Container High Load on Cisco 2611XM (MPC860P)

Ezequiel Pineda · ‎03-21-2013

Hi all,

I need some help here, this is the first time im posting something in this forum, so i apologize if its in the wrong location.

I have a Cisco 2611XM (MPC860P) that i use at home, purchased it when i enrolled in my CCNA certification.

It never occured to me that i had an issue with this router.

I have 10Mbps uplink at home, and sometimes its really slow, when i talked to my ISP, we did a lot of troubleshooting to see why we had high latency, but as it turns out, the issue is My Router.

I only have a few machines inside my local LAN so i never even thought this could happen.

When i download a file using the 10Mb/s connection, the CPU load goes in less than 1 minute to 99%.

I thought it might be the IOS version of it, and upgraded it to a newer version, with the same results.

Here is an output of it:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

router1#show processes cpu sort

CPU utilization for five seconds: 99%/67%; one minute: 45%; five minutes: 13%

PID Runtime(ms) Invoked uSecs 5Sec 1Min 5Min TTY Process

54 27257 3024 9013 27.46% 11.80% 3.22% 0 IP Input

4 430 17 25294 2.31% 0.28% 0.08% 0 Check heaps

9 762 939 811 0.57% 0.40% 0.15% 0 ARP Input

3 7937 289 27463 0.16% 3.81% 1.56% 0 Exec

121 44 248 177 0.16% 0.04% 0.01% 0 IP NAT Ager

2 48 28 1714 0.08% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Load Meter

16 24 16 1500 0.08% 0.00% 0.00% 0 HC Counter Timer

115 28 81 345 0.08% 0.02% 0.00% 0 Syslog

20 8 132 60 0.08% 0.00% 0.00% 0 GraphIt

86 8 141 56 0.08% 0.01% 0.00% 0 bsm_xmt_proc

41 8 28 285 0.08% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Compute load avg

76 28 91 307 0.08% 0.02% 0.00% 0 TCP Protocols

12 0 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 AAA_SERVER_DEADT

11 0 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 AAA high-capacit

13 0 1 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Policy Manager

14 0 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 DDR Timers

17 0 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Serial Backgroun

15 12 2 6000 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Entity MIB API

8 4 6 666 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Environmental mo

6 0 2 0 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0 Timers

5 52 14 3714 0.00% 0.02% 0.00% 0 Pool Manager

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Im running the following:

ROM: System Bootstrap, Version 12.2(8r) [cmong 8r], RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc1)

router1 uptime is 10 minutes

System returned to ROM by reload

System image file is "flash:c2600-ipbasek9-mz.124-25d.bin"

At this point im not sure what to do, this is a GREAT router for a HOUSE, and i keeep on having issues.

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Best Regards,

Ezequiel

Tom Watts · ‎03-21-2013

It doesn't look like a cpu issue.

CPU utilization for five seconds: 99%/67%; one minute: 45%; five minutes: 13%

You can try to do show proc cpu hist

See if that is a bit more revealing. The million dollar question would be if you replace the router does the issue persist? If you connect your computer in to the modem while you have the issue, does it persist?

Anything like a show run or show tech support can make the CPU go to 90~100% so it's not a good judge on a short amount of time.

-Tom
Please mark answered for helpful posts

-Tom Please mark answered for helpful posts http://blogs.cisco.com/smallbusiness/

Ezequiel Pineda · ‎03-21-2013

Hi Tom,

Thank you so much for the reply.

The load remains there on 99% for as long as i remain downloading the file.

If i cancel the download, the load comes right back down to 3 or 7.

If i connect the machine directly to the modem there is no issue or latency.

I find it very weird, this is a router that i know for a fact can take more than that.

I will run the advised commands and report back.

Thanks,

Ezequiel

Ezequiel Pineda · ‎03-21-2013

Ok,

So, about 2 minutes after i started downloading this file @ full speed, i got the same issue.

Here is the result of the command, i dont really understand it though

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

router1#show proc cpu hist

router1 09:01:56 AM Thursday Mar 21 2013 CST

999999999999999999999999999999999999994444499999999999999999

999888889999988888999996666677777000008888899999999997777799

100 ********************************* *****************

90 ************************************** *****************

80 ************************************** *****************

70 ************************************** *****************

60 ************************************** *****************

50 ************************************************************

40 ************************************************************

30 ************************************************************

20 ************************************************************

10 ************************************************************

0....5....1....1....2....2....3....3....4....4....5....5....6

0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0

CPU% per second (last 60 seconds)

999111111121111112133444347246223223433333554533333433393334

999941689704967996952609814165633155007527214945914035992594

100 *#* *

90 ##* *

80 ##* *

70 ##* * * *

60 ##* * * * *

50 ##* * * * ** ** * *

40 ### * ****** ** ** ** ****# ** * **# ***

30 ### * ******** *#* * ********####*********#***#

20 ###* ***** *****#**###########***##########################

10 ############################################################

0....5....1....1....2....2....3....3....4....4....5....5....6

0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0

CPU% per minute (last 60 minutes)

* = maximum CPU% # = average CPU%

9

100 *

90 *

80 *

70 *

60 *

50 *

40 *

30 *

20 #

10 #

0....5....1....1....2....2....3....3....4....4....5....5....6....6....7..

