[Linux-decnet-user] Testing with RSX and latest patches

[Doug C. <pd...@be...>]

Thanks to Steve for the latest patches.  

I applied both the earlier patch (12/14) and the one from last week
(12/28) to a fresh 2.4.0-test12 source tree.  I still see packet loss
when transmitting data packets from Linux->RSX.  When I 'SET HOST' from
RSX to the Linux system, then perform directory listings or other
commands that produce output to the terminal, I experience loss of
output.  

By running a simple script that generates 1000 numbered lines of output,
you can see the loss in the output.

When I run the script, I see holes in the output like this:

...
13:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
14:0123456789abcde789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
32:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
...

and:

...
41:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
42:0123456789abcdef01234567896789abcdef0123456789abcdef
60:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
...

and:

...
76:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
77:0123456789abcdef01123456789abcdef
93:0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef
...

Eventually, the output hangs and the login must be terminated on the
Linux system.

The really bad news is that this problem also appears to affect data
transfer from Linux->VMS (MicroVAX 3100, VMS v5.5).  In this case, after
about 30 lines, the output pauses and then continues in small spurts
until about 70 lines when it stops for a longer period.  During this
time, it appears that Linux is retransmitting packets and not getting
ACK's back from VMS.  Eventually, the output hangs to the point where
the login must be terminated.  However with the VMS scenario, gaps do
not exist in the output.

After backing out only the 12/28 patch, I now see reports of "System
buffer unavailable" from RSX and the output hangs.  From Linux->VMS, I
get slow output (about 1 line per second) and long pauses in the output.

With the 12/28 patch, I no longer get "System buffer unavailable"
messages from RSX, but data is still being lost from Linux->RSX.

I know there are far more people testing against VMS, so I was wondering
if anyone else had seen the same problems with VMS?


-- 
Doug Carman
pd...@be...