[Avila] Problem with wds bridging on avila board

Thu May 17 12:03:33 EDT 2007

--- Joel Lindsay <joel at waveteq.com> wrote:

> I believe so.  I don't know how I might verify this.
> 

once booted into linux do an 'ifconfig' on both boards - verify that all the
mac addresses are unique on both boards.  If they are not this would explain
your bridge loop.

> I am using the redboot from the 2348 dev kit.  Is this by chance different 
> for the 2347?  Also you had sent me a patch for the GPL driver that fixed up 
> some phy register problems.  Is this also a problem with the intel driver?
> 

The bootloader is definitely different between the GW2347 and GW2348 - not that
the changes made to the bootloader for the 2347 won't work just fine on the
2348.  The difference is that the 2347 bootloader detects the DP8348 PHY and
adjusts the phy_id register so that redboot can use eth0.  Without this change
redboot cannot use eth0, but that has nothing to do with what occurs once your
in linux because sometime between this register change in redboot and the linux
driver loading the chip/register gets reset.  So... this really isn't your
issue since your talking about what occurs in 'Linux'.  By the way, you know if
your 2347 has the change to support the DP83848 PHY if you see 'DP83848 Phy'
over the serial port as soon as you power the GW2347.

So... the bootloader change really doesn't affect what happens once your in the
linux environment and yes the IAL NPE driver will have issues with the PHY
without a patch, but the issues are not what your seeing (I use 2347's as
network bridges without a patched IAL).  The GPL NPE driver is a little
different in that it will refuse to work without a linux GW2347 PHY patch
whereas the IAL NPE doesn't care.  I imagine that without the patch on the IAL
you probably would not be able to use any of the phy tools like mii-diag or
ethtool.  Again, I don't believe this would have anything to do with your issue
as your bridging problem is at the MAC layer.

Check your mac addresses for uniqueness.  More importantly, if your using
interfaces in a bridge, check the bridge's virtual mac address for uniqueness
(ifconfig br0).  By the way, you can set the mac address on an interface to
anything you would like with 'ifconfig <if> hw ether <macaddr>'

