brctl provides no way to set gc_timer value of a bridge

[Ryan Harper]

1.

% lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
Release: 16.04

2. % apt-cache policy bridge-utils
bridge-utils:
  Installed: 1.5-9ubuntu1
  Candidate: 1.5-9ubuntu1
  Version table:
 *** 1.5-9ubuntu1 500
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

3. % brctl setgcint br0 2
Should set the gc_timer value of a bridge, value printed out via brctl showstp br0

% brctl showstp br0 | grep gc
 topology change timer 0.00 gc timer 84.08

4. % brctl setgcint br0 2
never heard of command [setgcint]
Usage: brctl [commands]
commands:
 addbr <bridge> add bridge
 delbr <bridge> delete bridge
 addif <bridge> <device> add interface to bridge
 delif <bridge> <device> delete interface from bridge
 hairpin <bridge> <port> {on|off} turn hairpin on/off
 setageing <bridge> <time> set ageing time
 setbridgeprio <bridge> <prio> set bridge priority
 setfd <bridge> <time> set bridge forward delay
 sethello <bridge> <time> set hello time
 setmaxage <bridge> <time> set max message age
 setpathcost <bridge> <port> <cost> set path cost
 setportprio <bridge> <port> <prio> set port priority
 show [ <bridge> ] show a list of bridges
 showmacs <bridge> show a list of mac addrs
 showstp <bridge> show bridge stp info
 stp <bridge> {on|off} turn stp on/off

Checking source code of bridge-utils, there seems to be no code that lets one actually set this value, nor does it appear that the kernel ioctl interface allows for modifying gc_timer, (it appears to be a read-only field).

This must mean the documentation included in bridge-utils (specifically in bridge-utils-interfaces manpage about including a bridge_gcint value in /etc/network/interfaces to control this is incorrect.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: bridge-utils 1.5-9ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-21.37-generic 4.4.6
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-21-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: zfs zunicode zcommon znvpair zavl
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: GNOME-Flashback:GNOME
Date: Fri Apr 29 15:53:52 2016
Dependencies:
 gcc-6-base 6.0.1-0ubuntu1
 libc6 2.23-0ubuntu3
 libgcc1 1:6.0.1-0ubuntu1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-01-01 (119 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20151209)
SourcePackage: bridge-utils
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Ryan Harper (raharper)]

Update manpage documentation.

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

The attachment "fix-bridge-port-settings.debdiff" seems to be a debdiff. The ubuntu-sponsors team has been subscribed to the bug report so that they can review and hopefully sponsor the debdiff. If the attachment isn't a patch, please remove the "patch" flag from the attachment, remove the "patch" tag, and if you are member of the ~ubuntu-sponsors, unsubscribe the team.

[This is an automated message performed by a Launchpad user owned by ~brian-murray, for any issue please contact him.]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package bridge-utils - 1.5-9ubuntu2

---------------
bridge-utils (1.5-9ubuntu2) yakkety; urgency=medium

  * debian/ifupdown.sh:
    - Handle bridge params which use port and value (LP: #1576876)
  * debian/bridge-utils-interface.5:
    - Update max, default value for path cost (LP: #1576870)
    - Update unsettable gcint value for newer kernels (LP: #1576858)

 -- Ryan Harper <email address hidden> Thu, 05 May 2016 10:38:12 -0500