New kernel fixes ext3 data-journaling data loss and tg3 hang

Updated packages for Red Hat Linux 7.1, 7.1K, 7.2, 7.3, and 8.0 are now
available that fix a bug in the ext3 file system discovered in the previous
errata kernel. The bug has the potential to cause data loss if the file
system is used in a non-default way.

The Linux kernel handles the basic functions of the operating system.

A bug in the ext3 file system in the previous errata kernel for Red Hat
Linux 7.1, 7.1K, 7.2, 7.3, and 8.0 has been discovered. The bug has the
potential to cause data loss if the file system is used in the non-default
"full data journaling" mode.

The bug affects only filesystems mounted with the following option:

mount -o data=journal

If you have not set the above option then you are not vulnerable. If you do
not know if you have set that option or not then you are not vulnerable, as
no standard system software will set this option by default. You can check
what default options are in use for a particular file system by looking in
the system's /etc/fstab file.

The bug can only result in the loss of recent writes when a file system is
unmounted. Proper synchronization of the data on disk in the event of a
crash (the primary aim of a journaling file system such as ext3) is not
affected by this bug.

In addition, a lockup bug has been fixed in the tg3 gigabit Ethernet driver
that affects all multiprocessor systems using this controller.

All users of Red Hat Linux 7.1, 7.1K, 7.2, 7.3, and 8.0 should upgrade to
these errata packages which are not vulnerable to these issues.

Before applying this update, make sure all previously released errata
relevant to your system have been applied, especially the additional
packages from RHSA-2002:205 and RHSA-2002:206 respectively.

The procedure for upgrading the kernel manually is documented at:

http://www.redhat.com/support/docs/howto/kernel-upgrade/

Please read the directions for your architecture carefully before
proceeding with the kernel upgrade.

Please note that this update is also available via Red Hat Network. Many
people find this to be an easier way to apply updates. To use Red Hat
Network, launch the Red Hat Update Agent with the following command:

up2date

This will start an interactive process that will result in the appropriate
RPMs being upgraded on your system. Note that you need to select the kernel
explicitly on default configurations of up2date.

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data=journal, ext3, tg3