[parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Kurt Fitzner]

I have just recently attempted to install Debian 3.1 on an old B132L.  I
have managed to get the install CD to boot, but the kernel is issuing an
infinite stream of error messages from the SDC driver:

"HP SDC: Transaction add failed: transaction already queued?"

At first this was preventing the install CD from booting.  I determined
this was due to syslogd filling the ramdisk by logging the above
message.  I was able to get the install CD to boot into the installation
by making the initial ramdisk size very large (64 meg).  However, even
this fills up withing a few minutes.

I'm not very familliar with the SDC - is there a way to prevent the
above from occuring?

Thanks in advance,

	Kurt Fitzner
_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux

Re: [parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Kurt Fitzner]

I have found that if I switch to a serial console that after a variable
(from 1 to 50) number of "Transaction add failed" error messages that a
timeout error would occur and no further transaction errors will occur.
This allows me to install Debian.

After installation if I continue to boot with a serial console then I
can boot the Debian installation.  If I try to boot with the standard
graphics console, however, I have a new problem with the SDC driver.
During boot when the SDC driver initializes, it issues the following
message:

"HP SDC MLC: Registering the System Domain Controller's HIL MLC."

After the above message, the kernel hangs and booting is not possible.

I am at my wit's end with this one.  I would really appreciate any
insight that could be offered.

Regards,

    Kurt Fitzner

p.s. In case it is relevant, machine specs are as follows:
HP 9000 B132L workstation
128 MB RAM
Seagate 4.3GB drive on fwscsi.6.0
Panasonic cdrom on sescsi.3.0
No EISA or PCI cards installed.

Kurt Fitzner wrote:
> I have just recently attempted to install Debian 3.1 on an old B132L.  I
> have managed to get the install CD to boot, but the kernel is issuing an
> infinite stream of error messages from the SDC driver:
> 
> "HP SDC: Transaction add failed: transaction already queued?"
> 
> At first this was preventing the install CD from booting.  I determined
> this was due to syslogd filling the ramdisk by logging the above
> message.  I was able to get the install CD to boot into the installation
> by making the initial ramdisk size very large (64 meg).  However, even
> this fills up withing a few minutes.
> 
> I'm not very familliar with the SDC - is there a way to prevent the
> above from occuring?
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> 	Kurt Fitzner
> _______________________________________________
> parisc-linux mailing list
> parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
> http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux
> 

_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux

Re: [parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Scott Edwards]

I also have a B132l workstation.  I see about 200 lines of that
message, and eventually it says timeout 52000ms (vague recolection)
and it stops.  I have noticed I'm unable to boot certian kernels.=20
I've had to boot from the cd, hop to a shell, mount the drive, and
install the right kernel.  All I recall is that it is the non smp
32bit 2.6 kernel.  I was only able to use the same kernel that's used
with the installer cd.

I've also reported this on
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=3D302238.

If it's related, you may want to add to my bug id.  I'll try to get
back to the list w/in the next day to provide more specifics.  Ever
since I was unable to use my pci scsi card combined with a mishap on
my tape drive, I've kinda given up for a small season.

Good luck,


Scott

On 7/9/05, Kurt Fitzner <kfitzner@excelcia.org> wrote:
> I have found that if I switch to a serial console that after a variable
> (from 1 to 50) number of "Transaction add failed" error messages that a
> timeout error would occur and no further transaction errors will occur.
> This allows me to install Debian.
>=20
> After installation if I continue to boot with a serial console then I
> can boot the Debian installation.  If I try to boot with the standard
> graphics console, however, I have a new problem with the SDC driver.
> During boot when the SDC driver initializes, it issues the following
> message:
>=20
> "HP SDC MLC: Registering the System Domain Controller's HIL MLC."
>=20
> After the above message, the kernel hangs and booting is not possible.
>=20
> I am at my wit's end with this one.  I would really appreciate any
> insight that could be offered.
>=20
> Regards,
>=20
>     Kurt Fitzner
>=20
> p.s. In case it is relevant, machine specs are as follows:
> HP 9000 B132L workstation
> 128 MB RAM
> Seagate 4.3GB drive on fwscsi.6.0
> Panasonic cdrom on sescsi.3.0
> No EISA or PCI cards installed.
>=20
> Kurt Fitzner wrote:
> > I have just recently attempted to install Debian 3.1 on an old B132L.  =
I
> > have managed to get the install CD to boot, but the kernel is issuing a=
n
> > infinite stream of error messages from the SDC driver:
> >
> > "HP SDC: Transaction add failed: transaction already queued?"
> >
> > At first this was preventing the install CD from booting.  I determined
> > this was due to syslogd filling the ramdisk by logging the above
> > message.  I was able to get the install CD to boot into the installatio=
n
> > by making the initial ramdisk size very large (64 meg).  However, even
> > this fills up withing a few minutes.
> >
> > I'm not very familliar with the SDC - is there a way to prevent the
> > above from occuring?
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> >       Kurt Fitzner
> > _______________________________________________
> > parisc-linux mailing list
> > parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
> > http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux
> >
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> parisc-linux mailing list
> parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
> http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux
>
_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux

Re: [parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Kyle McMartin]

On Sat, Jul 09, 2005 at 03:50:04PM -0600, Kurt Fitzner wrote:
> "HP SDC MLC: Registering the System Domain Controller's HIL MLC."
> 

I don't suppose you could investigate further? (TOC the machine, 
lookup where it's hung, see the howto on parisc-linux.org). 

