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%SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Gi3/0/1 and port Fa2/0/46.....

Hi Guys,

Iam seeing above issue on two of my switches connected to core switch ....i know there are quite of few discussion open on same issue but mine is diff....

i see same issue on two switches connected via core swicth on same vlan ( 112)....when i do mac address lookup it says the mac thats generating this error is invalid so cant track the source of this mac....also just saw on topoogy change notification on core traced it back to originating switch which is also generating this error but dnt see any change on the switch that is generated topology change notification....prob is vlan 112 all interface on both switches conected via core are generating this message so five interfaces each .....any expert advise on how to approach it as i cant get to source port generating this as nearly five ports in vlan 112 on bloth switches generating this error. thanks

Apr 15 15:56:08: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa3/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 15:56:50: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa2/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 15:56:51: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa3/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 15:58:29: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa2/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 15:59:27: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Gi3/0/1 and port Fa2/0/46
Apr 15 15:59:45: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa2/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 16:00:14: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Gi3/0/1 and port Fa3/0/46
Apr 15 16:00:36: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa2/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 16:02:40: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa3/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 16:03:22: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa3/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 16:03:31: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Gi3/0/1 and port Fa2/0/46
Apr 15 16:04:03: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa3/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 16:04:34: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa2/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 16:04:41: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Gi3/0/1 and port Fa2/0/46
Apr 15 16:05:05: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Fa2/0/46 and port Gi3/0/1
Apr 15 16:05:13: %SW_MATM-4-MACFLAP_NOTIF: Host 00ff.ffff.ffff in vlan 112 is flapping between port Gi3/0/1 and port Fa3/0/46
sh spanning-tree vlan 112

VLAN0112
  Spanning tree enabled protocol rstp
  Root ID    Priority    8192
             Address     001e.13c1.5a70
             Cost        3004
             Port        109 (GigabitEthernet3/0/1)
             Hello Time   2 sec  Max Age 20 sec  Forward Delay 15 sec

  Bridge ID  Priority    49264  (priority 49152 sys-id-ext 112)
             Address     001f.261c.1d80
             Hello Time   2 sec  Max Age 20 sec  Forward Delay 15 sec
             Aging Time 300
  UplinkFast enabled but inactive in rapid-pvst mode

Interface        Role Sts Cost      Prio.Nbr Type
---------------- ---- --- --------- -------- --------------------------------
Fa2/0/46         Desg FWD 3019      128.104  P2p
Fa1/0/46         Desg FWD 3019      128.50   P2p
Gi3/0/1          Root FWD 3004      128.109  P2p
Fa3/0/46         Desg FWD 3019      128.158  P2p
Fa3/0/47         Desg FWD 3100      128.159  P2p
Fa3/0/48         Desg FWD 3019      128.160  P2p

12 Replies 12

InayathUlla Sharieff
Cisco Employee
Cisco Employee

ASAK Mohammed,

There are lots of thread discussing about this, you should do a search before creating a new post.

Anyway, this is how you approach these types of flapping:

1. Is the the given MAC flapping in the log flapping only 1 time or you see it multiple times over a reasonobly short time?

   If you see it only once or once every 2-3 hours this might be not an  issue worth being investigated. Sporadic one time flapping are expected  in L2 broadcast domain.

If you see it often continue to step 2.

2. Identify and locate the flapping mac in vlan 125: 3270.990a.a504

Is  the mac of a dual-homes server using some kind of load balancing  algorithm (active/active) for which the same address is used from both  NICs?

If yes, the message is not and issue but just an indication.  Fix this type of LB (make it active/standby or make sure the server  uses 2 different mac addresses, one per NIC) or if it is not possible  leave it like this.

3. Is the MAC a the wireless NIC of a PC?

Make sure that the user was not moving from one AP to another (flapping is normal in this case)

4.

See if you have increasing TCN's and check if they are coming from the same interface.

From  this point on you keep on troubleshooting STP until you find the  offending link (likely going up and down) or the switch. You also need  to check if STP in vlan112 is coherent with the actual L2 topology you  have.

=====================================================

2- Some more details information which might be helpfull to you.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps663/products_tech_note09186a

00801434de.shtml#subtopic1k

Problem

The switch generates %SYS-3-P2_ERROR: Host xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx is flapping

between ports? messages, where xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx is a MAC address.

Description

This example shows the console output that you see when this error occurs:

%SYS-4-P2_WARN: 1/Host 00:50:0f:20:08:00 is flapping between port 1/2 and port

4/39

Use the steps and guidelines in this section in order to understand and

troubleshoot the cause of this error message.

