Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

[Christian Zigotzky]

Hi,

Although PulseAudio recognises the sound cards, it is unable to 
successfully initialise the corresponding output profiles on Void PPC 
since the sound updates 7.4-rc1 [1]. The output via ALSA works.

Tested with the onboard HDA ATI SB sound device, Soundblaster LIVE 
Player 1024 PCI card, AMD HDMI audio and with USB audio. Strangely 
enough Pulseaudio can enable the sound devices on MintPPC32. I think the 
latest sound updates are responsible for the issue on Void PPC.

I bisected last week [2] and ad28d2f607d1792c04531f2c5fd9ac0bf5bdcc9c 
(ALSA: pcm: Serialize and check HW_REFINE ioctls) is the first bad commit.

I was able to revert the first bad commit and this solved the issue. [2]

Then I created a patch for reverting the bad commit. [3]

Could you please check the sound updates 7.4-rc1? [1]

Thanks,
Christian

[1] 
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=75c1cb8178fe84403fd95236ddf21754f0a4156c
[2] https://github.com/chzigotzky/kernels/issues/21
[3] 
https://github.com/chzigotzky/kernels/commit/644ec7c1f2f812d5eb89741e643f742596a49b2d
[4] Screenshots:
      - With the sound updates: 
https://i.ibb.co/675Yjxvd/Kernel-7-4-0-with-sound-updates.png
      - With the patched kernel: 
https://i.ibb.co/9HDrnnm1/Kernel-7-4-0-alpha8-Power-PC-1.png and 
https://i.ibb.co/vx77FdHV/Kernel-7-4-0-alpha8-Power-PC-2.png

-- 
Sent with BrassMonkey 35.0.2 (https://github.com/chzigotzky/Web-Browsers-and-Suites-for-Linux-PPC/releases/tag/BrassMonkey_35.0.2)

Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

[Christian Zigotzky]

On 01/11/26 10:15, Christian Zigotzky wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Although PulseAudio recognises the sound cards, it is unable to 
> successfully initialise the corresponding output profiles on Void PPC 
> since the sound updates 7.4-rc1 [1]. The output via ALSA works.
>
> Tested with the onboard HDA ATI SB sound device, Soundblaster LIVE 
> Player 1024 PCI card, AMD HDMI audio and with USB audio. Strangely 
> enough Pulseaudio can enable the sound devices on MintPPC32. I think 
> the latest sound updates are responsible for the issue on Void PPC.
>
> I bisected last week [2] and ad28d2f607d1792c04531f2c5fd9ac0bf5bdcc9c 
> (ALSA: pcm: Serialize and check HW_REFINE ioctls) is the first bad 
> commit.
>
> I was able to revert the first bad commit and this solved the issue. [2]
>
> Then I created a patch for reverting the bad commit. [3]
>
> Could you please check the sound updates 7.4-rc1? [1]
>
> Thanks,
> Christian
>
> [1] 
> https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=75c1cb8178fe84403fd95236ddf21754f0a4156c
> [2] https://github.com/chzigotzky/kernels/issues/21
> [3] 
> https://github.com/chzigotzky/kernels/commit/644ec7c1f2f812d5eb89741e643f742596a49b2d
> [4] Screenshots:
>      - With the sound updates: 
> https://i.ibb.co/675Yjxvd/Kernel-7-4-0-with-sound-updates.png
>      - With the patched kernel: 
> https://i.ibb.co/9HDrnnm1/Kernel-7-4-0-alpha8-Power-PC-1.png and 
> https://i.ibb.co/vx77FdHV/Kernel-7-4-0-alpha8-Power-PC-2.png
>

The sound-fixes-7.4-rc1 [1] don't solve the issue with PulseAudio on 
Void PPC. We still need the sound patch [2] for reverting the bad commit.

- Christian

[1] 
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=e9954f3fbddd25e1a01b7e5a0b72fb8b564204e0
[2] 
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/chzigotzky/kernels/refs/heads/main/patches/e5500/sound.patch

-- 
Sent with BrassMonkey 35.0.2 (https://github.com/chzigotzky/Web-Browsers-and-Suites-for-Linux-PPC/releases/tag/BrassMonkey_35.0.2)

Re: Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

[Takashi Iwai]

