LinuxQuestions.org
Help answer threads with 0 replies.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - General
User Name
Password
Linux - General This Linux forum is for general Linux questions and discussion.
If it is Linux Related and doesn't seem to fit in any other forum then this is the place.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-10-2007, 08:40 AM   #1
TiredOfThis
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2007
Posts: 53

Rep: Reputation: 15
Hard lock plus Caps and Scroll Lock flashing (kernel panic?)


I have an OpenSUSE 10.3 x64 install which seems to be panicking the kernel. The screen will freeze and the caps lock and scroll lock lights will flash on and off. This seems to happen sporadically, even when the computer isn't under much load.

Is there a way I can narrow down the problem? I tested the RAM so I don't think it's that.
 
Old 12-10-2007, 05:41 PM   #2
unSpawn
Moderator
 
Registered: May 2001
Posts: 29,415
Blog Entries: 55

Rep: Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600
Here's some generic questions:
Any weird motherboard, unstable kernel modules, exotic hardware or software running?
Did you check OpenSUSE mailing lists / bug tracking system for people experiencing similar problems?
Did this happen always or only after a HW addition, SW update or kernel update? (If so, what changed?)
Does a previous OpenSUSE 10.3 x64 kernel version run w/o glitches?
Does a vanilla kernel.org kernel version run w/o glitches?
If you have a vanilla kernel.org kernel running tainted with a proprietary driver like Nvidia's, does it run OK w/o that driver?
Does your syslog contain a stack trace? (If yes run ksymoops on it and save the result for reporting)
 
Old 12-10-2007, 11:22 PM   #3
TiredOfThis
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2007
Posts: 53

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
unSpawn, thanks for the reply.

I'm trying to use this box as a fileserver, so I have a 3ware 9650 se installed (using the 3w-9xxx.ko that came with the OS--I had a bit of trouble getting it to work, but now it seems to recognize it). However, I saw this problem even before I had the kernel module installed, so I don't think it's the driver's fault.

I did some Googling and searching on opensuse.org and didn't find anything.

This happened always, AFAIK. The system is very new (just built it and installed the OS about a week ago) and I've been seeing this problem since the first day I installed it.

I haven't tried any other kernels. It's hard to repro the problem (one time I left it on all night and it ran fine, only to conk later that morning when it was just sitting there running the screensaver), but I'll try some other kernels and see what develops.

AFAIK the kernel isn't tainted with proprietary drivers. I do have an ATI gfx card (nothing fancy, just a twenty-buck PCI VGA card I picked up online), but I don't think it's running any special drivers for it.

I'll check the syslog tomorrow. I also want to write down the CPU temps when it happens so I can see if overheating might be an issue.
 
Old 12-11-2007, 06:54 PM   #4
TiredOfThis
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2007
Posts: 53

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 15
OK, here's some data:
* The CPU isn't overheating...I reproduced the problem twice and both times the CPU was chillin' at a cool 40C. I have a pretty beefy HSF on it, so that's no surprise, but good to know.

* Nothing suspicious in /var/log/messages. But...

* I got "lucky" and had it happen while booting, during an fsck (>_<), so I could see the actual text output. It says:

Unable to handle kernel paging request at ffff80ff810137b8 RIP:
[<ffffffff8021a157>] smp_apic_timer_interrupt+0x51/0x5a
PGA0
Oops: 0002 [1] SMP
last sysfs file: /devices/pci0000:00:02.0/modalias
CPU 0
Modules linked in: usbhid hid ff_memless sd_mod ehci_hcd ohci_hcd usbcore 3w_9xxx reiserfs edd ext3 mbcache jbd fan sata_nv pata_amd libata scsi_mod thermal processor
Pid 0, comm: swapper Tainted: G N 2.6.22.13-0.3-default #1
[[[Whole lotta registers]]]
Process swapper (pid: 0, threadinfo [blah], task [other blah])
Stack [[Lots of addresses]]
Call Trace:
<IRQ> [addr] default_idle+0x0/0x3d
[addr] default_idle+0x0/0x3d
[addr] apic_timer_interrupt+0x66/0x70
<EDI> [addr] default_idle+0x29/0x3d
[addr] cpu_idle+0x8e/0xb1
[addr] start_kernel+0x2cf/0x2db
[addr] _sinittext+0x148/0x14c

Code: [[some hex numbers]]

Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill the idle task!

I typed all that in myself from reading the screen, so apologies for any typos and for not bothering to type in all those 64-bit addresses.

Potentially relevant hardware:
AMD Athlon64 FX-55 (single-core)
1GB RAM
Primary HD is a 60GB SATA drive plugged into the motherboard.

Any help/insights would be greatly appreciated!
Nathan
 
Old 12-11-2007, 07:35 PM   #5
unSpawn
Moderator
 
Registered: May 2001
Posts: 29,415
Blog Entries: 55

Rep: Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600Reputation: 3600
Thanks for posting info. BTW, next time maybe just take a cam shot and upload it? I'm waiting for you to post more info, esp. running a vanilla kernel.org kernel and posting more details because at this point w/o leads there is no "potentially relevant" SW/HW, just SW/HW.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
all software installs hang scroll lock and caps lock lights flash jcorrnt Linux - Hardware 6 02-07-2009 12:44 PM
Caps Lock & Scroll Lock Flashing thedug Linux - General 6 06-07-2008 09:43 PM
Num, Scroll, Caps/Lock all Lock up Slackware Zamochit Linux - Newbie 0 10-18-2004 07:47 PM
RedHat 9.0 freezes with blinking Caps lock and Scroll lock queen-bee Linux - Software 0 07-30-2004 10:40 PM
Cap and Scroll lock flashing zynor Linux - Newbie 2 08-20-2003 02:35 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - General

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:57 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration