To: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
From: Stephen Hemminger <shemminger@osdl.org>
Subject: Re: Ethernet bridge leaking memory
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 13:06:13 -0800
Organization: OSDL
Message-ID: <20051110130613.2bb0c9be@dxpl.pdx.osdl.net>
References: <200511102113.28334.kostja@siefen.de>
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On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 21:13:27 +0100
Kostja Siefen <kostja@siefen.de> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I have a strange problem with ethernet bridging in 2.6.13 which leads to heavy 
> slab allocation until memory is completely filled up.
> 
> My setup:
> 
> HP nx7000 Laptop running Kernel 2.6.13
> - RTL 8139 network interface on board (module 8139too)
> - PC Card Wired LAN Network Interface (module pcnet_cs)
> 
> After modprobing bridge and calling
> 
> brctl addbr br0
> brctl addif br0 eth0 (RTL 8139)
> brctl addif br0 eth2 (PC Card Wired LAN)
> 
> the bridge is up and running and works like a charm. Sending some traffic (1 
> MB/s is enough) through that bridge leads to massive kernel memory 
> allocation. slabtop reports, that "skbuff_head_cache" and "size-2048" eat up 
> all the memory (256 MB). This looks like a memory leak to me.
> 
> Even unloading the network modules does not free any memory, a reboot is 
> required.
> 
> Any ideas? 
> 


Could you try identifying which flow or driver is leaking?

	eth0 ---> eth2
	eth0 ---> br0
	eth2 ---> br0
	eth2 ---> eth0
	br0  ---> eth0
	br0  ---> eth2

Also try without bridge, it may just be a driver leak


-- 
Stephen Hemminger <shemminger@osdl.org>
OSDL http://developer.osdl.org/~shemminger
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