[Bridge] [3.5 regression / bridge] constantly toggeling between disabled and forwarding

[Stephen Hemminger]

On Mon, 23 Jul 2012 09:15:04 +0200
Michael Leun <lkml20120218 at newton.leun.net> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> when I use my usb ethernet adapter
> 
> # > lsusb
> [...]
> Bus 002 Device 009: ID 9710:7830 MosChip Semiconductor MCS7830 10/100 Mbps Ethernet adapter
> [...]
> 
> as port of an bridge
> 
> > # brctl addbr br0
> > # brctl addif br0 eth0
> > # brctl addif br0 ue5
> > # ifconfig ue5 up
> > # ifconfig br0 up
> 
> (Also does happen when eth0 is not part of the bridge, but the logs I
> had available were from that situation...)
> 
> I constantly get messages showing the interface toggeling between
> disabled and forwarding state:
> 
> Jul 23 07:40:50 elektra kernel: [ 1539.497337] br0: port 2(ue5) entered disabled state
> Jul 23 07:40:50 elektra kernel: [ 1539.554992] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:40:50 elektra kernel: [ 1539.555005] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:40:51 elektra kernel: [ 1540.496242] br0: port 2(ue5) entered disabled state
> Jul 23 07:40:51 elektra kernel: [ 1540.552534] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:40:51 elektra kernel: [ 1540.552548] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:40:52 elektra kernel: [ 1541.550413] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:40:53 elektra kernel: [ 1542.529672] br0: port 2(ue5) entered disabled state
> Jul 23 07:40:53 elektra kernel: [ 1542.587162] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:40:53 elektra kernel: [ 1542.587175] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:40:54 elektra kernel: [ 1543.585309] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:00 elektra kernel: [ 1549.360600] br0: port 2(ue5) entered disabled state
> Jul 23 07:41:00 elektra kernel: [ 1549.442998] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:00 elektra kernel: [ 1549.443011] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:01 elektra kernel: [ 1550.357686] br0: port 2(ue5) entered disabled state
> Jul 23 07:41:01 elektra kernel: [ 1550.408208] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:01 elektra kernel: [ 1550.408222] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:02 elektra kernel: [ 1551.407656] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:03 elektra kernel: [ 1552.401578] br0: port 2(ue5) entered disabled state
> Jul 23 07:41:03 elektra kernel: [ 1552.474773] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:03 elektra kernel: [ 1552.474786] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:04 elektra kernel: [ 1553.472487] br0: port 2(ue5) entered forwarding state
> Jul 23 07:41:05 elektra kernel: [ 1554.356138] br0: port 2(ue5) entered disabled state
> [...]
> 
> This does (in the same situation, nothing else than the kernel changed)
> not happen with 3.4.5.
> 
> Does anybody have an idea what the issue might be or do I need to bisect?

Probably not a bridge issue, but rather an issue with link status reporting
on the device. The bridge changes state when the attached ethernet
device raises/lowers carrier.

An independent way to observe link changes is to use a tool like:
  ip monitor
which will show carrier up/down events.