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Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

Title:DEChub/HUBwatch/PROBEwatch CONFERENCE
Notice:Firmware -2, Doc -3, Power -4, HW kits -5, firm load -6&7
Moderator:NETCAD::COLELLADT
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:4455
Total number of notes:16761

1305.0. "Reset DB900MX crashes LAVC?" by STKHLM::DUFVA (Nils Dufva - TSSC G�vle Sweden) Fri Aug 12 1994 07:37

    Hi,
    
    I do not work with DEChub/HUBwatch but I just spoke with a customer
    that had problems with it.
    
    He has a DEChub 900MS V3.0 and HUBwatch/VMS V3.0. The DEChub contains
    a DECbridge 900MX and three DECrepeater 900TMs.
    
    He said he had done a reset on his DECbridge 900MX from HUBwatch/VMS
    V3.0 to save the setup of a DECbridge 900MX.
    
    This caused several VAX:es to crash, mostly LAVC members (also the
    bootnode). They communicate via the AUI and UTP ports on the bridge.
    
    This vague problem description leads to some follow-on questions:
    
    1. Should it be possible to reset the bridge without interrupting
       bridged traffic.
    
    2. If traffic is interrupted, for how long time does it occur?
    
    3. Has anyone experienced problems with LAVC nodes crashing due to
       DECbridge resets?
    
    Regards,
    
    Nils.
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1305.1some answers.....NACAD2::BATTERSBYFri Aug 12 1994 11:1026
    I'll take a stab here.
    
    >1. Should it be possible to reset the bridge without interrupting
    >   bridged traffic.
    No, a warm reset will for a short time interrupt traffic.
    
    >2. If traffic is interrupted, for how long time does it occur?
    The interruption should only be as long as it takes for the bridge
    to reset, reboot running self-test, then upon starting operational
    firmware the amount of time to go through the bridge preforwarding
    operation. This should be roughly 1� minutes. The reboot, self-test
    will take about a minute, and the preforwarding will take another
    30 seconds.
    
    >3. Has anyone experienced problems with LAVC nodes crashing due to
    >   DECbridge resets?
         
    LAVC nodes I believe send out some kind of keep-alive multicasts
    that they send between each other of some short duration like every
    2 seconds. If these multicasts are interrupted between the LAVC nodes
    they get confused and as you said, crash.
    
    These are my takes on these questions.
    
    Bob
    
1305.2When is a reset necessary?STKHLM::DUFVANils Dufva - TSSC G�vle SwedenFri Aug 12 1994 11:5617
    Re .1: Thanks, Bob!
    
    Seemes clear that a reset of the DB900MX will cause a network
    interruption.
    
    Next question; My customer says that the help text in HUBwatch tells
    him to do a reset of the bridge for the configuration changes to take
    effect. Now he wants to know if that really is the case (I have no
    implementation to test with).
    
    As he says that `If there are any normal management operation that
    requires a reset I will return the hub to DEC', it would be fine if
    somebody could assure me that this is not the case!
    
    Regards,
    
    Nils.
1305.3Don't have definitive answer....NACAD2::BATTERSBYFri Aug 12 1994 12:266
    A HUBwatch guru will have to answer that question about the 
    interaction of HUBwatch with respect to config changes requiring
    a reset of a line card (to perhaps make them permanent?). I don't
    know.
    
    Bob
1305.4reset when bored with network.SLINK::HOODI'd rather be at the KennebecFri Aug 12 1994 12:445
I wrote most of the 900 bridge code for HUBwatch, and from what I've seen,
you do NOT need to reset the bridge to change any configs I can think of.

Tom Hood
HUBwatch
1305.5NACAD::ANILFri Aug 12 1994 14:335
    Any parameter which is set is stored in non-volatile RAM AND takes
    effect immediately - doesn't matter whether you come in from
    HUBwatch or any other management mechanism.
    
    Anil
1305.6Sounds fineVAXBOX::DUFVANils Dufva - TSSC G�vle SwedenSun Aug 14 1994 14:0514
    Fine, it seemes like my customer doesn't has to return the HUB to
    DEC :-)
    
    He said that the help text in HUBwatch told him to do a reset for the
    changes to take effect. I havn't runned HUBwatch myself, so maybe he
    misinterpreted what it said, or the text need to be modified.
    
    I'm trying to get IP routing to my office in order to have HUbwatch
    running, hopefully this week so I do not need to ask simple questions
    in this notesfile!
    
    Thank you for your prompt response,
    
    Nils.