[Bug 59331] Network problem since kernel-2.6.17

[gneman]

Public bug reported:

Some changes made in kernel-2.6.17 makes it behave really strange for
many users regarding their network connection. It's related to
window_scaling and you can find more information here:

http://kerneltrap.org/node/6723

The result is that MANY users won't be able to access most sites on the
net, including the Ubuntu repositories, unless they disable
tcp_window_scaling. This can be done with the command "echo 0 >
/proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_window_scaling" as root, or by adding the line
"net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 0" to /etc/sysctl.conf

Ok, here the problem: I'm one of those users (and in Spain there will be
a whole lot of them) who can't access most sites. So when with Ubuntu
Edgy (as live-cd) it happens that when I try to use that command with
sudo I get permission denied. I can edit /etc/sysctl.conf though, but
I'd need to reboot the computer which is useless as a live CD.

So when I try to install it, it freezes while scanning the mirror to
configure apt and stays there forever (because it can't access the
repository).

Conclusion: I can't use it as live-cd and I can't install it either to
solve the problem.

Suggestions:

1 - Disable tcp_window_scaling by default in /etc/sysctl.conf. This is
the most user-friendly but most technically intrusive one.

2- Allow users to run the command "sudo echo 0 >
/proc/sys/net/ipv4/tcp_window_scaling" without getting permission
denied. This is not very user friendly, but it should work.

3 - Set some tipe of time-out so that if during install it can't access
the repository it will continue with the installation. Then the user can
solve the problem after installing the system by adding that line to
/etc/sysctl.conf. Not really user-friendly, but it could be a good
option.

** Affects: linux-meta (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Untriaged
         Status: Unconfirmed

-- 
Network problem since kernel-2.6.17
https://launchpad.net/bugs/59331