All the d-i images tested fine on my B180, which is a fairly close
match to your B132...

Cheers,
-- 
Kyle McMartin
_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux

Re: [parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Joel Soete]

Hello Kyle,
> 
> On Sat, Jul 09, 2005 at 03:50:04PM -0600, Kurt Fitzner wrote:
> > "HP SDC MLC: Registering the System Domain Controller's HIL MLC."
> > 
> 
> I don't suppose you could investigate further? (TOC the machine, 
> lookup where it's hung, see the howto on parisc-linux.org). 
> 
> All the d-i images tested fine on my B180, which is a fairly close
> match to your B132...
> 
mmm not exactely: there was actualy 2 b132 models i.e. B132L and B132L+
and <http://www.openpa.net/systems/b-class.html> rememmber me the major d=
iff
imho:
[...]
Chipset

[...]
# B132L, B160L: NCR 53C720 16-bit Fast-wide high voltage differential (HV=
D)
SCSI-2
# B132L+, B180L+: Symbios Logic 53C875 16-bit Ultra-wide SCSI-2 controlle=
r

Unfortunately, I couldn't test here because no B132L around.

Hth,
    Joel


_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux

Re: [parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Kyle McMartin]

On Tue, Jul 12, 2005 at 08:16:28AM +0200, Joel Soete wrote:
> # B132L, B160L: NCR 53C720 16-bit Fast-wide high voltage differential (HVD)
> SCSI-2
> # B132L+, B180L+: Symbios Logic 53C875 16-bit Ultra-wide SCSI-2 controller

And this is utterly irrelevant because it's not involved in the problem.

-- 
Kyle McMartin
_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux

Re: [parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Joel Soete]

> 
> On Tue, Jul 12, 2005 at 08:16:28AM +0200, Joel Soete wrote:
> > # B132L, B160L: NCR 53C720 16-bit Fast-wide high voltage differential=

(HVD)
> > SCSI-2
> > # B132L+, B180L+: Symbios Logic 53C875 16-bit Ultra-wide SCSI-2 contr=
oller
> 
> And this is utterly irrelevant because it's not involved in the problem=
.
> 
Oops my bad I just noticed that there are some diff between those 2 model=

and don't care of messages.

As previously said I never had B132L so I couldn't verify if there was so=
me
HIL port for this design.
(I would like to check on <http://www.parisc-linux.org/hardware/index.htm=
l>
but not available for the moment :_( )

Appologies,
    Joel


_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux

Re: [parisc-linux] Infinite error message from SDC driver on install

[Kurt Fitzner]

Kyle McMartin wrote:
> On Sat, Jul 09, 2005 at 03:50:04PM -0600, Kurt Fitzner wrote:
> 
>>"HP SDC MLC: Registering the System Domain Controller's HIL MLC."
> 
> I don't suppose you could investigate further? (TOC the machine, 
> lookup where it's hung, see the howto on parisc-linux.org). 
> 
> All the d-i images tested fine on my B180, which is a fairly close
> match to your B132...

I've done some more testing.  My results are similar to what Scott
posted.  I've only taken the most cursory look at the relevant code in
the kernel, so my report here is simply observation and my own
interpretation.

When booting from the install CDs and the console is GRAPHICS(0), I find
that I get the transaction add error ad infinitum:

  "HP SDC: Transaction add failed: transaction already queued?"

In one out of every five boots (approximately), after a variable number
of the transaction errors, there will be a timeout error.  Once the
timeout error occurs, no more transaction add errors occur.  The number
of transaction add errors that occur before this happens can be anywhere
from three to several hundreds.

  "HP SDC: Transaction add failed: transaction already queued?"
    above repeated three to several hundred times
  "HP SDC: read timeout (99999ms)"

I found quite by accident that if I am moving the mouse just as the
kernel is booting up, there is a far better chance of getting the
timeout error quickly and thus terminating the transaction error after
just 3 or 4 lines.

If the console is set to serial_1, the transaction error almost always
(9 out of 10 times) terminates after only 3 or 4 lines.  I now believe
that the two observations (mouse movement and serial console) are
related.  I believe the extra interrupt overhead from either the PS/2 or
serial port is allowing the timeout to occur.

Regarding the problem with the kernel hanging, just as Scott indicated,
this only occurs on SMP-enabled kernels on the B132L.  Not being
familliar with Debian prior to this install, it took me a while to
figure out how to get the installer to allow me to select a different
kernel (which is why I have so much info on the frequency of the issues
on a per boot basis).

I have now compiled my own kernel without HIL or SDC support.  This is
quite nice simply because the HIL poling sucks a lot of CPU time
(despite what the FAQ says, I could never get the CPU usage of ksoftirqd
below 8% even when higher priority tasks were running at a -19 nice level).

I'll now spend some time in the kernel code to see how the transaction
add errors are somehow resetting the read timeout.

Hope the observations help.

	Kurt.
_______________________________________________
parisc-linux mailing list
parisc-linux@lists.parisc-linux.org
http://lists.parisc-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/parisc-linux