Tech Info 069: EtherShare can crash AIX 5.2 systems with ML01

HELIOS TechInfo #069

Fri, 15 Aug 2003

EtherShare can crash AIX 5.2 systems with ML01

Recently we received feedback from HELIOS partners and customers that RS/6000 systems with AIX 5.2 and maintenance level 01 (ML01) may crash when starting EtherShare 3.1
AIX 5.2 systems without ML01 works fine with EtherShare 3.1
HELIOS is currently investigating this issue. 
As soon as a workaround or fix is available, this will be distributed by a follow up to this Tech Info.
All AIX versions from 4.3.3-5.2 work fine with the only exception of AIX 5.2 with ML01 applied.
IBM has released an AIX APAR which addressed the issue that RS/6000 systems with AIX 5.2 and maintenance level 01 (ML01) would crash when starting EtherShare 3.1
The APAR is: IY50162: CRASH IN SOFREE WHEN CALLED BY KERNEL EXTENSION
Before using EtherShare on AIX 5.2 ML01 or newer make sure that the IBM APAR IY50162 is installed and activated.
All AIX versions from 4.3.3-5.2 work fine with the only exception of AIX 5.2 with ML01 or newer applied.
Though not related to the crash in sofree, HELIOS has released EtherShare update u0360 because the ioctl code in the AppleTalk kernel module did use memory allocation options that are not supported anymore since AIX 5.1.
Make sure to install and activate update u0360 when using AIX 5.1 or later. Note that after installation of u0360 a reboot of the server is required.