[vortex] Re: [PROBLEM]: Strange network problems with 2.4.0 and 3c59x.o

[Donald Becker]

On Fri, 12 Jan 2001, Shawn Starr wrote:

> Here's something strange that i've been noticing with 2.4.0. Some websites I am
> unable to access now. For example:
> 
> http://www.scotiabank.ca/simplify/index.html

This is a bug in the routers (likely Cisco) on the path there.
It's related to ECN (Early Congestion Notification), which the router
does not handle correctly.  Routers that do not understand the option
should ignore it.  Instead they discard the packet.

See the earlier discussion about "ECN" on the linux-kernel list.

> Could there be a network driver issue as even trying with telnet port
> 80 fails as well?

It's not a driver issue.

> Im not sure on this one this seems bizarre. I have the same problem with
> www.workopolis.com, theglobeandmail.com, perhaps there's some sort of
> packet or frame not being processed properly?
> 
> I can ICMP ping all the sites fine and i can access them from other shells.
> I have spoken to some of their engineers and they say that there is nothing
> blocking/no firewalls configured to deny access to theses sites.

Ask them about when they last updated their routers...

Donald Becker				becker@scyld.com
Scyld Computing Corporation		http://www.scyld.com
410 Severn Ave. Suite 210		Second Generation Beowulf Clusters
Annapolis MD 21403			410-990-9993