As an Arch user I originally posted this in the Arch forums, and the response has been underwhelming, so I'll try here since it's not likely to be an Arch specific issue.
The latest batch of updates breaks some aspects of my audio, using OSS (I've since narrowed it down to audiofile, and disabled the update). I have several sound sources, and most cause no problems (unused, for example HDMI audio and USB webcam mic). My used soundcard is a Creative X-Fi, and the motherboard has it's own audio, which is disabled in BIOS. I repeat, the MB audio is completely disabled in BIOS, so can someone explain this to me:
Code:
$ ossinfo
Version info: OSS 4.2 (b 2006/201202031749) (0x00040100) GPL
Platform: Linux/x86_64 3.2.2-1-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Jan 26 08:40:20 CET 2012 (Tex)
Number of audio devices: 5
Number of audio engines: 9
Number of MIDI devices: 0
Number of mixer devices: 2
Device objects
0: osscore0 OSS core services
1: oss_audigyls0 AudigyLS interrupts=531894 (531894)
2: oss_hdaudio0 nVidia HD Audio interrupts=0 (31190)
HD Audio controller nVidia HD Audio
Vendor ID 0x10de0774
Subvendor ID 0x1458a022
Codec 0: Not present
3: oss_usb0 USB audio core services
4: usb045e00f5-0 USB sound device
5: usb045e00f5-1 USB sound device
MIDI devices (/dev/midi*)
Mixer devices
0: AudigyLS Mixer (Mixer 0 of device object 1)
1: USB sound device (Mixer 0 of device object 4)
Audio devices
AudigyLS front /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm0 (device index 0)
AudigyLS center/lfe /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm1 (device index 1)
AudigyLS surround /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm2 (device index 2)
AudigyLS 5.1 output /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm3 (device index 3)
USB sound device rec /dev/oss/usb045e00f5-1/pcmin0 (device index 4)
Nodes
/dev/dsp -> /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm0
/dev/dsp_in -> /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm0
/dev/dsp_out -> /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm0
/dev/dsp_ac3 -> /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm0
/dev/dsp_mmap -> /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm0
/dev/dsp_multich -> /dev/oss/oss_audigyls0/pcm3
Device No.2 - oss-hdaudio0 - is the on board audio, and it's always the one that's causing all the trouble when I upgrade. How is OSS even seeing this device if it's supposed to be disabled. If I allow updates I get kernel crashes on shutdown owing to OSS. The only fixes are to either prevent the modules loading at all (install oss-hdaudio /bin/false, just blacklisting doesn't do it) or to enable the on-board audio in BIOS. If it's enabled it interferes with sound generally, and preventing the modules causes other errors at boot. I want it to be treated as completely disabled and not as "possibly there" which is what oss seems to be doing right now. This has been driving me nuts for four days, now. So if anyone has any ideas I'm open to suggestions, then I can get my system updated again.
EDIT: It's probably worth adding that holding back audiofile and openal updates has kept everything running, and I've seen audiofile problems reported, so I know that's the main issue. However, even holding back audiofile can lead to the kernel crashes unless I enable the unused on board audio.
