redhat 6.2 dies 3/31/2003 + AX25 2.4 kernel issues

redhat 6.2 dies 3/31/2003 + AX25 2.4 kernel issues

[Cathryn Mataga]

According to the Redhat website, Redhat 6.2 and 7.0
both die on 3/31/2003.  These are the only supported versions
that run with the 2.2 kernel.  But, I've also read messages
here that the 2.4 kernel has race conditions and is prone
to crash.  So, the question is, what do I do with my ax25
Linux system with RF modems on 3/31/2003?

1.  Somehow get the 2.4 kernel fixed by 3/31/2003?  Is this
possible?  What exactly is the issue, and how bad is this?
Is this likely to happen?

2.  Just live with the crashing.  Cycle the power on the
machine every other day with a timer or some other horrible solution.
Maybe it won't be that that bad.

3.  Maybe someone other than Redhat will continue to do security patches
for 6.2?  I can't believe I'm the only one running 6.2.  Right?

4.  Upgrade to a new Redhat, but somehow install a 2.2 kernel in
a distribution designed for 2.4.  Will this work?  (I'm scared.)

5.  Switch to some other distribution that will continue to support
2.2 after 3/31/2003.

6.  Continue with 6.2 and keep an eye out for vulnerabilities and
maybe strip out a few services that I use otherwise.

Re: redhat 6.2 dies 3/31/2003 + AX25 2.4 kernel issues

[Chuck Gelm]

Holye Moley, Cathryn Mataga:

 Sounds like 'the sky is falling' to me.

1. Red Hat problem!  

2. I've been running kernel 2.4.x on three machines without a
   single crash for many months.  Perhaps your crashes are not
   a kernel-2.4.x problem. ?

3. Instead of complaining about old Red Hat distributions,
   you could upgrade the distribution or change distributions.

4. Again, Red Hat related and not linux-hams related.
   However, my distribution works fine with kernel-2.2.19,
   2.4.5, 2.4.19, & 2.4.20.  :-)

5. See 3.

6. See 4.

HTH, Chuck

Cathryn Mataga wrote:
> 
> According to the Redhat website, Redhat 6.2 and 7.0
> both die on 3/31/2003.  These are the only supported versions
> that run with the 2.2 kernel.  But, I've also read messages
> here that the 2.4 kernel has race conditions and is prone
> to crash.  So, the question is, what do I do with my ax25
> Linux system with RF modems on 3/31/2003?
> 
> 1.  Somehow get the 2.4 kernel fixed by 3/31/2003?  Is this
> possible?  What exactly is the issue, and how bad is this?
> Is this likely to happen?
> 
> 2.  Just live with the crashing.  Cycle the power on the
> machine every other day with a timer or some other horrible solution.
> Maybe it won't be that that bad.
> 
> 3.  Maybe someone other than Redhat will continue to do security patches
> for 6.2?  I can't believe I'm the only one running 6.2.  Right?
> 
> 4.  Upgrade to a new Redhat, but somehow install a 2.2 kernel in
> a distribution designed for 2.4.  Will this work?  (I'm scared.)
> 
> 5.  Switch to some other distribution that will continue to support
> 2.2 after 3/31/2003.
> 
> 6.  Continue with 6.2 and keep an eye out for vulnerabilities and
> maybe strip out a few services that I use otherwise.
> 
> -
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> the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
> More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html

Re: redhat 6.2 dies 3/31/2003 + AX25 2.4 kernel issues

[Shane Deering]

On Wed, 25 Dec 2002 22:03, Cathryn Mataga wrote:
> According to the Redhat website, Redhat 6.2 and 7.0
> both die on 3/31/2003.  These are the only supported versions
> that run with the 2.2 kernel.  But, I've also read messages
> here that the 2.4 kernel has race conditions and is prone
> to crash.  So, the question is, what do I do with my ax25
> Linux system with RF modems on 3/31/2003?

I'm using 2.2.17-21mdk kernel with RH7.2 on my packet box.
It was compiled on a newer box running Mandrake 7.1 and copied to the redhad 
box. It's a long story....

>
> 1.  Somehow get the 2.4 kernel fixed by 3/31/2003?  Is this
> possible?  What exactly is the issue, and how bad is this?
> Is this likely to happen?

I found early 2.4 (before 2.4.18) kernels very unstable for ax25 stuff.
After 2.4.18 less unstable running on RH 7.2 and 7.3.
This computer (I'm typing on) has Mandrake 9.0 on it and the standard kernel 
2.4.19 seems to work OK out of the box (using modules) for ax25 stuff. But 
I've only ran the packet stuff for short periods with a single TNC. I don't 
know how it would stand up to more, busier ports running long term.

