2.4.2 SMP + 3c905C-TX + NETDEV WATCHDOG

2.4.2 SMP + 3c905C-TX + NETDEV WATCHDOG

[Clem Taylor]

Every few weeks, since switching to 2.4.2, I get a series of 'NETDEV
WATCHDOG' errors. When this happens the system becomes unusable (homes
are NFS mounted) and does not recover. A small number of packets do get
out when it's in this state, but not enough to be useful. I've tried an
ifconfig up/down, all that seems to help is a reboot. The 3c905C driver
is compiled into my kernel, so I can't reload it. The machine is a Dell
Precision 220 (only one processor installed).

Has anyone else seen this problem. Is their a way to reset the interface
without rebooting? Any ideas?

                    Many thanks,
                    Clem

NETDEV WATCHDOG: eth0: transmit timed out
eth0: transmit timed out, tx_status 00 status e601.
  diagnostics: net 0cfc media 8880 dma 0000003a.
eth0: Interrupt posted but not delivered -- IRQ blocked by another
device?
  Flags; bus-master 1, full 0; dirty 1172221(13) current 1172221(13).
  Transmit list 00000000 vs. c14ca2d0.
  0: @c14ca200  length 8000002a status 0001002a
  1: @c14ca210  length 8000008e status 0001008e
  2: @c14ca220  length 800000ae status 000100ae
  3: @c14ca230  length 8000006e status 0001006e
  4: @c14ca240  length 800000ae status 000100ae
  5: @c14ca250  length 800000ae status 000100ae
  6: @c14ca260  length 8000004a status 0001004a
  7: @c14ca270  length 8000008e status 0001008e
  8: @c14ca280  length 800000ae status 000100ae
  9: @c14ca290  length 8000002a status 0001002a
  10: @c14ca2a0  length 8000002a status 0001002a
  11: @c14ca2b0  length 8000004a status 8001004a
  12: @c14ca2c0  length 8000002a status 8001002a
  13: @c14ca2d0  length 80000042 status 00010042
  14: @c14ca2e0  length 800000ae status 000100ae
  15: @c14ca2f0  length 80000042 status 00010042
eth0: Resetting the Tx ring pointer.

Re: 2.4.2 SMP + 3c905C-TX + NETDEV WATCHDOG

[Andrew Morton]

Clem Taylor wrote:
> 
> Every few weeks, since switching to 2.4.2, I get a series of 'NETDEV
> WATCHDOG' errors. When this happens the system becomes unusable (homes
> are NFS mounted) and does not recover. A small number of packets do get
> out when it's in this state, but not enough to be useful. I've tried an
> ifconfig up/down, all that seems to help is a reboot. The 3c905C driver
> is compiled into my kernel, so I can't reload it. The machine is a Dell
> Precision 220 (only one processor installed).

Irritating, isn't it?

> Has anyone else seen this problem. Is their a way to reset the interface
> without rebooting? Any ideas?

No.  A reboot is required.

It is due to a problem in the APIC handling.  There is a 
workaround in the 2.4.2-ac series which fixes it.  It
appears to not be in the 2.4.3 series.  So for the
while you'll have to either install a recent -ac kernel
or boot with the `noapic' LILO option.

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