IBM Support

Cisco switch crash due to memory allocation errors

Troubleshooting


Problem

A Cisco Catalyst switch module in the BladeCenter chassis may stop forwarding traffic and become unmanageable. Prior to this event the switch will show malloc (memory allocation) errors in the show tech log similar to the following message: *Mar 823:33:57.795: %SYS-2-MALLOCFAIL: Memory allocation of 260 bytes failed from 0x15E122C, alignment 0 Pool: I/O Free: 3388 Cause: Memory fragmentation The switch is running the cryptographic feature, crypto version of Internetwork Operating System, IOS, version 12.2.55 SE4 or older.

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H206042

Symptom

A Cisco Catalyst switch module in the BladeCenter chassis may stop forwarding traffic and become unmanageable. Prior to this event the switch will show malloc (memory allocation) errors in the show tech log similar to the following message:

  *Mar 8 23:33:57.795: %SYS-2-MALLOCFAIL: Memory allocation of 260 bytes failed from 0x15E122C, alignment 0 Pool: I/O Free: 3388 Cause: Memory fragmentation

The switch is running the cryptographic feature, crypto version of Internetwork operating System, IOS, version 12.2.55 SE4 or older.

Affected configurations

The system is configured with one or more of the following IBM Options:

  • Cisco Catalyst Switch Module 3012 for IBM BladeCenter, Option part number 43W4395, any replacement part number
  • Cisco Catalyst Switch Module 3110G for IBM BladeCenter, Option part number 41Y8523, any replacement part number
  • Cisco Catalyst Switch Module 3110X for IBM BladeCenter, Option part number 41Y8522, any replacement part number

This tip is not system specific.

This tip is not software specific.

The cryptographic firmware for the Cisco Catalyst switch module is affected.

Solution

The memory leak code defect is documented in Cisco bug fix CSCts54282. The fix is included in IOS level 12.2.55 SE5.

Additional information

The malloc errors are due to a memory leak causing a loss of available free I/O memory. The memory leak can be observed prior to the failure by comparing the output of the show memory command over time, specifically the value of I/O Free Memory.

Previous IOS version 12.2.55 SE4 also included a bugfix for the memory leak issue, CSCth87458, however this code fix did not fully correct the problem.

Document Location

Worldwide


Operating System

System x Hardware Options:Operating system independent / None


Applicable countries and regions

  • Worldwide
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Document Information

More support for:
System x Hardware Options->BladeCenter Switch Module->Gigabit->41Y8522

Document number:
860860

Modified date:
30 January 2019

UID

ibm1MIGR-5090847

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