-- 
Shane Deering   vk3bvp@qsl.net 	vk3bvp@vk3bvp.#sev.vic.aus.oc
http://www.qsl.net/vk3bvp/		Up 1 hour and 56 minutes 
Sent with KMail v1.4.1 on Thu Dec 26 13:07:03 EST 2002

Re: redhat 6.2 dies 3/31/2003 + AX25 2.4 kernel issues

[Cathryn Mataga]

M Taylor wrote:
> On Wed, Dec 25, 2002 at 03:03:53AM -0800, Cathryn Mataga wrote:
> 
>>According to the Redhat website, Redhat 6.2 and 7.0
>>both die on 3/31/2003.  These are the only supported versions
> 
> 
> No, they will not die, and they will not stop running. Red Hat
> Software Inc. will stop offering support for them (which includes
> releasing software updates). You are free to use RH 6.2 or 7.0
> if you wish.
> 
> 
>>that run with the 2.2 kernel.  But, I've also read messages
>>here that the 2.4 kernel has race conditions and is prone
>>to crash.  So, the question is, what do I do with my ax25
>>Linux system with RF modems on 3/31/2003?
> 
> 
> I have reports of mainly "larger" stations have problems
> with 2.4 kernels, though I do not think that going backwards
> to a 2.2 kernel will actually solve the problems.
> 
> I run a small 2.4 ax25 system with no problems, and no crashes
> or system lockups. I am trying to help a friend isolate a 
> system lockup (non responsive, no crash or kernel panic) with his
> 2.4 based BBS and AMPRnet gateway.
> 
> 
>>1.  Somehow get the 2.4 kernel fixed by 3/31/2003?  Is this
>>possible?  What exactly is the issue, and how bad is this?
>>Is this likely to happen?
> 
> 
> People are working on the kernel AX.25, NetRom and the userland
> tools. Others willing to contribute are welcome. One goal is
> to have a new AX.25 kernel code ready for 2.6, it is currently
> being worked on by Ralf and others in the 2.5 developmental kernel 
> series.
> 
> 
>>2.  Just live with the crashing.  Cycle the power on the
>>
>>3.  Maybe someone other than Redhat will continue to do security patches
>>for 6.2?  I can't believe I'm the only one running 6.2.  Right?
> 
> 
> You are not the only one running RH 6.2, but I do not think there is
> enough of a _paying market_, to pay for the additional support in 2004
> for RH 6.2. 
> 
> The 2.4 kernel has some wonderful advances, like journaling
> file systems, better SMP support, and of course more device driver
> support that I cannot imagine staying with RH 6.2. I would recommend
> you upgrade to RH 7.3 or wait for RH 8.1 (soon-ish).
> 
> If you do have problems, then help us, to help you, by providing detailed
> bug reports, from current systems.
> 

Anyway, after investigating this a little more,
I've decided to try to keep the Redhat 6.2 running for a bit longer.
I suppose I'll just have to keep a closer eye on security focus to avoid
being script kiddie fodder, but hopefully that'll be about it.
I have most of my other machines at the newer kernels, but the one ax25
box still at Redhat 6.2.

Sorry, I'd love to dig in and try to help fix this, but I have
basically zero free time until maybe about 6/03 or so.

Re: redhat 6.2 dies 3/31/2003 + AX25 2.4 kernel issues

[mvw]

Hi all.

> > The 2.4 kernel has some wonderful advances, like journaling
> > file systems, better SMP support, and of course more device driver
> > support that I cannot imagine staying with RH 6.2. I would recommend
> > you upgrade to RH 7.3 or wait for RH 8.1 (soon-ish).

Fwiw, I run RedHat 8.0 with a custom-compiled 2.4.20 kernel on my new box
(running tcp/ip over ax25 using kiss tnc), with fbb on top of that, and so
far so good. It's not been used heavily yet, but forthe last few days at
least all has been just fine.

Just a data ;oint - not proof of anything.

73
Michael VA3MVW

Re: redhat 6.2 dies 3/31/2003 + AX25 2.4 kernel issues

[Andrew Bates]

> Anyway, after investigating this a little more,
> I've decided to try to keep the Redhat 6.2 running for a bit longer.
> I suppose I'll just have to keep a closer eye on security focus to avoid
> being script kiddie fodder, but hopefully that'll be about it.
> I have most of my other machines at the newer kernels, but the one ax25
> box still at Redhat 6.2.

I guess I'm not following this trail very well... but what difference does
it make what version of a distribution anyone runs?  First of all, why go to
all the trouble of flattening a box and upgrading the entire system to a new
distro?  Only some of the packages need to be upgraded, and it sounds like
to me, you probably only need to upgrade your kernel (easy, download from
www.kernel.org) and maybe the ax25 tools (available from sourceforge).  All
other packages (if you are the type of person to use RPM) can be upgraded to
newer distro's versions.  The alternative is to -erase the package and start
over from .tar.gz and compile.....

As far as the 2.4 kernel goes, I'm running 2.4.19 with 2 rf ports and 1
ax25-ip port via 10baseT.  In the six months it has been online it has only
locked up once.  With the 2.4 kernel comes the introduction of iptables,
which is one of the best deterrents for malicious activity.  If someone runs
an nmap on your IP and gets no response back they are probably not going to
try to hack you.

Anyhow, that's my two cents worth
Andrew