CatOS: %SYS-3-PORT_OUT_DISCARD flood on disabled switchports

Scenario
Multiple %SYS-3-PORT_OUT_DISCARD syslogs are generated for a switchport which is currently disabled/administratively shutdown.

2010 Jan 04 16:04:10 EST -05:00 %SYS-3-PORT_OUT_DISCARD:Port 4/47 detected 6029 output discard error(s) in last 30 minutes

MySwitch> sh port status 4/47
# = 802.1X Authenticated Port Name.

Port Name Status Vlan Duplex Speed Type
----- -------------------- ---------- ---------- ------ ----------- ------------
4/47 disabled 66 full 100 10/100/1000
MySwitch>

MySwitch> (enable) sh run 4
... [output omitted] ...
#module 4 : 48-port 10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet
set port disable 4/3-48

Explanation
This is due to an identified bug on the CatOS version.

CSCeg24345 - WS-X6748-GE-TX: Tx counters increment on not connected ports

WS-X6748-GE-TX: Tx counters increment on not connected ports On a WS-X6748-GE-TX module in a Catalyst 6500 running CatOS 8.2(2), a port that is not-connected may increment Tx counters as well as ifOutErrors, ifOutDiscards and txCRC

This bug impacts CatOS releases prior to 8.6 and occurs on WS-X6748-GE-TX blades. It is a cosmetic bug and is non-service impacting.

Versions:

1st Found-In: 8.2(2)

Fixed-In : 8.4(3.2), 8.4(4), 8.6(0.85)TAL

Note that although this is not service-impacting, it may wreck havoc on your monitoring system, as it will generate one syslog for each disabled port every thirty minutes.