Description of problem: In /var/log/messages, I saw heaps of lines like this: Nov 22 16:34:02 xen1 snmpd[3865]: netsnmp_assert index == tmp failed if-mib/data_access/interface.c:467 _access_interface_entry_save_name() Nov 22 16:34:02 xen1 snmpd[3865]: netsnmp_assert rc == 0 failed if-mib/ifTable/ifTable_data_access.c:209 _check_interface_entry_for_updates() The lines were sent every 30 seconds. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): 5.3.1-19.el5 Steps to Reproduce: 1. Activate the snmpd service. It may be related to xen. Dell OpenManage has also been installed on the server, but I doubt that it's related. Additional info: I googled around and found this: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1513191&group_id=12694&atid=312694 I tried patching the net-snmp package, adding the mentioned patch (needs to use -p1 (not -p0) when patching). The patch works. I've seen no bad side effects of it yet.
This request was evaluated by Red Hat Product Management for inclusion in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux maintenance release. Product Management has requested further review of this request by Red Hat Engineering, for potential inclusion in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux Update release for currently deployed products. This request is not yet committed for inclusion in an Update release.
It's not so simple to fix this assert. It raises when an interface with some name gets new ifIndex. I.e. when ppp0 gets disconnected (ppp0 goes down) and user reconnects (ppp0 gets up again, with another ifindex). Net-snmp cannot distinguish if the new ppp0 is the same interface as old ppp0 (and map internally the new ifIndex to old ifIndex) or it's new interface, not related to previous ppp0 (and delete old ppp0 and instantiate new, with new ifIndex). Both options are valid, it depends on network configuration by admin. The patch always deletes old interface. Applying the patch could confuse some tools like MRTG, which do not expect that an interface with certain name gets new ifIndex. Correct is to make new configuration option, which allows network admin to configure this behavior - replace old interface or reuse it. Such change is quite big, please contact your Red Hat support at http://support.redhat.com and consult with them new RFE. I agree that the long message is quite annoying and does not say anything useful, so I will replace it with more meaningful message and display it only once during net-snmp start.
*** Bug 431064 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on the solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2008-0376.html