0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 5 0

CPU% per hour (last 72 hours)

* = maximum CPU% # = average CPU%

router1#

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thanks,

Ezequiel

Tom Watts · ‎03-21-2013

Hi Ezequiel, can you post a show run and also provide what kind of internet service from whom?

Do you have ip cef enable? Do you have any route maps? If there is a lot of traffic with the route map it will try to process switch the traffic. You could enable fast switching on the interface to see if it makes any immediate improvements.

You can do show proc cpu sorted | exc 0.00 if you'd like a cleaner output for the cpu hog just to make an easier output read.

Can you disable any firewall function?

This router is traditionally slow. You won't see 10 mbps but 6-7 mbps is attainable. If it's bogging down to 1-2 mbps or less it is process switching.

-Tom
Please mark answered for helpful posts

-Tom Please mark answered for helpful posts http://blogs.cisco.com/smallbusiness/

paolo bevilacqua · ‎03-21-2013

And old router like that is too slow for 10 Mbps service.

You will need to replace with something else.

Ezequiel Pineda · ‎03-21-2013

Thanks Tom, Thanks Paolo for all the feedback,

As for the config itself, i have attached it to this reply. The ONLY thing i have modified are the passwords and users.

ip cef is enabled as far as i know, in global config mode, as for fast switching, im not sure about that.

The show proc cpu sorted | exc 0.00 option was great. Here is the output...again only happens when downloading a large file at full 10Mb/s

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

router1#sho proc cpu sorted | exc 0.00

CPU utilization for five seconds: 99%/69%; one minute: 86%; five minutes: 36%

PID Runtime(ms) Invoked uSecs 5Sec 1Min 5Min TTY Process

54 1563890 628313 2489 28.63% 24.69% 10.36% 0 IP Input

9 54257 75578 717 0.40% 0.49% 0.34% 0 ARP Input

62 2065 52495 39 0.16% 0.07% 0.03% 0 SSS Feature Time

122 8286 30435 272 0.16% 0.05% 0.01% 0 IP NAT Ager

2 1973 2688 734 0.08% 0.07% 0.02% 0 Load Meter

router1#

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As for the suggestion of replacing it with something newer, will it help if i add more RAM or something? or just replacing it is the best way.

Again, thanks a lot.

Ezequiel

paolo bevilacqua · ‎03-22-2013

Nothing will help. You need to replace it with something made for broadband.

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Joseph W. Doherty · ‎03-22-2013

Disclaimer

The Author of this posting offers the information contained within this posting without consideration and with the reader's understanding that there's no implied or expressed suitability or fitness for any purpose. Information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as rendering professional advice of any kind. Usage of this posting's information is solely at reader's own risk.

Liability Disclaimer

In no event shall Author be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of use, data or profit) arising out of the use or inability to use the posting's information even if Author has been advised of the possibility of such damage.

Posting

As Tom and Paolo has already noted, a 2611XM is likely underpowered to support 10 Mbps. (It was designed as a "WAN" router that could support a single T1/E1.)

However, I see over a 30% delta between total CPU and interrupt CPU, with apparently much of this CPU being used by the IP Input process. Process switching, on this platform, is documented by Cisco as about 13x slower than fast switching. If you can mitigate some of this process switching, your effective forwarding performance should increase. You might want to also review: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/routers/ps359/products_tech_note09186a00801c2af3.shtml

PS:

BTW, just looked at your config.

ACL logging might be something to avoid if you're trying to increase performance.

Further, unclear why you're using ACL 1 as you are. Seems non-essential.

NetFlow caching might be tried.

Ezequiel Pineda · ‎03-22-2013

Thanks everyone,

I will purchase a 3640 cisco router and see what happens.

It has only FastEthernet though, will this be ok?

Or do i have to get GB/s connectivity routers?

Ezequiel

etamminga · ‎03-22-2013

Hi,

Get a 870 of 880 or asa5505 for home use. These will be laughing at the 2611 and will do at least 40mbps (tested at my home, NAT and firewall features active).

Regards,
Erik

Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPad App

Ezequiel Pineda · ‎03-22-2013

Hi Erik,

Do these have IOS?

As fas as the ASA5505 i have never used these, is the OS the same as in other routers?

Does anyone know how much BW can the 3640 process?

Thanks,

Ezequiel

Joseph W. Doherty · ‎03-22-2013

Disclaimer

The Author of this posting offers the information contained within this posting without consideration and with the reader's understanding that there's no implied or expressed suitability or fitness for any purpose. Information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as rendering professional advice of any kind. Usage of this posting's information is solely at reader's own risk.

Liability Disclaimer

In no event shall Author be liable for any damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of use, data or profit) arising out of the use or inability to use the posting's information even if Author has been advised of the possibility of such damage.

Posting

As fas as the ASA5505 i have never used these, is the OS the same as in other routers?

Does anyone know how much BW can the 3640 process?

ASAs are security appliances (basically they can firewall and support VPN clients).

You'll find performance of ISR here: http://www.cisco.com/web/partners/downloads/765/tools/quickreference/routerperformance.pdf