'Kernel Panic' possibly caused by combination of PCI and PCMCIA bridges

ukch · 05-27-2006, 04:46 PM

Hello,

I am posting here after no luck in another, smaller forum. The topic is here.

Using a (fully supported) Belkin F5D7010 PCMCIA Wireless-G network card causes a 'Kernel Panic'. The message is as follows:

Code:

CPU0: Machine Check Exception: 0000000000000007
Bank 3: b400000000000833 at 000000001c 40000c
Kernel panic - not syncing: Unable to continue

This happens when booting with the card in, or inserting the card, and the system remains frozen even if I remove the card. Unloading the driver module and then inserting the card will not cause a freeze, but the card doesn't work.

I am using the latest drivers for the card, with Kernel 2.6.12 on Ubuntu 4.10 'Breezy Badger'. Running 'lspci -v' gives me the following:

Code:

0000:00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8378 [KM400] Chipset Host Bridge
   Subsystem: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 7205
   Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 8
   Memory at e0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8235 PCI Bridge (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
   Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0
   Bus: primary=00, secondary=01, subordinate=01, sec-latency=0
   Memory behind bridge: d1000000-d1ffffff
   Prefetchable memory behind bridge: f0000000-f3ffffff
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:07.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller (rev 02)
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 5
   Memory at 1bf00000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
   Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=05, sec-latency=176
   Memory window 0: 1c000000-1c3ff000 (prefetchable)
   Memory window 1: 1c400000-1c7ff000
   I/O window 0: 00004400-000044ff
   I/O window 1: 00004800-000048ff
   16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001

0000:00:08.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Texas Instruments TSB43AB21 IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link) (prog-if 10 [OHCI])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 5
   Memory at d0004000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
   Memory at d0000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.0 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 80) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 4
   I/O ports at 1c00 [size=32]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.1 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 80) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 5
   I/O ports at 1c20 [size=32]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 80) (prog-if 00 [UHCI])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 9
   I/O ports at 1c40 [size=32]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:10.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 82) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11
   Memory at d0004800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8235 ISA Bridge
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, stepping, medium devsel, latency 0
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:11.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 4
   I/O ports at 1c60 [size=16]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:11.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 50)
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 9
   I/O ports at 1000 [size=256]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:11.6 Communication controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. Intel 537 [AC97 Modem] (rev 80)
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 9
   I/O ports at 1400 [size=256]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:00:12.0 Ethernet controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II] (rev 74)
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 4
   I/O ports at 1800 [size=256]
   Memory at d0004c00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

0000:01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8378 [S3 UniChrome] Integrated Video (rev 01) (prog-if 00 [VGA])
   Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI]: Unknown device 0033
   Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 4
   Memory at f0000000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64M]
   Memory at d1000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
   Capabilities: <available only to root>

I have been advised that the problem lies with either the PCI Bridge, the PCMCIA Bridge or a combination of them both. I have never successfully used a PCMCIA card in Linux with this machine. Previously I had an unsupported Wireless-G card, which I tried to get working with ndiswrapper, to no avail. Both cards worked fine under Windows.

I have been told that the solution may rest with the 'setpci' command. I have had a play with the 'SUBORDINATE_BUS' settings of both the PCI and PCMCIA bridges, but have not been able to solve the problem.

If someone can help me, it would be much appreciated! I don't want to have to use Windows for a day longer!!

Thank you,
-Joel

Lenard · 05-28-2006, 10:17 AM

Well I can tell you it is not a problem with your pcmcia interface since I do have the same one;

Code:

00:06.0 CardBus bridge: Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Acer Incorporated [ALI] Unknown device 0083
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 168, IRQ 16
        Memory at 54020000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Bus: primary=00, secondary=02, subordinate=05, sec-latency=176
        Memory window 0: 50000000-51fff000 (prefetchable)
        Memory window 1: 52000000-53fff000
        I/O window 0: 00002400-000024ff
        I/O window 1: 00002800-000028ff
        16-bit legacy interface ports at 0001

Notice the IRQ being used by mine (IRQ=16) you might want to consider adjusting you system BIOS and using acpi at boot time.

Also please use lspci -tv and adjust the command;

setpci -s 0:14.4 SUBORDINATE_BUS=03

to match your actual hardware specs (maybe something like);

setpci -s 0:07.0 SUBORDINATE_BUS=05

ukch · 05-29-2006, 07:37 AM

Here is output of running 'lspci -tv':

Code:

-[00]-+-00.0  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8378 [KM400] Chipset Host Bridge
      +-01.0-[01]----00.0  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8378 [S3 UniChrome] Integrated Video
      +-07.0  Texas Instruments PCI1410 PC card Cardbus Controller
      +-08.0  Texas Instruments TSB43AB21 IEEE-1394a-2000 Controller (PHY/Link)
      +-10.0  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller
      +-10.1  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller
      +-10.2  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller
      +-10.3  VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0
      +-11.0  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8235 ISA Bridge
      +-11.1  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE
      +-11.5  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller
      +-11.6  VIA Technologies, Inc. Intel 537 [AC97 Modem]
      \-12.0  VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II]

I have booted my system, using 'acpi=on' as a kernel argument, and that did not seem to make any difference (although I'm not sure if I was using ACPI to begin with or not - how do I tell?)

