Ethernet LAN Complete hangup of network caused by single device

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Subject Author Date
Complete hangup of network caused by single device RH 09-08-06
Posted by RH on September 8, 2006, 5:01 am
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Hi all,

I'm being troubled by this most peculiar problem. In an embedded
environment, the PC (running XP Embedded) sometimes falls into
a complete hangup (i.e. XP doesn't respond to anything). It is
related to a hangup of the network; the PC hardware involved seems
to do something on its network connection that causes the switch
(brand: SMC, 24 ports) to block all traffic to/from the other
participants
on the network. As soon as I disconnect the cable from the hanging
PC the whole networks OK again.

I wonder, which phenomenon on a single Ethernet connection
could cause that a complete network is locked out?

(the vendor already has had his own internal network locked out
in an attempt to reproduce the issue, so he's sure the problem
exists)

Any clues?

Rob Hulsebos
Philips Netherlands


Posted by Robert Redelmeier on September 8, 2006, 7:13 am
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> I wonder, which phenomenon on a single Ethernet connection
> could cause that a complete network is locked out?

From your email addr, I presume you are not a Black Hat.

Any broadcast that occurs too frequently (flooding) will
bring many ethernets to a crawl if not a stand-still.
For many unmanaged switches, any unknown (non replying)
MAC address qualifies as broadcast.

The real problem is why the device [re]transmits too
frequently. Sounds like a buggy timer/timeout. Sometimes,
a loop (redundant path) can cause the same troulbe.

-- Robert


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