#6 Link dropouts with RHEL 4.

[Deon George]

Howdy,

I'm using 1.2.9 (cant get 1.3.1 to compile) on RHEL 4 (kernel 2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp) and I loose the link very, very frequently.

From what I can see, if I receive a lot of traffic, PPPD looses the link and shows:

pppd[12067]: No response to 3 echo-requests
pppd[12067]: Serial link appears to be disconnected.

This normally happens within a minute or two of PPP coming up.

I found the original ibut driver (ibut-3.10a5.tz) and compile it, and it works without any problems - I can really hammer the network and it stays up without missing a beat :)

Thought you would like to know - maybe you can fix something - sorry, I dont know what to suggest? If you find something, I'll happily test things for you...

---
FYI: 1.3.1 fails to compile with:
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp/build SUBDIRS=/tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6 modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-42.0.3.EL-smp-i686'
CC [M] /tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6/ib-net.o
/tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6/ib-net.c:305: error: unknown field `get_wireless_stats' specified in initializer
/tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6/ib-net.c:305: warning: initialization makes integer from pointer without a cast
/tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6/ib-net.c:305: error: initializer element is not computable at load time
/tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6/ib-net.c:305: error: (near initialization for `ib_wireless_def.num_standard')
make[2]: *** [/tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6/ib-net.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/ibdriver-1.3.1-linux-2.6] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-42.0.3.EL-smp-i686'
make: *** [default] Error 2

...deon

[Nik Trevallyn-Jones]

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Thanks for the info.

I don't have access to any RHEL, but I can install CentOS. I'll see how similar that is to the system/kernel you are running.

Q: How do you switch between ibdriver and ibut? Did you simply change the DEVICE field, or did you do other things?
(I'm interested if your problem involved configuration issues.)

Q: Are you using a PCMCIA or USB modem?

The error compiling 1.3.1 *looks* like your RHEL either does not have Wireless Extensions installed, or its version is too early for the code in ibdriver.

Thanks again for your input - I'll have a look at installing CentOS.

Cheers!
Nik

[Deon George]

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Hey Nick,
1: Did a reinstall - so I removed the ibdriver config and modules and installed the ibut driver and config - so it was clean installed.

2: I have a PCMCIA adapter.

Im now trying a RHEL5 desktop (beta), which I went backed to your driver (1.3.1 - 2.6.17) and installed OK (even made a RPM of it), and havent had many problems (only 1 link dropout, but it might be because I'm in a bad area). I'll give it a good hammering when I'm in town later this week...

I just noticed that you released 1.3.2 - so I'll have a play with that one as well - see how well it goes on RHEL5.

Any chance of getting signal strength info?

[Deon George]

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BTW: I just compiled 1.3.2 - and see you have status info :)

As I thought, my home is an area where I dont have a strong signal :(

Any, it works a treat on RHEL5 - and made an RPM, so it is VERY easy to install. Just install the RPM, then insert the card :) Looks like RHEL5 have made improvements with PCMCIA processing when items are installed, so you just drop the config in /etc/pcmcia/ and /etc/modprobe.d/ and away you go.

If you want my src.rpm, then let me know...

[Nik Trevallyn-Jones]

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Yes please, I would happily have your source RPMS.

In addition, if this is not what you were offering, could you provide the RMP definition file, so I can investigate maintaining an RPM for this?

I've never really taken the time to look at building an RPM, so I am happy to reuse someone else's work!

I'll ask around and see if our resident Debian gurus are interested in making a Debian package.

Cheers!
Nik.

[Deon George]

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Here is my SRC.RPM - all somebody needs to do is rpmbuild --rebuild x.src.rpm, and the resultant rpm file can then be installed, insert card and setup PPP :) (Thats on RHEL5 anyway - other RHELs may need more config as per your instructions.)

File Added: ibdriver-1.3.2-0.src.rpm

[Deon George]

SRC RPM with driver 1.3.2 for 2.6.17.

[Nobody/Anonymous]

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If in /etc/ppp/peers/dsl-provider you set

lcp-echo-failure 500
lcp-max-failure 500

then loss of a few lcp packets shouldn't drop the connection.

Works for me :)