I couldn't see anything about IRQ in my BIOS. How exactly would I go about changing this and would it be likely to do anything?

And about the setpci command, I have tried what you have suggested (mainly on the PCI bridge) and I could either make the card disappear entirely or freeze the system - I could not actually make it work at all.

ukch · 05-31-2006, 04:22 PM

<bump>

Am I allowed to do that??

Lenard · 05-31-2006, 07:20 PM

Sorry, been a bit busy.........

I also have been thinking about this a bit....

Lets start at the beginning, which driver module is causing the problem??? To refresh your memory, in your original posting you stated;

Quote:

Unloading the driver module and then inserting the card will not cause a freeze, but the card doesn't work.

And can you show the output of; cat /proc/interrupts without the wireless pcmcia card installed?

Emerson · 05-31-2006, 07:50 PM

In my experience sharing IRQ's below 9 is asking for trouble. If your motherboard has no APIC support (IRQ >15) then try to set PCMCIA to IRQ 11.

ukch · 06-03-2006, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenard

Lets start at the beginning, which driver module is causing the problem???

rt2500, the module for the wifi card.

Quote:

And can you show the output of; cat /proc/interrupts without the wireless pcmcia card installed?

Did you mean without the card inserted, or just without the driver loaded? I managed to get one without the driver (having had to fall back to 2.6.10 kernel - Ubuntu just wouldn't stop auto-detecting the card in the newer version!). Here's the one with the card inserted but not active:

Code:

           CPU0       
  0:     182220          XT-PIC  timer
  1:        626          XT-PIC  i8042
  2:          0          XT-PIC  cascade
  4:        103          XT-PIC  uhci_hcd, eth0
  5:          4          XT-PIC  yenta, ohci1394, uhci_hcd
  7:          1          XT-PIC  parport0
  8:          1          XT-PIC  rtc
  9:          0          XT-PIC  uhci_hcd, VIA8233
 10:       1044          XT-PIC  acpi
 11:          3          XT-PIC  ehci_hcd
 12:       1104          XT-PIC  i8042
 14:       4170          XT-PIC  ide0
 15:         19          XT-PIC  ide1
NMI:          0 
LOC:          0 
ERR:          0
MIS:          0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

In my experience sharing IRQ's below 9 is asking for trouble. If your motherboard has no APIC support (IRQ >15) then try to set PCMCIA to IRQ 11.

Looking at the above, I would guess at no APIC support. I really have no idea about manually setting IRQs though. Any pointers? Is it a BIOS or an OS thing?

Emerson · 06-03-2006, 07:53 AM

Sometimes APIC can be enabled/disabled in BIOS. Enabled is the way to go indeed.
Some BIOS setups allow setting IRQ's manually. Also, if there is an option "PnP OS" then try playing with it. Setting it to NO forces BIOS to distribute H/W resources instead of leaving it half-way in hope the OS will do it.
And flashing in latest BIOS available from manufacturer may help too.

Lenard · 06-03-2006, 08:20 AM

Some changes with pcmcia happened with the release of the 2.6.12 kernel series which could explain the rt2500 module problem.

You may want to use the newer rt2x00-2.0.0-b3 beta module and a 2.6.13 or better kernel; http://sourceforge.net/projects/rt2400

ukch · 06-03-2006, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emerson

Sometimes APIC can be enabled/disabled in BIOS. Enabled is the way to go indeed.
Some BIOS setups allow setting IRQ's manually. Also, if there is an option "PnP OS" then try playing with it. Setting it to NO forces BIOS to distribute H/W resources instead of leaving it half-way in hope the OS will do it.
And flashing in latest BIOS available from manufacturer may help too.

Thanks. I will try fiddling around with the BIOS.

Quote:

Some changes with pcmcia happened with the release of the 2.6.12 kernel series which could explain the rt2500 module problem.

Well, I usually use 2.6.12, but for the purposes of having the card inserted but not having the machine frozen, I had to revert to the older kernel that didn't load the module automatically. Would you still recommend upgrading to 2.6.13?

ukch · 06-03-2006, 10:35 AM

I had a look at the BIOS. It doesn't have either APIC, IRQ settings or PnP OS. Any other ideas?

Emerson · 06-03-2006, 10:42 AM

Nope.

Just try disabling in BIOS everything you do not use. Parport is one good candidate.

ukch · 06-03-2006, 11:27 AM

My BIOS seems to be missing the 'Advanced Settings', and I can't find an update or anything for it. There is nothing more complex on the BIOS settings than parallel port mode. Do you think the advanced settings have been permanently removed, or just hidden?

Emerson · 06-03-2006, 11:49 AM

Laptops often have truncated BIOS setups. I think you have to live with this then. Sorry, can't help you any further here. I believe what Lenard suggested in post #9 is definitely worth trying.

ukch · 06-03-2006, 02:20 PM

Sorry, I lied: There are advanced settings, but there's not much there. I tried turning off everything (parallel port, infra-red port and legacy USB), but the problem still occurs.