[linux-cifs-client] CIFS doesn't cope well with network interruptions

[a.nielsen at research.uq.edu.au]

Hi all,

I've come across a slightly annoying problem with CIFS and dodgy networks.
If you have a network set up like this:

Client <--A--> Router <--B--> Samba

If one of the links goes down (e.g. the cable providing connection A is
physically unplugged for ~5 seconds) when the link comes back up again
TCP/IP traffic resumes immediately but any applications using CIFS lock up
for anything up to five minutes before resuming.  Even running "ls" on the
share locks that tty (e.g. Ctrl+\ and Ctrl+Z won't even work.)

What's worse is that after doing this a few times and getting a few
processes stuck as well, it seems to lock up the entire kernel - even the
magic SysRq key stops responding (although there is a possibility this is
due to my network card driver.)

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Thanks,
Adam.