Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    MBUF rising steadilly using vmxnet2 NIC

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Virtualization
    12 Posts 3 Posters 2.1k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • B
      burnsl
      last edited by

      So, I have increased buffer limits, and made sure that the NICs are working, however, eve on this test VM running PFsense 2.1.4, the mBUF value climbs steadily.

      Also, this firewall has NO TRAFFIC going over it.

      There is not any indication that it won't go back to 100% like it did before I increased the limit.

      Any thoughts here?

      I have two other 2.1.4 firewalls running physically, just fine.
      status_rrd_graph_img.php.png
      status_rrd_graph_img.php.png_thumb

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • I
        ivanhoek
        last edited by

        Are you using the openVMtools package? I had the same problem with that package when using the vmxnet2 driver. I suggest just using E1000, PCI-Passthrough (if available), or installing the current Vmware tools and using their driver. This package seems to be old and buggy.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • B
          burnsl
          last edited by

          I am using the VMware tools from VMware.

          The ESXi server is fully patched to the latest version and the tools are also at the latest version for ESX 4.one

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • B
            burnsl
            last edited by

            Anyone care to take a stab at this?

            I cannot use this solution if i cannot solve this problem.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • KOMK
              KOM
              last edited by

              Does it show the same behaviour if you use an E1000 or VMXNET3 NIC?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • B
                burnsl
                last edited by

                I'll clone the machine and switch it over to e1000.

                However, the CPU usage will go up significantly as a result.

                Lets see

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • KOMK
                  KOM
                  last edited by

                  There are some docs online about how to get VMXNET3 working with FreeBSD 8.3, but I've never tried and don't know if pfSense would pick the cards up or not.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • B
                    burnsl
                    last edited by

                    Please remember that this is VMXNET2 on ESXi 4.1u3.

                    Which isn't capable of vmxnet3.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • KOMK
                      KOM
                      last edited by

                      Sorry, I didn't remember.  I moved off of 4.x a while ago.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • B
                        burnsl
                        last edited by

                        That's fine, I just wanted to ensure your suggestions are relevant to my issue.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • I
                          ivanhoek
                          last edited by

                          I guess it's possible the problem would be resolved on a more recent 5.x Vmware release. Are you tied to 4.x? Why not upgrade to the latest?

                          I did test your scenario with native Vmware tools (Vmxnet3) on 5.5 and didn't have mBuf problems. I did have Mbuf problems with vmxnet2 on 5.1 and 5.5 when using openVMtools … I didn't try Vmxnet2 with 5.1 or 5.5 (native Vmware tools).

                          I'm using Vt-d right now , so no longer able to test vmx NICs.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • B
                            burnsl
                            last edited by

                            The equipment I'm using as stated above is a Proliant DL360 G4p.  the highest ESXi version is can run is 4.1u3.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • First post
                              Last post
                            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.