Topic: Samba / XP file copy issue

[mag]

Hi All,

Using sme 7.0.

I'm having a problem with Samba and copying a large folder from windows XP to a Samba share. The problem is also occurring when installing software onto a shared Samba drive from an XP machine.

Samba appears to operate normally when loging on/off, and regular day to day operation.

I have searched for a solution, but nothing appears to help.
The messages I generally receive in messages are of the form:
read_socket_data: recv failure for 4 and then one of
Error = Connection reset by peer
Error = No route to host

The error typically only occurs after the file copy/installation has been going for a while - after 50% complete.

Things that I have tried:
Upgraded XP to use latest network drivers
Used alternate network card in Sme server
Used alternate switch/cables

I've also modified the smb.conf file with the following (according to postings I found)
disabled wins
changed resolve order to host lmhost bcast
set oplocks to false
set smb ports = 445 (also tried 139, but as this is an XP only network, read a suggestion that 445 was better)

I noticed that there was a minor update to samba from centos
3.0.10-1.4E.6.2 to 3.0.10-1.4E.9, but it doesn't look like anything major is changed from the Changelog.

I'm at a complete loss as to what to try next - please help.

[mmccarn]

Is this is a file size issue?  Searching google for "samba file size limit" gives me a few links implying there may problems accessing files on a samba server that are 2GB or larger...

[mag]

Thanks for the response...

There is no 1 file that is larger then 2Gb, with the largest actually being around 700Mb.

The complete folder I am trying to copy is about 1.5Gb. During the install of the software, these files expand to a folder size of 3.7Gb.

To me it appears that there is some sort of buffer that fills up or becomes misaligned (this error doesn't happen right away, but typically anywhere from 50 - 90% of the copy or install).

While  experimenting, I discovered that if I bring the network speed down by using a 10Mb (instead of the 100Mb switch) hub between XP and the Sme server, the copy and installation work fine.

[mmccarn]

Ouch.

I'd be trying a new switch or NIC or at least cleaning the contacts on the existing server NIC.  

After that, it's dead chickens & midnight ceremonies...

[mag]

I'm still having this issue and haven't come any closer to finding a solution (I've tried the dead chickens (actually rabbits) at midnight - they didn't help either

I've replaced switches and network cables, network cards and just about everything else I can think of, all without help.

Doing a search on the web, there are lots of similar issues with Samba and XP, but no working solutions.

[piran]

Wild guess...
Synchronise the clock of the XP machine to that of the server -
command prompt from the XP:

Code: [Select]

net time \\myserver /set /yes

[mudtoe]

One other thing you might look into, the memory.  I've had problems in the past with large file copy operations and WinXP when there are memory issues.  In most cases the problem showed itself as the large file being corrupt when it got to its destination rather than what you describe, but the similarity is with problems copying large files.

[mag]

I don't think it is a memory issue (unless on the server) as I have tried this on multiple XP machines.

One interesting thing I did discover is that I can get this to work using an older XP laptop or placing a 10 Mb hub between the XP macines and the server.

This appears to indicate a speed issue.

When I am installing from a problem XP machine, the server becomes very unresponsive, even from the command line and load average jumps way up to around 5. When installing from the older XP laptop, the load average is around 2 - 2.5.

Under top, smbd is only taking up between 4 and 10% of the CPU.

I'm hoping that there are some updates in 7.1 to help with the situation.

[bunkobugsy]

I'm having the same problem...
Can't copy a standard 620MB jet database, it stops exactly at the same size, 405MB, every time.
No mater if OPLOCKS is on or off.
Curiosly, I can copy any 700 MB movie, I doesn't fail.
I'm simply clueless... any ideas??

[mag]

I never did get this issue resolved even after the upgrade to 7.1.

The last thing I tried was installing the latest Samba packages manually but it made absolutely no difference.

My current thought is this:
This server has hardware raid setup and working completely transparent to linux. When SME was installed, it was installed with software raid, but only 1 functional disk, so it is running in a deprecated state. I think this slowing all disk access down and increasing CPU usage levels when copying large files.
I think the only way to discount this is to re-install everything, but without the s/w raid. This is currently impossible to do because of usage of the system.

M

[Stefano]

I never did get this issue resolved even after the upgrade to 7.1.

just a (probably dumb) question.. what NIC are you using on sme?

ciao

Stefano

[mag]

This is an intel server, so the 2 onboard network cards are
Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82541GI/PI Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 05)
and
Ethernet controller: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8050 PCI-E ASF Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 18)

I am currently only using the Intel card (e1000 module), but have tried with the Marvel card as well but this didn't have any effect.

Thanks for the thought though.

M