[AuckLUG] Ethernet Disconnects Randomly

Sun May 27 15:26:34 NZST 2007

Hi,

I've been having this problem with a couple of computers at work for a while
now, and every time I think I fixed it it comes back. The problem is that I
have two machines at work, both running Kubuntu 7.04 (used to have Debian
installed on them previosly), every three to four days, these two machines
get disconnected from the network at exactly the same time - and only these
two while the other machines on the same network are still working fine.
Doing an ifconfig down and up solves the problem, but it is kind of a hassle
- especially since I often need to access them during the weekends from home
- and it's kind of a hassle to do that if the network goes down during the
weekend since I'm not there to bring it back up.

As I said, both are running Kubuntu 7.04 on the same network (consisting of
a bunch of other machines running Windows, Mac OS, openSUSE and Debian).
Both machines are identical, with the network card on both being a Broadcom
BCM5751 (tg3). This problem didn't happen when Debian was installed
either...

I have disabled (blacklisted) IPv6, which turned out to be a problem before,
but looking at the logs it's not the problem now.

Below are the contents of the log when they disconnect (both have pretty
much identical log entries). Any help would be appreciated. :)

Notes:
- In the log, I've replaced the IP address of the DNS server with <Secondary
DNS server>
- I've also replaced the hostname's ip address with <hostname's IP address>

