This bug has been copied from bug #610236 and has been proposed to be backported to 4.8 z-stream (EUS).
A patch for this issue has been included in kernel 2.6.9-89.0.30.
Test in kernel 2.6.9-89, Steps to Reproduce: 1. config two systems both running bonding in ALB mode 2. System A ping system B,the ARP being sent each 2 seconds between them [root@hp-dl320g5-01 mnt]# tcpdump -v arp tcpdump: WARNING: eth0: no IPv4 address assigned tcpdump: listening on eth0, link-type EN10MB (Ethernet), capture size 96 bytes 03:49:49.056184 arp reply hp-dl320g5-01.rhts.eng.bos.redhat.com is-at 00:18:71:8c:16:22 03:49:49.056384 arp reply hp-dl320g5-01.rhts.eng.bos.redhat.com is-at 00:18:71:8c:16:22 03:49:53.156023 arp reply hp-dl320g5-01.rhts.eng.bos.redhat.com is-at 00:18:71:8c:16:22 03:49:53.156026 arp reply hp-dl320g5-01.rhts.eng.bos.redhat.com is-at 00:18:71:8c:16:22 Test in kernel 2.6.9-89.31.1: There are no unneeded ARP packets. [root@dell-pem605-01 ~]# tcpdump -v arp tcpdump: WARNING: eth0: no IPv4 address assigned tcpdump: listening on eth0, link-type EN10MB (Ethernet), capture size 96 bytes 0 packets captured
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 therefore 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/RHSA-2010-0779.html
Technical note added. If any revisions are required, please edit the "Technical Notes" field accordingly. All revisions will be proofread by the Engineering Content Services team. New Contents: When two systems using bonding devices in the adaptive load balancing (ALB) mode communicated with each other, an endless loop of ARP replies started between these two systems due to a faulty MAC address update. With this update, the MAC address update no longer creates unneeded ARP replies.