Re: Broadcom, DHCP

[Ed Brown <ebrown lanl gov>]

On Mon, 2005-07-25 at 11:44, Howard Johnson wrote:
> On Mon, 2005-07-25 at 18:47 +0200, Bjorn S. Nilsson wrote:

> > Laptops and desktops with Broadcom NetXtreme gigabit controllers 
> > often fail to get an IP-address using DHCP, but only in the instal-
> > lation phase. I.e., if I wait until the DHCP query has timed out
> > and enter a fixed address the card works. Later, after installation
> > and reboot DHCP works flawlessly. So, there seems to be something
> > specific to the installer causing this problem. Any hints?

> Are you using Cisco switches? I find that pump/anaconda doesn't have a
> long enough timeout to deal with spanning tree blocking the port for the
> first 45 seconds or so. I get around this problem with by either
> plugging something dumb between the machine and the switch, or turning
> on portfast. Every time anaconda runs pump, the NIC drops and raises the
> link, which triggers spanning tree to block the port while it checks for
> loops in the network.

This is an old issue, been around a couple of years at least (see
anaconda and kickstart archives too), and a real PITA.  It's not
restricted to switch manufacturer, it's not restricted to gigabit
NIC/driver, it's not tied to the network 'bootproto' or the install type
(ftp/http/NFS).  The only common thread is anaconda.  I'd love to
understand why it hasn't been fixed, or handled, in anaconda.

Non-cisco switches might not have 'portfast'.  We've disabled
spanning-tree, or use an intermediate 10/100 hub or switch to work
around this.  

-Ed