The message indicates that your Catalyst 4500/4000 switch has learned a MAC

address that already exists in the content-addressable memory (CAM) table, on

a port other than the original one. This behavior repeatedly occurs over short

periods of time, which means that there is address flapping between ports..

If the message appears for multiple MAC addresses, the behavior is not normal.

This behavior indicates a possible network problem because the MAC addresses

move quickly from one port to another port before the default aging time. The

problem can be looping traffic on the network. Typical symptoms include:

·        High CPU utilization

·        Slow traffic throughout the network

·        High backplane utilization on the switch

For information on how to identify and troubleshoot issues with spanning tree,

refer to Spanning Tree Protocol Problems and Related Design Considerations

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/tk621/technologies_tech_note09186a00800

951ac.shtml> .

If the error message appears for one or two MAC addresses, locate these MAC

addresses in order to determine the cause. Issue the show cam mac_addr command

in order to identify from where these MAC addresses have been learned. In this

command, mac_addr is the MAC address that the error reports as flapping.

After you determine between which ports this MAC address is flapping, track

down the MAC address. Connect to the intermediate devices between your

Catalyst 4500/4000 and the device that has the problem MAC address. Do this

until you are able to identify the source and how this device connects to the

network.

Note: Because the MAC address is flapping between two ports, track down both

of the paths.

This example shows how to track both of the paths from which this MAC address

has been learned:

Note: Assume that you have received this message and you have begun to

investigate it.

%SYS-4-P2_WARN: 1/Host 00:50:0f:20:08:00 is flapping between port 1/2 and port

4/39

In order to track down how this MAC address was learned from both ports,

complete these steps:

1.     Consider port 1/2 first, and issue the show cam dynamic 1/2 command.

If you see the MAC address 00:50:0f:20:08:00 in the list of the MAC addresses

that have been learned on this port, determine if this is a single host that

is connected or if there are multiple hosts that are registered on that port.

2.     On the basis of whether there is a single or multiple hosts,

investigate the device:

o   If there is a single host (00:50:0f:20:08:00) that is connected, check the

other port that is registered and see if the host is dually attached to the

switch.

In this example, the other port is port 4/39.

o   If the host has connections to other devices that can eventually lead back

to this switch, try to track down the intermediate devices.

With Cisco devices, issue the show cdp neighbors mod/port detail command. The

output provides information about intermediate devices.

Here is sample output:

Cat4K> (enable) show cdp neighbors 1/2 detail

Port (Our Port): 1/2

Device-ID: brigitte

Device Addresses:

IP Address: 172.16.1.1

Novell address: aa.0

Holdtime: 171 sec

Capabilities: ROUTER

Version:

Cisco Internetwork Operating System Software

IOS (tm) 2500 Software (C2500-JS-L), Version 12.0(7)T,  RELEASE SOFTWARE (fc2)

Copyright (c) 1986-1999 by cisco Systems, Inc.

Compiled Mon 06-DEC-99 17:10 by phanguye

Platform: cisco 2500

Port-ID (Port on Neighbors's Device): Ethernet0

VTP Management Domain: unknown

Native VLAN: unknown

Duplex: half

System Name: unknown

System Object ID: unknown

Management Addresses: unknown

Physical Location: unknown

Cat4K> (enable)

3.     Establish a Telnet session with the device and follow the path of the

MAC address.

In this example, the IP address is 172.16.1.1.

Repeat the procedure for all MAC addresses that the error message reports as

flapping.

4.     Create a simple diagram of the source device with that MAC address and

of the physical connections (the Catalyst 4500/4000 ports) from which and to

which this MAC address is flapping.

The diagram enables you to determine if this is a valid port and path for your

network layout.

If you verify that both ports on which the MAC address is flapping provide a

path toward that network node, there is a possibility that you have a

spanning-tree failure issue. Refer to Spanning Tree Protocol Problems and

Related Design Considerations

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/tk621/technologies_tech_note09186a00800

951ac.shtml>  in order to isolate and troubleshoot this loop.

In large networks in which multiple hosts from multiple vendors are

interconnected, difficulty arises as you try to track down the host with use

of just the MAC address. Use the search utility for the IEEE OUI and

Company_id Assignments <http://standards.ieee.org/regauth/oui/index.shtml>  in

order to track down these MAC addresses. This list is the front end of the

database where IEEE has registered all MAC addresses that have been assigned

to all vendors. Enter the first three octets of the MAC address in the Search

for: field of this page in order to find the vendor that is associated with

this device. The first three octets in the example are 00:50:0f.

