On 9/16/05, Kshitij Velhal wrote:

Hi folks,

I would like to know the ways to debug system freeze on linux (SuSE 9.3) Pointers on what log files or config files to check to determine possible cause Generate verbose debug info if required.

The problem: -------------------- My SuSE 9.3 Professional system hangs very frequently. The behaviour is unpredictable.

These are some cases I found where it's likely that system MAY hang.

If there is high CPU activity for a long time e.g. ripping DVD (Sometimes I see high CPU utilization even while loading simple web pages)

Hangs suddenly while Browsing net using Firefox/konqueror Checking mails with Evolution, KMail Playing mp3 with XMMS, Opening openoffice files, Using remote ssh, vnc or nx session from office

I have gone through all the log files in /var/log but couln't find any noticable reason for my problem Most of the time last few entries of /var/log/messages include

STATS Dropped message -- from syslog DEVPATH not set -- from smb/nmb

but they are also present even when system is running smoothly

System uptime varies from 30 min to 3-4 days

I am 100% sure that its not a hardware issue as the same machine rocks when booted in Win2K.

Here is the system configuration: ECS motherboard (VIA chipset) Not sure @ exact model no AMD sempron 2500+ 512MB RAM 80GB HDD nVidia GeForce MX 4000 AGP 8x card WinTVGo TV Tuner card HP PSC1315 USB printer scanner copier

Services enabled: ssh, vnc, nxserver, vsftpd, httpd, smb, nmb

Dual Booting with Win2K

System is periodically updated with YaST Online Update in hope of getting remedy to my problems. No luck so far

-Kshitij

Looks like a memory problem. As far as I know, Linux in general is more demanding in that regard. I would start with running Memtest from the Install CD for about 24 hours. -- -- Svetoslav Milenov (Sunny)

On Friday 16 Sep 2005 23:08, Kshitij Velhal wrote: <SNIP> I have a system with an nVidia card which would freeze unpredictably. It would happen in similar circumstances to yours. I noticed that the running apps continued to run - a CD would complete ripping, downloads would continue, etc. even though the display was frozen and the mouse and keyboard were unresponsive. I could ssh to the box and shut it down but changing to runlevel 3 did not result in a text console showing on the monitor. There was nothing in any logs I could find, but I came to realise that it occured at times when several windows were updating at the same time so I figure there was something causing the display card to have a fit. After reverting to the generic nv module the problem disapeared. Don't know if that's relevant. Dylan -- "The man who strikes first admits that his ideas have given out." (Chinese Proverb)

How exactly memory is managed by Linux(SuSE). Any specific documentation? Would like to learn more about this. Will google this topic. Kshitij On 9/16/05, Kshitij Velhal wrote:

Seems like many people believe that memory is the cause for my problems If so what options I have to fix that?

One thing I miss in my previous mails is: The SWAP partition is only 560MB. I think I should try doubling it to 1GB before runnign memtest.

Anything else to be considered?

On 9/16/05, Carl Hartung wrote:

...

On Friday 16 September 2005 18:15, Sunny wrote:

...

Looks like a memory problem. As far as I know, Linux in general is more demanding in that regard. I would start with running Memtest from the Install CD for about 24 hours.

I concur. These are the classic symptoms of memory being pushed to the margin of tolerance, performance wise. Since memory is used more rigorously and managed differently in Linux, it is a much better "stress test" than that other OS. And when you fix this problem, 9.3 should "rock and roll" on that system... not just rock! :-)

- Carl

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