Tim

> You are probably right, it is something silly, but it is something different 
> between the 2 boards, and I think that probably means the phy somehow.
> 
> Joel Lindsay, B.Eng
> Project Engineer
> WaveTeq Communications
> (250) 766-9229
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tim Harvey" <tim_harvey at yahoo.com>
> To: "Avila" <avila at lists.unixstudios.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 2:52 PM
> Subject: Re: [Avila] Problem with wds bridging on avila board
> 
> 
> > I'm sure its something really silly - are your mac's programmed properly
> > (uniquely) on the 2347's and getting set properly when examined with 
> > ifconfig?
> >
> > Tim
> >
> > --- Joel Lindsay <joel at waveteq.com> wrote:
> >
> >> I am pretty sure yes.
> >>
> >> I am using the exact same firmware image on both the 2347 and 2348 
> >> boards.
> >> Everything is setup via scripts in the firmware so it is getting done
> >> identically on both.
> >>
> >> The 2347 sees the problem, the 2348 doesn't.  Could this have to do with 
> >> the
> >> selected codelets and components for the npe or do I need to patch the 
> >> 2347?
> >> I would think bridge loop also, but I cannot find one and stp doesn't 
> >> help.
> >>
> >>
> >> Joel Lindsay, B.Eng
> >> Project Engineer
> >> WaveTeq Communications
> >> (250) 766-9229
> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> From: "Tim Harvey" <tim_harvey at yahoo.com>
> >> To: "Avila" <avila at lists.unixstudios.net>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 10:52 AM
> >> Subject: Re: [Avila] Problem with wds bridging on avila board
> >>
> >>
> >> > Joel,
> >> >
> >> > "Received packet with  own address as source address" would indicate a
> >> > bridge
> >> > loop.  Are you sure your setting things up correctly?
> >> >
> >> > Tim
> >> >
> >> > --- Joel Lindsay <joel at waveteq.com> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Hi,
> >> >>
> >> >> I have repeasted the problem with the 2348 boards and everything works 
> >> >> as
> >> >> expected.
> >> >>
> >> >> The problem is limited to the 2347 boards, and I have tried several
> >> >> different boards, including my newest ones which should be the last
> >> >> revision.
> >> >>
> >> >> Are there some patches I need to apply for the 2347 board?  Maybe I
> >> >> didn't
> >> >> allow all the ixp Components/Codelets and that I need?  Is there
> >> >> documentation on what all these mean somewhere?  I have never found 
> >> >> them.
> >> >>
> >> >> With the 2347 the error I get in the logs is
> >> >>
> >> >> <14>Jan  1 00:00:24 kernel: br0: port 2(ath0) entering forwarding 
> >> >> state
> >> >> <14>Jan  1 00:00:24 kernel: br0: topology change detected, propagating
> >> >> <14>Jan  1 00:00:24 kernel: br0: port 1(ixp0) entering forwarding 
> >> >> state
> >> >> <12>Jan  1 00:00:58 kernel: ixp0: received packet with  own address as
> >> >> source address
> >> >> <12>Jan  1 00:00:58 last message repeated 1 time(s)
> >> >> <86>Jan  1 00:00:58 dropbear[931]: Child connection from
> >> >> 192.168.100.170:1657
> >> >> <12>Jan  1 00:00:58 kernel: ixp0: received packet with  own address as
> >> >> source address
> >> >> <12>Jan  1 00:01:00 last message repeated 6 time(s)
> >> >>
> >> >> This error does not appear with the 2348.
> >> >>
> >> >> This is using the exact same software image and settings; only 
> >> >> difference
> >> >> is
> >> >> in the boards.  The occasional ping does get through however.
> >> >>
> >> >> Joel Lindsay, B.Eng
> >> >> Project Engineer
> >> >> WaveTeq Communications
> >> >> (250) 766-9229
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> >> From: "Tim Harvey" <tim_harvey at yahoo.com>
> >> >> To: "Avila" <avila at lists.unixstudios.net>
> >> >> Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 10:31 AM
> >> >> Subject: RE: [Avila] Problem with wds bridging on avila board
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> > Joel,
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I have not heard of anyone porting the GPL driver back to 2.6.15 - 
> >> >> > it
> >> >> > was
> >> >> > originally written for something around 2.6.18 and is only 
> >> >> > maintained
> >> >> > for
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > newer kernels.  Its possible to port back but you'll have to take 
> >> >> > care
> >> >> > of
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > fact that certain kernel API's (like the mutex stuff you ran into) 
> >> >> > has
> >> >> > changed.
> >> >> > Personally, if your going to expend that effort, your better off 
> >> >> > moving
> >> >> > your
> >> >> > environment up to a more recent kernel.  Of course, its always a 
> >> >> > moving
> >> >> > target.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > If you follow the patches at
> >> >> > http://trac.nslu2-linux.org/kernel/browser/trunk/patches you can 
> >> >> > patch
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > standard linux kernel to support your avila board.  If you run into
> >> >> > problems,
> >> >> > you can post to either the NSLU project or here for help from the
> >> >> > people
> >> >> > here
> >> >> > that have done this (I know of at least two others on this list that
> >> >> > have
> >> >> > patched their own kernel up).  I believe there is also at least one 
> >> >> > VAR
> >> >> > that I
> >> >> > know of on this list that will sell you a debian based kernel devel
> >> >> > system
> >> >> > that
> >> >> > supports the gateworks boards.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > With regards to your bridging issue:
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Its definitely not the IAL as I do what your doing with both the IAL
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > GPL drivers.  I don't like the IAL personally because its not GPL 
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > therefore
> >> >> > not part of the mainstream kernel, which simply makes it a major 
> >> >> > pain
> >> >> > to
> >> >> > update
> >> >> > kernels as you have to port the IAL to the new kernel, but I also do
> >> >> > not
> >> >> > have
> >> >> > any issues with the IAL driver's performance or functionality.  You 
> >> >> > can
