Ethereal-dev: Re: [ethereal-dev] Problem running 0.5.0 on Redhat 5.2

Note: This archive is from the project's previous web site, ethereal.com. This list is no longer active.

Date Index Thread Index Other Months All Mailing Lists
Date Prev Date Next Thread Prev Thread Next
From: Dennis Edmonds <dedmonds@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 02 Dec 1998 09:22:45 -0500 (EST)
On 02-Dec-98 Gerald Combs wrote:
>   This probably has to do with the way libpcap works under Linux.  In
> order to capture packets off the wire, ethereal calls pcap_open_live()
> (which takes a timeout argument), then repeatedly calls pcap_dispatch() to
> read packet data.  If there isn't any network activity within the timeout
> period, pcap_dispatch() returns immediately and the program proceeds on
> its merry way.  This timeout isn't currently implemented under Linux,
> however.  As a result, the program freezes until a packet arrives.

Is this still a problem with the upcoming 2.2 kernel?  Network Flight Recorder
has a similar problem when running under Linux, even resulting in packet loss. 
However, people from the linux-kernel development group have reassured the NFR
people that this will not be a problem in 2.2.  I know they have significantly
reworked the networking code in the new kernel series, but can anyone confirm
if this problem is still present in the 2.1xx series?  I really should just go
ahead and compile a new development kernel, but I just haven't had time lately.

Ethereal is looking really good, you guys are doing a great job with it.

thanks,

Dennis Edmonds