[Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional failure

Mon Jun 15 06:50:31 PDT 2009

Thanks.  For a little more background info we have seen the issue across
a number of different servers at different customer sites, and
occasionally in our lab.  It is very elusive though since it happens so
infrequently.

Ed Sassone

Development Director

ed.sassone at autonomy.com

Ofc:   214.981.3126

Cell:  972.762.4553

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From: winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org
[mailto:winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org] On Behalf Of Gianluca Varenni
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 11:40 AM
To: winpcap-users at winpcap.org
Subject: Re: [Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional failure

Almost for sure it's not a problem with the application. It could be
either a bug in the winpcap driver, or a bug in some other driver in the
system that causes some memory exhaustion. It's like when a malloc fails
in an application. A malloc can fail, usually do to either some memory
leak in the application or due to virtual memory exhaustion on the
system.

Have a nice day

GV

	----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Sassone, Ed <mailto:Ed.Sassone at autonomy.com>  

	To: winpcap-users at winpcap.org 

	Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 9:29 AM

	Subject: Re: [Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional failure

	Thanks.  Also can you think of anything in the application that
we should do or should not do that might cause this?  The error happens
very rarely so it is hard to catch.

	We are using separate pcap_t handles for each thread.

	Ed Sassone

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attachments transmitted with it contain information that is confidential
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________________________________

	From: winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org
[mailto:winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org] On Behalf Of Gianluca Varenni
	Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 2:36 PM
	To: winpcap-users at winpcap.org
	Subject: Re: [Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional failure

	The buffer is on an open-instance basis, not on a NIC basis. So
it's perfectly safe to have two threads setting different buffer sizes
on the same adapter, *provided* that you are using two different pcap_t
handles. 

	Having said that, without a task manager screenshot it's
impossible to understand why it failed. The error basically means that a
malloc in the kernel driver failed, but it's impossible to know why
without more information about the memory load at the time of the
failure...

	Have a nice day

	GV

		----- Original Message ----- 

		From: Sassone, Ed <mailto:Ed.Sassone at autonomy.com>  

		To: winpcap-users at winpcap.org 

		Sent: Monday, June 01, 2009 7:33 AM

		Subject: Re: [Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional
failure

		We finally caught the error.  We did not get the Task
Manager screen shot.  Also you are correct in that serializing the
initialization did not help.

		One thing interesting, we have two threads per NIC card
setting different buffer sizes.  The first allocation worked and the
second did not.  The bracketed number is the thread id.

		05/29 14:24:54.53 Interface.cpp:93: [00001A54] Set
buffer size to 1048576 for interface
\Device\NPF_{F4E3EFD7-CAB0-481B-86E3-874358548A34} : Signaling Interface

		05/29 14:24:54.53 Interface.cpp:85: [00001174] Could not
set buffer size to 5242880 for interface
\Device\NPF_{F4E3EFD7-CAB0-481B-86E3-874358548A34}: driver error: not
enough memory to allocate the kernel buffer

		Ed Sassone

		www.autonomy.com <http://www.autonomy.com/> 

		CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication and any files
or attachments transmitted with it contain information that is
confidential to the sender and/or Autonomy, Inc., privileged or exempt
from disclosure under applicable law. It is intended solely for the use
of the individual or the entity to which it is addressed. If you are not
the intended recipient(s), you are hereby notified that any use,
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please do not read, copy, use or disclose the content of this
communication to others. If you have received this communication in
error, please delete it and contact our network administrator at (214)
981-3100.  Thank you.

________________________________

		From: winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org
[mailto:winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org] On Behalf Of Sassone, Ed
		Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 3:12 PM
		To: winpcap-users at winpcap.org
		Subject: RE: [Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional
failure

		Essentially a critical section around all the adapter
initialization calls so it will only be in one set a time, across all
threads and adapters.  Unfortunately I didn't have it print the
pcap_geterr string.  I just put that in.  It may be awhile until we
catch it in the act.

		thanks

		Ed Sassone

		From: winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org
[mailto:winpcap-users-bounces at winpcap.org] On Behalf Of Gianluca Varenni
		Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 2:05 PM
		To: winpcap-users at winpcap.org
		Subject: Re: [Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional
failure

		Serializing pcap_setbuff should not be necessary
(serializing against what? multiple calls on the same adapter? on the
same pcap_t handle?).

		Expecially considering that the only solution is a
reboot, I would think that there is some sort of leak either in the
WinPcap driver or in some other driver in the system. What's the exact
error message returned by pcap_setbuff?

		Also, after the problem occurs and before rebooting,
open Task Manager, go to the Performance Tab and send me a screenshot of
it, if possible.

		Have a nice day

		GV

			----- Original Message ----- 

			From: Sassone, Ed
<mailto:Ed.Sassone at autonomy.com>  

			To: winpcap-users at winpcap.org 

			Sent: Monday, October 06, 2008 2:15 PM

			Subject: [Winpcap-users] pcap_setbuff occasional
failure

			Hi

			Every so often in our application during
startup, the pcap_setbuff call will fail.  We are unable to re-create
the problem but it seems to happen after the application has been
stopped and started a number of times.  Once the failure occurs it will
continue to occur, until a reboot.  Our app is multithreaded with two
threads starting per interface card, and we can have more than one
interface card configured.  The buffer size specified can vary but it's
usually around 5-10 MB.  I have recently put in some changes to
serialize the command in case there is a timing issue, as I'm not sure
if the call is thread safe.  I remember there was thread issue with the
filter command.  This is on Windows 2003.  Any other ideas?  

			thanks

			Ed Sassone

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