on what the consequences would be in turning it on.

thanks,
Erik

[Lars-Åke]

Hi Erik,
I have a simular problem as yours. Did you get any help and support from HP?

Thanks
Lars

[Robert Mccarthy]

Erik,
I am haveing the same problem, No I dont thinks turning on Spanning tree helps,
One thing i did find is that when you turn on Port monitoring the problem goes away
That is not the fix :)
Please keep me informed i will do the same....
Robert...

[Malcolm Wilson]

What was the solution to this problem?

[GuadaMo]

don`t know a solution but I have two suggestions:

- could be caused by SNMP requests (PRTG e.g.)

- other tools that check your network (e.g. HP ProCurve Manager, this tool often logs in or needs access), I saw this in the logs

It helped a bit to stop the ProCurve Manager but is not a solution, too.