> >> >> > search
> >> >> > this list for numerous discussions about this topic.  I have done a
> >> >> > simple
> >> >> > throughput test with both drivers (2.6.15-uc0 + IAL NPE vs 2.6.19 + 
> >> >> > GPL
> >> >> > NPE)
> >> >> > and did not find a significant performance difference.  I 'always' 
> >> >> > use
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > 'npe_learning=0' mod param as I've been told that the npe_learning
> >> >> > feature
> >> >> > has
> >> >> > had memory leaks in the past (never confirmed this myself and am not
> >> >> > sure
> >> >> > if it
> >> >> > was fixed).
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I have experienced an issue with some early 2347 boards where the 
> >> >> > PHY
> >> >> > would not
> >> >> > maintain a 100mbps link with certain phy's of other equipment I was
> >> >> > using.
> >> >> > The
> >> >> > 2347 uses a phy that is different from all the other IXP based 
> >> >> > boards I
> >> >> > know of
> >> >> > and its not entirely supported in the kernel/driver your using.  I
> >> >> > can't
> >> >> > say
> >> >> > for sure this is what your seeing (I don't see it with 'newer' 
> >> >> > boards).
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Can you repeat your issue with 2348's?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Tim
> >> >> >
> >> >> > --- Joel Lindsay <joel at waveteq.com> wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> Hi Tim,
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> I am using the 2.6.15 kernel, as that is what came with my avila 
> >> >> >> dev
> >> >> >> kit
> >> >> >> and
> >> >> >> I haven't upgraded.  Do you know if this will work with the GPL
> >> >> >> drivers?
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> I am using Gateworks 2347 board with atheros and madwifi.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> The thing that struck me as most odd was that the problem only
> >> >> >> occurred
> >> >> >> when
> >> >> >> connected to my LAN (with all the associated network and broadcast
> >> >> >> traffic)
> >> >> >> but it worked perfectly when just straight bridging 2 laptops. 
> >> >> >> This
> >> >> >> was
> >> >> >> very similar to what I saw with the intel drivers before using
> >> >> >> npe_learning=0, which is why I thought they might be related.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Maybe I will need to upgrade my kernel and try out the GPL drivers, 
> >> >> >> or
> >> >> >> possibly the problem is something else.  I have had some ideas from
> >> >> >> some
> >> >> >> other board users that I will try.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Thanks for the help!
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Joel
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> >> >> From: Tim Harvey [mailto:tim_harvey at yahoo.com]
> >> >> >> Sent: May 13, 2007 8:51 PM
> >> >> >> To: Avila
> >> >> >> Subject: Re: [Avila] Problem with wds bridging on avila board
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Joel,
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> What board are you using?  What are you using for WiFi/WDS (Atheros
> >> >> >> cards
> >> >> >> w/
> >> >> >> madwifi?).  I assume your setting everything up on the same subnet
> >> >> >> (bridge)
> >> >> >> vs
> >> >> >> routing?  I do what your talking about all the time both with the 
> >> >> >> IAL
> >> >> >> and
> >> >> >> GPL
> >> >> >> NPE drivers.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> As for the GPL NPE driver, I've had it working on 2.6.18 and 2.6.19
> >> >> >> using
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> patches at 
> >> >> >> http://trac.nslu2-linux.org/kernel/browser/trunk/patches.
> >> >> >> I
> >> >> >> noticed
> >> >> >> that they no longer have the 2.6.18/19 patches there but you should
> >> >> >> find
> >> >> >> them
> >> >> >> if you go back in their subversion rev's you'll find them.  I have 
> >> >> >> no
> >> >> >> reason
> >> >> >> to
> >> >> >> believe the patches they have for 2.6.20/21 would give you any 
> >> >> >> compile
> >> >> >> problems, I just haven't moved to that kernel.  I never had any
> >> >> >> compile
> >> >> >> issues
> >> >> >> but I could see issues if your trying to put the driver on other
> >> >> >> kernels -
> >> >> >> there were a few changes that affect the driver between 
> >> >> >> 2.6.18-2.6.21
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Tim
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> --- Joel Lindsay <joel at waveteq.com> wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > I am seeing a weird problem.  When I create a wds link between 2
> >> >> >> > avila
> >> >> >> > boards with a laptop connected on both ends, everything works 
> >> >> >> > just
> >> >> >> > as
> >> >> >> > expected.  When I take one end and put it on my network, suddenly 
> >> >> >> > I
> >> >> >> > can't
> >> >> >> > ping past the board on that network side.  Its like the packets 
> >> >> >> > are
> >> >> >> > being
> >> >> >> > dropped, but only when its part of a larger network (switch, then
> >> >> >> > router)
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > It seems very similar to a former problem that was caused by
> >> >> >> > multicast
> >> >> >> > traffic and was solved by setting the argument npe_learning=0 
> >> >> >> > when
> >> >> >> > modprobing the ethernet driver.  This leads me to believe it is
> >> >> >> > again a
> >> >> >> ixp
> >> >> >> > npe problem.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > I have tried compiling the GPL Ethernet driver to see if this 
> >> >> >> > helps,
> >> >> >> > but
> >> >> >> am
> >> >> >> > having no luck as I keep getting mutex errors that I can't seem 
> >> >> >> > to
> >> >> >> > make
> >> >> >> > go
> >> >> >> > away.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > Has anyone seen this problem before?  Anyone know how to fix it? 
> >> >> >> > Is
> >> >> >> > it
> >> >> >> > another npe problem?
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > Any help appreciated.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > Joel Lindsay
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >>
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