Kernel Panic
 

Hi folks

Looking for some help with my Debian box. Its a headless server running debian on a jetway mini-itx box. Its just using the standard x86 version. Im getting random kernel panics and obviously looking to see why. Is there a way i can get a log of the details so i can search for some help?

David

dmesg | less will show you kernel messages.

Also you can look in /var/log/kern.log

Random kernel panics - sounds like a hardware problem. I would first check the RAM with Memtest86+ before suspecting motherboard, CPU, etc.

dmesg and the kern.log dont give any details of the panic unfortunately.

The system had been running stable on gentoo for a few months. Only started getting problems when i switched to debian. I have already swapped out the RAM stick. Im thinking not hardware at this stage. Could heat cause this problem?

David

I had this Random Kernel Panic Problem. I started of by testing my RAM which was OK, then moved on to Processor and finally to Motherboard. It turned out to be a Motherboard problem. I couldn't find any irregularity in the Kernel Logs..

If it is caused by heat, then it IS a hardware problem.

I agree with the others, it is a hardware problem. Place to start is the power supply; that is the most likely source of trouble. Next in line is the motherboard.

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, heat is a hardware problem, but a lot easier to deal with that a fault for me. Hardware for me meant a broken piece of hardware not a poorly implemented heat solution. Heat was always a worry as its a small case and heat seems to be a problem with this passive motherboard. Im going to down the heat route for the moment and monitor the temps, then look at other hardware issues is that isnt it.

CPU is sitting around 28-31 degreesC

With that kind of CPU temp, you don't have a thermal problem with it, anyway. What are mobo temps like? Is power supply getting hot?

My Athlon 2800 XP Pro is running fairly steady at 36C, my mobo is in the mid-40s, and my video card is running around 42C.

Well these are the temps since installing lm-sensors and i have actually moved the box to make troubleshooting easier. since ive been monitoring temps i havent had a panic.

The mb temps is about 35-40 so yes no temp issues really at the moment.

This board does have heat issues and previously the heatsink was very very warm. The psu is a pico psu and this uses an external brick