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Conference irocz::common_brouters

Title:Digital Brouters Conference
Notice:New common-code brouter family: RouteAbout, DECswitch 900
Moderator:MARVIN::HARTLL
Created:Mon Jul 17 1995
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:929
Total number of notes:3736

842.0. "VNSwitch EAs w/FDDI Bridge Tunnel ... EFs Crash" by PRMS00::bjodial1_port6.bjo.dec.com::cascio (Steve Cascio, PRMS00::cascio) Tue Apr 08 1997 09:01

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I installed a pair of back to back VNSwitch EA�s & EF�s in a pair of
hubs today & did not get very far.  The default configuration, as
installed, set up an Ethernet bridge tunnel between the two EA�s.
Since the end systems are FDDI based (Connected to the FDDI
Concentrators) I attempted to change the Ethernet Bridge tunnel
(i/f #28) to an FDDI bridge tunnel.  The EAs accepted the change
just fine, but about 20 seconds after they initialized both
EF�s crashed.  The EF�s reinit and then immediately crash again.
Removing the fiber between the EAs allowed the EFs to init w/o
crashing.  Plug the fiber back in ... crash loop all over again.

What am I doing wrong/what am I missing?

Steve

      --VN--         --VN--
|   |   |   |       |   |   |   |
| C | E | E |       | E | E | C |
| O | F | A |       | A | F | O |
| N |   |   |=======|   |   | N |
| N |   |   |       |   |   | N |
|   |   |   |       |   |   |   |
-BCK PLN-               -BCK PLN-

Module Firmware:

EA & EF 1.5
MAM 5.0

x-posted in HUB_MGNT
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
842.1Crash log entry from failed EFPRMS00::bjodial1_port6.bjo.dec.com::cascioSteve Cascio, PRMS00::cascioTue Apr 08 1997 09:283
Crash Log Entry Number 1

19(V1.5) fddiCntrlMain(): BAD CRC SENT!
842.2IROCZ::GUNNERTue Apr 08 1997 11:308
We are aware of a problem with ATM bridge tunnels that will cause this
crash. First, make sure that you really have both ends of the bridge
tunnel set to FDDI - if you have one end set to Ethernet and one end
set to FDDI then you will get this crash. If you have them configured
correctly and it still crashes, then try powering off the EF modules
in both hubs, then restart the EAs, then restart the EFs.

Chris
842.3Here is how I set them up ... sound right?PRMS00::bjodial1_port7.bjo.dec.com::cascioSteve Cascio, PRMS00::cascioTue Apr 08 1997 12:4934
re .-1

Chris,

I tried your suggestion ... no help.

Just to make sure this isn't a pilot error ...

To configure the modules I:

1.	Enabled Automatic VNbus mode in each 900 Multiswitch
2.  	Installed each of the EAs
2.1	    Front Panel characteristics
2.1.1		set transmission type to SDH
2.1.2		left timing set to local
2.2	    Logical Interfaces
2.2.2		Saw that interface 28 defaulted to Ethernet ATM Bridge
		Tunnel 
2.2.3		Disabled interface 28
2.2.4		Set it to FDDI ATM Bridge Tunnel (same VCI as before - 62)
2.3	    Restarted EAs so the bridge tunnel change would be realized
3.	Cabled the EAs together w/ short piece of fiber
4.	Installed each of the EFs
4.1	    Connected concentrators to FDDI rings (backplane & front panel)

After the EFs init'ed they crashed.

Does this procedure sound right??

Thanks,
Steve



842.4IROCZ::GUNNERTue Apr 08 1997 15:4211
Yes, that's what I meant you to do. I thought it might workaround
the problem but obviously it doesn't - sorry to have wasted your time.
Since we already have this bug reported in our internal PTR database
(number 19756) there's no need for you to log an IPMT case unless you
want to escalate it. Also, you may be able to workaround the problem
until we get a fix done by configuring the tunnel as an Ethernet
bridge tunnel instead. In our case that seems to avoid the problem.
It will mean that your maximum packet size will be limited to 1500bytes
but most FDDI-attached systems are able to work with this packet size.

Chris
842.5Another BAD CRC SENT! crashKERNEL::GRIFFITHSJMon Apr 21 1997 05:3825
    Hello 
    
    
    I also have a customer reporting VNswitch 900EF crashes with:-
    
    2(V1.5) fddiCntrlMain(): BAD CRC SENT!
    
    In this case however the only VN modules being used are the EF's forming
    an FDDI ring between three HUB900's. There are no other FDDI devices on the
    ring, the VNswitchs bridge to backplane connected ethernet ports and
    ports 7-12 to front panel connected devices including, on two of the EF's
    DECswitch 400's. Only one of the EF's has crashed two or three times now
    the others are OK.
    
    VNswitch at V1.5 MAM at V5.0
    
    Has this been seen before??
    
    
    
    regards Jim
    
    Jim Griffiths
    CSC Basingstoke.
    
842.63 causes of fddiCntrlMain(): BAD CRC SENT! FORBIN::WILKINSONMon Apr 21 1997 11:2935
    re: .5
    
    It is likely that there is a hardware problem with the EF module that
    is crashing.  The module should be swapped out and replaced with a
    new unit.
    
    We are seeing three possible causes of this symptom:
    
    1.  Software bug in the configuration of FDDI bridge tunnels.  The
        AE module must be sending packets from the tunnel to the the EF
        module over the VNbus.  There is a software fix for this in
        the pipeline.  The bug is actually in the AE software.  The
        work around is to use an ethernet bridge tunnel and let the
        VNswitches translate the packets.
    
    2.  Hardware problems with the EF module reporting the error.
        This is likely to be the problem if the EF module is only
        receiving ethernet packets from other modules on the VNbus.
        (If FDDI packets are being received by the EF module, either
        from another EF module or an AE module, then see #3 below.)
        This is also likely to be the problem for modules that exhibit
        this problem when no traffic is being passed over the VNbus.
        There are manufacturing diagnostics in place to prevent units
        with these symptom from getting to customers.
    
    3.  Hardware problems with the interactions of MS900 hub clocking,
        VNswitch clocking and LAN hopping.  We don't expect to see this,
        but if this is happening, receive input errors will be occurring
        on the VNbus and the LAN hopped ethernet ports.  Once again,
        we have manufacturing diagnostics in place to identify units
        with this problem.
    
    Hugh
    
      
842.7Now two EF's crashingKERNEL::GRIFFITHSJTue Apr 22 1997 07:4323
    Hugh 
    
    
    
    Thanks for the information. This customer is now reporting that two of
    the VN900EF's have crashed with this error at the same time. I have
    raised this as an IPMT. Would you suggest a hardware swap for both
    modules?
    
    HW 06F1E1
    RO V1.5.4
    Serial numbers are
    1R70803377
    1R70605093
    1R70605087
    
    It is not clear which of the serial numbers are the crashing modules.
    The modules are not connected to the VNbus.
    
    
    regards Jim