Cheers,
/Fuad

---------------------
/var/log/syslog
---------------------

May 24 11:12:36 hostname kernel: [662203.914395] tg3: eth0: Link is down.
May 24 11:12:36 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^ISWITCH: terminating
current connection 'eth0' because it's no longer valid.
May 24 11:12:36 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDeactivating device
eth0.
May 24 11:12:36 hostname dhclient: There is already a pid file
/var/run/dhclient.eth0.pid with pid 5204
May 24 11:12:36 hostname dhclient: killed old client process, removed PID
file
May 24 11:12:36 hostname dhclient: DHCPRELEASE on eth0 to <Secondary DNS
server> port 67
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Withdrawing address record for
<hostname's IP address> on eth0.
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on
interface eth0.IPv4 with address <hostname's IP address>.
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Interface eth0.IPv4 no longer
relevant for mDNS.
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Found user
'avahi-autoipd' (UID 103) and group 'avahi-autoipd' (GID 109).
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Successfully called
chroot().
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Successfully dropped
root privileges.
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: fopen() failed:
Permission denied
May 24 11:12:36 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Starting with address
169.254.7.249
May 24 11:12:37 hostname NetworkManager: nm_device_is_802_3_ethernet:
assertion `dev != NULL' failed
May 24 11:12:37 hostname NetworkManager: nm_device_is_802_11_wireless:
assertion `dev != NULL' failed
May 24 11:12:40 hostname kernel: [662208.721335] tg3: eth0: Link is up at
100 Mbps, full duplex.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname kernel: [662208.721341] tg3: eth0: Flow control is
off for TX and off for RX.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IWill activate wired
connection 'eth0' because it now has a link.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^ISWITCH: no current
connection, found better connection 'eth0'.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IWill activate
connection 'eth0'.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDevice eth0
activation scheduled...
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
started...
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) scheduled.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
May 24 11:12:40 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) started...
May 24 11:12:41 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Callout BIND, address
169.254.7.249 on interface eth0
May 24 11:12:41 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Joining mDNS multicast group on
interface eth0.IPv4 with address 169.254.7.249.
May 24 11:12:41 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: New relevant interface
eth0.IPv4 for mDNS.
May 24 11:12:41 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Registering new address record
for 169.254.7.249 on eth0.IPv4.
May 24 11:12:42 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Beginning DHCP transaction.
May 24 11:12:42 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^ICouldn't send DHCP
'up' message because: name 'com.redhat.dhcp.OperationInProgress', message
'int
erface eth0 is being released. Please try again later.'.
May 24 11:12:42 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
failure scheduled...
May 24 11:12:42 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) complete.
May 24 11:12:42 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
failed.
May 24 11:12:42 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDeactivating device
eth0.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Withdrawing address record for
169.254.7.249 on eth0.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Leaving mDNS multicast group on
interface eth0.IPv4 with address 169.254.7.249.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Interface eth0.IPv4 no longer
relevant for mDNS.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^ISWITCH: no current
connection, found better connection 'eth0'.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IWill activate
connection 'eth0'.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDevice eth0
activation scheduled...
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
started...
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) scheduled...
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) started...
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) scheduled...
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 1 of 5 (Device Prepare) complete.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) starting...
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) successful.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) scheduled.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 2 of 5 (Device Configure) complete.
May 24 11:12:44 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) started...
May 24 11:12:45 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Successfully claimed IP
address 169.254.7.249
May 24 11:12:45 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: fopen() failed:
Permission denied
May 24 11:12:45 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDHCP daemon state is
now 11 (unknown) for interface eth0
May 24 11:12:45 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDHCP daemon state is
now 14 (normal exit) for interface eth0
May 24 11:12:46 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Beginning DHCP transaction.
May 24 11:12:46 hostname dhclient: There is already a pid file
/var/run/dhclient.eth0.pid with pid 134993440
May 24 11:12:46 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 3 of 5 (IP Configure Start) complete.
May 24 11:12:46 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDHCP daemon state is
now 12 (successfully started) for interface eth0
May 24 11:12:46 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Got SIGTERM, quitting.
May 24 11:12:46 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23084]: Callout STOP, address
169.254.7.249 on interface eth0
May 24 11:12:46 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23085]: client: RTNETLINK
answers: No such device
May 24 11:12:46 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23085]: Script execution failed
with return value 2
May 24 11:12:47 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDHCP daemon state is
now 1 (starting) for interface eth0
May 24 11:12:51 hostname dhclient: DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to
255.255.255.255port 67 interval 4
May 24 11:12:55 hostname dhclient: DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to
255.255.255.255port 67 interval 6
May 24 11:13:01 hostname dhclient: DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to
255.255.255.255port 67 interval 14
May 24 11:13:15 hostname dhclient: DHCPDISCOVER on eth0 to
255.255.255.255port 67 interval 7
May 24 11:13:18 hostname kernel: [662246.397189] tg3: eth0: Link is down.
May 24 11:13:18 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IOld device 'eth0'
activating, won't change.
May 24 11:13:20 hostname kernel: [662248.026165] tg3: eth0: Link is up at
100 Mbps, full duplex.
May 24 11:13:20 hostname kernel: [662248.026171] tg3: eth0: Flow control is
off for TX and off for RX.
May 24 11:13:20 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IOld device 'eth0'
activating, won't change.
May 24 11:13:22 hostname dhclient: No DHCPOFFERS received.
May 24 11:13:22 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: Found user
'avahi-autoipd' (UID 103) and group 'avahi-autoipd' (GID 109).
May 24 11:13:22 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: Successfully called
chroot().
May 24 11:13:22 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: Successfully dropped
root privileges.
May 24 11:13:22 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: fopen() failed:
Permission denied
May 24 11:13:22 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: Starting with address
169.254.7.249
May 24 11:13:27 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: Callout BIND, address
169.254.7.249 on interface eth0
May 24 11:13:27 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Joining mDNS multicast group on
interface eth0.IPv4 with address 169.254.7.249.
May 24 11:13:27 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: New relevant interface
eth0.IPv4 for mDNS.
May 24 11:13:27 hostname avahi-daemon[4993]: Registering new address record
for 169.254.7.249 on eth0.IPv4.
May 24 11:13:31 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: Successfully claimed IP
address 169.254.7.249
May 24 11:13:31 hostname avahi-autoipd(eth0)[23155]: fopen() failed:
Permission denied
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDHCP daemon state is
now 9 (fail) for interface eth0
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 4 of 5 (IP Configure Timeout) scheduled...
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 4 of 5 (IP Configure Timeout) started...
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^INo DHCP reply
received. Automatically obtaining IP via Zeroconf.
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^Iavahi-autoipd
running on eth0, assuming IPv4LL address
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 5 of 5 (IP Configure Commit) scheduled...
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 4 of 5 (IP Configure Timeout) complete.
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 5 of 5 (IP Configure Commit) started...
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^Inot touching eth0
configuration, was configured externally
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Finish handler scheduled.
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
Stage 5 of 5 (IP Configure Commit) complete.
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IActivation (eth0)
successful, device activated.
May 24 11:13:31 hostname dhcdbd: Unrequested down ?:3
May 24 11:13:31 hostname NetworkManager: <information>^IDHCP daemon state is
now 14 (normal exit) for interface eth0
May 24 11:13:31 hostname modprobe: WARNING: Not loading blacklisted module
ipv6
May 24 11:14:17 hostname last message repeated 4 times
May 24 11:14:23 hostname ntpdate[23185]: can't find host ntp.ubuntu.com
May 24 11:14:23 hostname ntpdate[23185]: no servers can be used, exiting
May 24 11:15:07 hostname modprobe: WARNING: Not loading blacklisted module
ipv6
May 24 11:15:57 hostname last message repeated 2 times
May 24 11:15:57 hostname modprobe: WARNING: Not loading blacklisted module
ipv6