Linux kernel message: "NETDEV WATCHDOG: eth0: transmit timed out"

(Last modified: 04Jan2006)

This document (10099643) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

fact

Open Enterprise Server 9 (Linux based)

SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9

Novell Linux Desktop 9

Ethernet card supported by the "e1000" driver (for example, Intel EtherExpress (TM) PRO/1000)

Linux kernel version 2.6.5-7.191 or newer, prior to 2.6.5-7.244

symptom

Linux kernel message: "NETDEV WATCHDOG: eth0: transmit timed out"

Intermittent network failures with messages relating to gigabit ethernet cards driven by the e1000 driver

cause

Bug in e1000 driver (Novell bugzilla #116533)

fix

Upgrade to kernel 2.6.5-7.244 or newer. This kernel is available as patch-10727, "Recommended update for Linux kernel"and for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is shipped as the kernel of Service Pack 3 .

note

Alternatively, there is a workaround: Disable TCP Segmentation Offloading (TSO) on the network interfaces driven by the e1000 driver  through "ethtool -K interface tso off", e.g. "ethtool -K eth0 tso off".

document

Document Title:	Linux kernel message: "NETDEV WATCHDOG: eth0: transmit timed out"
Document ID:	10099643
Solution ID:	NOVL104227
Creation Date:	11Nov2005
Modified Date:	04Jan2006
Novell Product Class:	Linux

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