[mpls-linux-general] FAQ: zebra/mplsd crashed, now what?

[James R. L. <jl...@mi...>]

Now that mplsd/zebra are being used by a more varied group of _users_
I figure it is time to send an e-mail explain what I expect from
someone who has encountered a segfault or mplsd goes into an infinit loop
or other serious failures.  This does _not_ include things like:

-incorrect routing information (OSPF routes aren't installed in forwarding
 table)
-incorrect LSP setup (LDP didn't create the LSPs you were expecting)
-LDP never forms adjacencies (or sessions)

These problems (and other like it) need to be handled differently.

First off, if you experience ANY sort of problems with mpls-linux or
ldp-portable please search the mailing-list archives for others with
the same problem.  I try to answer all new questions by responding to the
mailing-list.  If it's been asked/answered before, you should be able to
find it in the archive.

Second, when you experience a serious failure that no one else has
reported (or a solution hasn't been found) please file a bug report on
http://sf.net/projects/mpls-linux/.  In that bug report include:

-a _good_ ascii drawing (or a URL with a GIF or a JPG image) of the topology
 you are using.  Include in that drawing all interface addresses.
-the zebra/ospfd/mplsd/bgpd configs you are using.
-a desciption of what you did that caused the problem, and if it is easily
 reproducible
-if a "core" file resulted please include a stack trace.  Read the "Debugging
 A Crashed Program" in the gdb tutorial listed at the bottom of this e-mail.
-if a infinit look is occuring, run the offending program inside of gdb and
 hit cntrl-C when the loop is encountered.  Read the "Running A Program Inside
 The Debugger" in the tutorial listed at thet bottom of this e-mail.
-if you have any coding skills at all, try and dig into the problem.  The
 more you dig into it, the more info you will gather for me, the quicker it
 will get fixed.
-if tyou find the bug, provide me a patch generated with the 'diff' program.
 I like using 'diff -uNr'

Finally, realize that I work on the mpls-linux project in my spare time.
I do not get paid for it. The only reason I work on it is that I like it.
So please do not do anything that will cause me not to like working on this
project.

If anyone has any further info they would like to add let me know.  I will
include this document in the ldp-portable distribution.

GDB tutorial:

http://users.actcom.co.il/~choo/lupg/tutorials/debugging/debugging-with-gdb.html
-- 
James R. Leu