Customers may observe repeated log messages similar to the following while RPM (Real-Time Performance Monitoring) tests continue to pass successfully:

packetio[19229]: [t:19890] [Error] RPM_HDLR:PKT_HDLR: not supported option

The issue is commonly seen when RPM ICMP probes are configured over GRE tunnel interfaces (fti0). Although the RPM tests complete successfully and report TEST_PASSED, the packet timestamping handler generates error messages because it receives GRE-encapsulated packets that are not supported by the current RPM timestamping implementation.

This behavior can generate unnecessary alarms or concerns in production environments and may require Engineering review when observed on customer systems.

Log messages:

packetio[19229]: [t:19890] [Error] RPM_HDLR:PKT_HDLR: not supported option

Repeated throughout the logs while RPM tests continue to pass:

rmopd[14070]: TEST_PASSED: test-owner=icmp_gre test-owner-type=RPM test-name=icmp

rmopd[14070]: TEST_PASSED: test-owner=icmp_gre_backup test-owner-type=RPM test-name=icmp_backup

RPM Configuration

The customer is using RPM ICMP probes over GRE tunnel interfaces:

set services monitoring rpm owner icmp_gre test icmp probe-type icmp-ping

set services monitoring rpm owner icmp_gre test icmp target X.X.X.X

set services monitoring rpm owner icmp_gre test icmp source-address X.X.X.X

Traffic traverses GRE tunnels configured on fti0:

set interfaces fti0 unit 0 tunnel encapsulation gre

Observed Behavior

• RPM tests pass successfully.
• Continuous RPM_HDLR:PKT_HDLR: not supported option messages appear in logs.
• No RPM probe failures are observed.
• The issue occurs only when RPM probes are carried through GRE tunnel interfaces.

The RPM packet timestamping/offload functionality does not support GRE-encapsulated packets.

When RPM ICMP probes traverse fti0 GRE tunnels, GRE-encapsulated packets enter the RPM packet handler. The handler only supports native UDP or ICMP packets and does not recognize GRE (IP Protocol 47).

This results in log messages indicating an unsupported packet type even though the RPM probe operation itself completes successfully.

Recommended Configuration

Do not use RPM timestamping offload with GRE tunnel-based RPM probes.

Configure RPM with:

offload-type none

instead of:

offload-type pfe-timestamp