Issue with ATmega2560/W5500 TCP Server Crashing on Ethernet Cable Reconnection

Question

Hi everyone, I’m encountering an issue with a custom ATmega2560 board utilizing the W5500 Ethernet module. The device functions as a TCP server, receiving serial data and forwarding it to connected clients (like a laptop). However, I’ve noticed that whenever a TCP session is in progress and I disconnect the Ethernet cable, upon reconnecting it, the device fails to resume normal operation. Strangely, if there’s no TCP connection ongoing, the device handles cable disconnection and reconnection just fine. Based on my observations, it seems like the microcontroller might be crashing when this occurs. I’m puzzled because I’m unable to pinpoint how the W5500 could be causing the microcontroller to crash. Additionally, I’m using an Ethernet bootloader, and I’ve noticed that when I disconnect and reconnect the Ethernet cable during a TCP session with data exchange, I can still ping the bootloader’s IP address. Has anyone experienced a similar issue or have any insights into what might be causing this behavior? I’d greatly appreciate any guidance or suggestions to troubleshoot and resolve this issue. Thanks in advance for your help!

Eugeny · Answer

Log what MCU does to see what happens. Something is being handled incorrectly in the software. Socket hung and not being reused. Mohit_Singh: the device fails to resume normal operation Very depends on what you mean here. The live connection may have died, you should not hope it will always resume.

Eugeny · Answer

Mohit_Singh: getting stuck in the bootloader section This requires proving. Mohit_Singh: and it is making the bootloader stuck Do you drive W5500 from boot loader? I suspect you must do it from user space, and the fact that something going on the serial port(s) should not bother bootloader unless it uses those same port(s) for its purposes (e.g. console).

Mohit Singh · Answer

Hi, I’m sorry i do not have my setup currently but as far as I understand the bootloader deals with w5500. It is a bootloader to upload code via ethernet. It waits for 10 seconds for TFTP request on a 192.168.1.128 IP address. https://github.com/loathingKernel/ariadne-bootloader Whenever my code stops doing what o expect it to do, it starts to respond to ping on this particular IP address. The serial port is used by the bootloader. It can load user program from both the serial port and the ethernet port. Normally it is not a problem as the serial device starts after my board so it doesn’t send any data when the system is powered up. But after the ethernet cable disconnection and IF the controller gets into the bootloader section as I am assuming then the data keeps on coming on the serial port and keeps it stuck there. Again, i know it has to be proved. I am just stating my intuition. I will do further tests tomorrow and let you know

Mohit Singh · Answer

Hey, Sorry for late response. It seems my microcontroller code was crashing when I removed the LAN or closed TCP session because of a memory leak which was happening if the data coming on serial port was not being processed. After crashing, it would normally had restarted, but the bootloader was somehow getting confused because of continuous data coming on the serial port and thinking that a code upload is happening. ( This is my assumption, I am unable to modify the bootloader to close the serial port upload till now)