Network Interface Using forcedeth Driver Flapping

Solution Verified - Updated -

Issue

  • Network interface down, unable to ping or ssh
  • Following messages appear daily in logs:
grep eth1 /var/log/messages*
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:42:37 ... ntpd[3898]: Listening on interface eth1, 192.168.100.178#123
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:42:35 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded 
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:42:53 ... kernel: forcedeth 0000:00:09.0: ifname eth1, PHY OUI 0x5043 @ 3, addr 00:21:28:3d:75:07
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:45:54 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:46:01 ... kernel: eth1: link up.
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:46:02 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:55:10 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  4 23:55:17 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  5 00:01:30 ... kernel: eth1: link down.
/var/log/messages:Dec  5 00:01:32 ... kernel: eth1: link up.
/var/log/messages:Dec  5 00:06:48 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  5 00:06:58 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  5 00:11:09 ... ntpd[3900]: Listening on interface eth1, 192.168.100.178#123
/var/log/messages:Dec  5 00:11:06 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded 
/var/log/messages:Dec  5 00:11:24 ... kernel: forcedeth 0000:00:09.0: ifname eth1, PHY OUI 0x5043 @ 3, addr 00:21:28:3d:75:07
/var/log/messages:Dec  6 01:47:04 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  6 01:47:10 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  7 01:38:59 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  7 01:39:09 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  7 01:51:49 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  7 01:51:56 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  7 01:54:59 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  7 01:55:06 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  8 01:45:33 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  8 01:45:41 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  8 01:48:52 ... network: Shutting down interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  8 01:48:57 ... network: Bringing up interface eth1:  succeeded
/var/log/messages:Dec  8 01:48:58 ... kernel: eth1: link up

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux, version 4.9
  • Kernel 2.6.9-103.ELsmp

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