These are other issues that can cause this message to appear:

·        Server NIC redundancy problem?There is a server with a dual-attached

NIC that misbehaves and does not follow the standards. The server uses the

same MAC address for both ports that connect to the same switch.

·        Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) flapping?Flapping HSRP can cause

these messages to appear in the Supervisor Engine console. If you notice that

HSRP implementation in your network is unstable, refer to Understanding and

Troubleshooting HSRP Problems in Catalyst Switch Networks

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk648/tk362/technologies_tech_note09186a00800

94afd.shtml>  in order to resolve the problem.

·        EtherChannel misconfiguration?A misconfigured EtherChannel connection

can also cause these symptoms. If ports that the flapping message reports are

members of the same channel group, check your EtherChannel configuration and

refer to Understanding EtherChannel Load Balancing and Redundancy on Catalyst

Switches

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/tk213/technologies_tech_note09186a00800

94714.shtml>  in order to troubleshoot the configuration.

·        Host reflects packets back onto the network?The reflection of packets

back onto the network by a host can also cause flapping. Typically, the root

cause of this packet reflection is a broken NIC or any failure of the physical

interface of the host that is connected to the port.

If the reflection of packets by the host is your root cause, obtain a sniffer

trace and examine the traffic that goes to and from the ports on which the

messages have appeared. If a host reflects packets, you typically see

duplicate packets in the trace. The duplicate packets are a possible symptom

of this flapping of the MAC address.

Refer to Configuring SPAN and RSPAN

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4000/6.3and6.4/configura

tion/guide/span.html>  for details on how to configure a port for use with a

sniffer.

·        Software or hardware defect?If you have tried to troubleshoot the

flapping message with the instructions in this section but you still notice

the issue, seek further assistance from Cisco Technical Support

<http://www.cisco.com/en/US/support/tsd_cisco_worldwide_contacts.html> . Be

sure to mention and provide documentation of the information that you have

collected while you followed the steps. This information makes further

troubleshooting quicker and more efficient.

HTH

REgards

Inayath

*Plz rate all usefull posts.

Hi Inayat,

Thanks for reply just so u know i did check and tried everything suggested in other thread simmilar to mine issue but didnt get to bottom of the issue and my issue is different tpo other posts thats y posted.....i tried everything in ur post too only thing i found is moment i turn off some wireless ap's then i dont see any flaps in logs ...before that could see flaps every minute.....also cpu utilization on core and other switches is normal ....backplane traffoc is normal too...dont see any anamolies apart from ap's generating this broadcast type of mac....anyone else with any more suggestion...

HI Inyat,

Found offending link ....prob solved

thanks alot

Hi Mohammad,

Can you explain how you fixed this error?, we have the same error here, with some AP connected to the switches and giving this same flapping error.

Thanks.

Hi Creyes

If i remember correctly the issue i found was that two   wireless AP's in production area were connected to same switch and the wireless card of one of the tools was jumping from one ap to another which was casuing this issue, i traced the mac in question back to the access switch then AP's and saw that device would jump from one AP to another. this would cause for switch to generate error as the same source it saw 30 sec ago on port 1/46 is now being learned on port 1/47...my advise would be to track it back to the source (port by port) to access switch.if you suspect loop then cpu process would clearly indicate that.thanks

if you suspect loop have a look at below link which will help you step by step in establishing if loop exist

my fav command from below link

ITLABSW#show spanning-tree detail | inc ieee|occurr|from|is exec

The output from this command will show you the port the last TCN was received on and the time which it was received. 
Look for the port that  received a TCN in the last few seconds.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/docs/DOC-14223

if this is a user device it could be a user roaming and picking up different AP's in different switches. this is only if you are using local breakout at the AP's

Dear all,

I have a similar problem. I can see that the same Mac address is learnt via a physical interface and also an svi .. that is physical interface is part of vlan 20 and the svi is also vlan 20. User gets disconnected very often. Any help will be appreciated 

InayathUlla Sharieff

 

These forums are used so people can interact and ask questions with problems that arise. I normally Google most my issues but I rely on these forums quit often. Please don't assume someone has not done there due diligence to find the problem to their issue. When you make statements like you did at the beginning of your terrific response you come across as you are being putout to have to answer questions on this forum. This is just a little friendly advice. 

Dave Dougher
Level 1
Level 1

I just wanted to share that I had a similar problem with this and our fix turned out to simply be a bad patch cable. So, it's worth looking at if your are running out of options.

We resolved this by not allowing all vlan traffic through a trunked port on another interface even though it showed which two ports were flapping. It must of kept seeing the mac address traffic looping through the trunked port.

Excellent Tips. I think it will be very helpful for me.

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