%SYS-2-MALLOCFAIL

examples20001 · ‎09-12-2006

Hi All

I saw the below %SYS-2-MALLOCFAIL log in my Catalyst switch for 30 mins.

After that there is no messages at all for past 1 week and switch is running good and processor memory usage is around 7% as of now.

Why this message got diaplayed at that time? Is it because of some virus attack or some other thing?

Sep 5 16:36:33 XXX: %SYS-2-MALLOCFAIL: Memory allocation of 1680 bytes failed f

rom 0x152778, pool I/O, alignment 0

-Process= "Pool Manager", ipl= 0, pid= 5

-Traceback= 192E90 194338 15277C 19FDCC 1B2D3C

show version:

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software

IOS (tm) C3550 Software (C3550-I5Q3L2-M), Version 12.1(11)EA1, RELEASE SOFTWARE

(fc1)

Compiled Wed 28-Aug-02 10:03 by antonino

Image text-base: 0x00003000, data-base: 0x0071D658

ROM: Bootstrap program is C3550 boot loader

AXX00 uptime is 39 weeks, 4 days, 18 hours, 47 minutes

System returned to ROM by power-on

System restarted at 20:20:28 XXX Wed Dec 7 2005

System image file is "flash:c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-11.EA1/c3550-i5q3l2-mz.121-11.EA

1.bin"

cisco WS-C3550-24 (PowerPC) processor (revision G0) with 65526K/8192K bytes of m

emory.

Processor board ID CAT0639X0Q7

Last reset from warm-reset

Bridging software.

Running Layer2/3 Switching Image

Ethernet-controller 1 has 12 Fast Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces

Ethernet-controller 2 has 12 Fast Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interfaces

Ethernet-controller 3 has 1 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface

Ethernet-controller 4 has 1 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface

24 FastEthernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)

2 Gigabit Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 interface(s)

The password-recovery mechanism is enabled.

384K bytes of flash-simulated non-volatile configuration memory.

Base ethernet MAC Address: 00:0A:F4:F3:6C:00

Motherboard assembly number: 73-5700-09

Power supply part number: 34-0966-02

Motherboard serial number: CAT063804PQ

Power supply serial number: DCA06350RD3

Model revision number: G0

Motherboard revision number: A0

Model number: WS-C3550-24-EMI

System serial number: CAT0639X0Q7

Configuration register is 0x10F

sachinraja · ‎09-12-2006

hello

This error basically happens if the router has used all available memory.. this could have happened due to a virus attack or some process which has eaten up your memory.. you should have checked this when the problem really occured.. you can check this URL.it has all the symptoms and troubleshooting techniques for this problem:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps1831/products_tech_note09186a00800a6f3a.shtml

hope this helps.. rate replies if found useful..

Raj

examples20001 · ‎09-12-2006

Hi,

Thank you very much for the reply.

Top 3 processes that are holding less than 1 MB of memory are:

'HMATM Learn proc' is holding 65408 bytes

'VFM/VQM Merge Pr' is holding 62320 bytes

'Entity MIB API' is holding 31064 bytes

What are these 3 processes used for? Is these processes are the showing problem?

show process memory:

Total: 55052848, Used: 4314664, Free: 50738184

Show memory dead show lot of Virtual Exe details. Is it because of some virus attack to switch interface?

Attached file is the details of show memory; show process memory; show memory dead.

rajinikanth · ‎09-12-2006

Hi

Commonly, MALLOCFAIL errors are caused by a security issue, such as a worm or virus operating in your network. This is especially likely to be the cause if there have not been recent changes to the network, such as a router IOS upgrade. Usually, a configuration change, such as adding additional lines to your access lists can mitigate the effects of this problem.

Check this link for more details .

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/sw/iosswrel/ps1831/products_tech_note09186a00800a6f3a.shtml

HTH

Thanks,

Raj