HP switch dropping packets

anything I don't mind · 10 May 2012 at 11:20

We have a monitoring software that is reporting that a switch (HP ProCurve 2824) it is dropping packets.

Do you think that rebooting the switch should be the first thing to do? It is not negatively affecting anything on the network.

Goliath · 10 May 2012 at 12:34

First thing to check is that the switch is actually dropping packets - if your monitoring software is using SNMP to poll then a MIB mismatch has a tendency to produce the same result. If it is, find out what's on the other end of the port that's dropping them (if it is related to an individual port) and investigate it - just rebooting the switch will only mask the problem etc.

[Darkend]Viper · 10 May 2012 at 13:55

As said above, and also maybe try to see if there's a firmware update, i've got an older 2824 with a early firmware and that did drop packets when you were pushing a lot of data through it, updated firmware and it went away. Think it was a known bug in a firmware version.

anything I don't mind · 10 May 2012 at 19:01

ok thanks i will try that. It has been identified to 3 or 4 ports but there does not appear to be any problems due to this.

Goliath · 11 May 2012 at 08:21

groen said:
ok thanks i will try that. It has been identified to 3 or 4 ports but there does not appear to be any problems due to this.

TCP will just re-transmit packets if they are not received by the end host, so it masks the issue - depending on the number dropped applications may be responding slower etc. Not that familiar with the PRoCurve stuff, but are you running any QoS on the ports? If so the dropped packets may be "intentional" as far as the switch is concerned.

anything I don't mind · 11 May 2012 at 10:25

I just arrived on site and picked up existing issues. So will investigate.

anything I don't mind · 11 May 2012 at 11:54

Current firmware version of switch: Version: I.07.31, ROM I.07.01
Latest available firmware version: i.10.77 Dated: 26-Aug-2009

What are Managed Networking Switches MIBs? On the hp website there is the firmware release and below a separate MIB file release.

I have never heard of MIB before it looks like it is something to do with snmp but i can't find any information on it with google for some reason, probably have a wrong search.

I am going to schedule a firmware update of the switch but rather annoyingly i have to update it twice because it is so old. Probably end up having to update them all.

PistolPete · 11 May 2012 at 12:15

A MIB is basically like DNS for SNMP.

You load the MIB file into your SNMP software, and rather than it showing the OIDs as .1.2.4.1.4.1.2.2.1.2.3.2.4.5.2.4.4.3.5.6.4.6.4.2.1.2, it'll read as "Number of collisions on port 2"