The oddest network issue I think I've seen

SourChipmunk · 17 Aug 2009 at 21:13

This is very strange. I have two file servers sitting next to each other. Each is connected to the same network switch. They are having problems communicating with eachother.

Now, a continuous ping to both devices from my location never drops a packet. However, a ping between the two devices toggles at exactly 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off.

I'm not sure what kind of network equipment these things are connected to (there is another team that takes care of them), but this has to be up there with the strangest things I've seen!

Anyone else experienced this, or knows what a switch might do in 10 minute cycles?

K.C. Leblanc · 17 Aug 2009 at 21:31

That's very odd. Is it a managed switch, if so it might be worth connecting into it and seeing what's listed in the MAC address tables for the two ports both the servers are using.

Are you using any sort of Network Access Control or radius type stuff?

SourChipmunk · 17 Aug 2009 at 21:55

K.C. Leblanc said:
That's very odd. Is it a managed switch, if so it might be worth connecting into it and seeing what's listed in the MAC address tables for the two ports both the servers are using.

Yeah, we've been trying to get the group that manages this switch on the line for the last hour. Darn outsourcing.

K.C. Leblanc said:
Are you using any sort of Network Access Control or radius type stuff?

Nothing like that on these devices, no.

SourChipmunk · 18 Aug 2009 at 15:38

Well, it turned out to be a firewall, and some technical lingo for the firewall arping it's own MAC instead of our servers. Default polling for these arp requests is 10 minutes, so that explains the timing. I have no idea what that all means, just as long as it wasn't a problem with my servers.