Arch Linux

likytau

Member

Registered: 2012-09-02

Posts: 142

[SOLVED] 'fake' network data since kernel upgrade

EDIT: Solved by upgrading to 3.6

Hi,

Recently I upgraded(?) to kernel 3.5.3. Around that time, I began experiencing a few serious networking-related problems:

* Sometimes the expected amount of data would be sent for a file download, but only the beginning of the file would have the genuine data -- the rest would be blank.  This can result in strange looking images when browsing, for example.

* Getting 'chopped off' transmissions, in both directions; causing errors like not being able to post on reddit, pixelation, etc cause my requests are incomplete, "yaourt -Syu" reporting 'incomplete transmission' for one or more of the package indexes, being unable to access sites temporarily because they supposedly 'are using an invalid compression method' or 'provided invalid SSL information' (I experienced that a lot recently when trying to get to the 'new topic' page to post this message)

I have a suspicion what's responsible: if you look at the 3.5 news summary, you can see 'TCP fast retransmit' is added and enabled by default:
http://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_3.5#head … 6d8658e1e4

As well as the new CoDel system:
http://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_3.5#head … 9c74322b01

If I can't get any improvement by adjusting the fast retransmit option, I plan to downgrade to an earlier version.

First though, I really want to know: Has this happened to you too?

(FWIW, I'm on a 800k/sec ADSL2+ connection, accessed via a wireless usb device connecting to a NB16WV router with vanilla configuration)

Last edited by likytau (2012-10-22 22:20:20)

ataraxia

Member

From: Pittsburgh

Registered: 2007-05-06

Posts: 1,553

Re: [SOLVED] 'fake' network data since kernel upgrade

Not happening here, on either of my machines, which are on quite different networks with different network hardware. I wonder if a bug was introduced in your network driver. (I'm using r8169 and e1000e - what are you using?)

likytau

Member

Registered: 2012-09-02

Posts: 142

Re: [SOLVED] 'fake' network data since kernel upgrade

I'm using r8172u with a "ASUSTek Computer, Inc. USB-N10 802.11n Network Adapter [Realtek RTL8188SU]"
I saw elsewhere that someone else was complaining about 3.5.3 wireless driver problems, so I'll check out that avenue. Thanks

fsarud

Member

Registered: 2012-10-22

Posts: 3

Re: [SOLVED] 'fake' network data since kernel upgrade

Exactly same thing. Could you solve it? I'm upgrading to 3.6 to see if it is solved. Thanks.

likytau

Member

Registered: 2012-09-02

Posts: 142

Re: [SOLVED] 'fake' network data since kernel upgrade

Actually yes, upgrading to 3.6 fixed it for me. (note that virtualbox isn't currently 3.6 compatible, so I'm stuck without scanner access for the time being, though)