On Sun, 01 Nov 2026 15:53:07 +0100,
Christian Zigotzky wrote:
> 
> On 01/11/26 10:15, Christian Zigotzky wrote:
> > Hi,
> > 
> > Although PulseAudio recognises the sound cards, it is unable to
> > successfully initialise the corresponding output profiles on Void
> > PPC since the sound updates 7.4-rc1 [1]. The output via ALSA works.
> > 
> > Tested with the onboard HDA ATI SB sound device, Soundblaster LIVE
> > Player 1024 PCI card, AMD HDMI audio and with USB audio. Strangely
> > enough Pulseaudio can enable the sound devices on MintPPC32. I think
> > the latest sound updates are responsible for the issue on Void PPC.
> > 
> > I bisected last week [2] and
> > ad28d2f607d1792c04531f2c5fd9ac0bf5bdcc9c (ALSA: pcm: Serialize and
> > check HW_REFINE ioctls) is the first bad commit.
> > 
> > I was able to revert the first bad commit and this solved the issue. [2]
> > 
> > Then I created a patch for reverting the bad commit. [3]
> > 
> > Could you please check the sound updates 7.4-rc1? [1]
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Christian
> > 
> > [1]
> > https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=75c1cb8178fe84403fd95236ddf21754f0a4156c
> > [2] https://github.com/chzigotzky/kernels/issues/21
> > [3]
> > https://github.com/chzigotzky/kernels/commit/644ec7c1f2f812d5eb89741e643f742596a49b2d
> > [4] Screenshots:
> >      - With the sound updates:
> > https://i.ibb.co/675Yjxvd/Kernel-7-4-0-with-sound-updates.png
> >      - With the patched kernel:
> > https://i.ibb.co/9HDrnnm1/Kernel-7-4-0-alpha8-Power-PC-1.png and
> > https://i.ibb.co/vx77FdHV/Kernel-7-4-0-alpha8-Power-PC-2.png
> > 
> 
> The sound-fixes-7.4-rc1 [1] don't solve the issue with PulseAudio on
> Void PPC. We still need the sound patch [2] for reverting the bad
> commit.

Hm, could you verify whether the below oneliner recovers from your
problem or not?

-- 8< --
--- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
@@ -965,7 +965,8 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_user(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 	if (IS_ERR(params))
 		return PTR_ERR(params);
 
-	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
+	//err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
+	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-- 8< --

If this works, clear this change again, and figure out which check in
snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() gives the error.  The function has three
preliminary checks: PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(), snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock()
(& unlock()), and hw_parms_state_check.  The first one must be
harmless, and the real problem must be either
snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock() or hw_params_state_check().

```
static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
				       struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params)
{
	struct snd_pcm_runtime *runtime;
	int err;

	if (PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(substream))
		return -ENXIO;
	runtime = substream->runtime;
	err = snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock(runtime);
	if (err < 0)
		return err;
	err = hw_params_state_check(substream);
	if (err)
		goto unlock;

	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);

 unlock:
	snd_pcm_buffer_access_unlock(runtime);
	return err;
}
```

OTOH, if the oneliner above doesn't change the behavior, something
else overlooked obviously.

Oh wait, it might be the 32bit compat path?  If so, the call at
snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compat() needs to be tested, instead.


thanks,

Takashi

Re: Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

[Christian Zigotzky]

On 01 November 2026 at 04:26 pm, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:

Hm, could you verify whether the below oneliner recovers from your
problem or not?

-- 8< --
--- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
@@ -965,7 +965,8 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_user(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
   if (IS_ERR(params))
       return PTR_ERR(params);

-    err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
+    //err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
+    err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
   if (err < 0)
       return err;

-- 8< --

If this works, clear this change again, and figure out which check in
snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() gives the error.  The function has three
preliminary checks: PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(), snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock()
(& unlock()), and hw_parms_state_check.  The first one must be
harmless, and the real problem must be either
snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock() or hw_params_state_check().

```
static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
                      struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params)
{
   struct snd_pcm_runtime *runtime;
   int err;

   if (PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(substream))
       return -ENXIO;
   runtime = substream->runtime;
   err = snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock(runtime);
   if (err < 0)
       return err;
   err = hw_params_state_check(substream);
   if (err)
       goto unlock;

   err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);

unlock:
   snd_pcm_buffer_access_unlock(runtime);
   return err;
}
```

OTOH, if the oneliner above doesn't change the behavior, something
else overlooked obviously.

Oh wait, it might be the 32bit compat path?  If so, the call at
snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compat() needs to be tested, instead.


thanks,

Takashi


- - -

Hi Takashi,

Thank you for your patch.

I tested your patch today but unfortunately it doesn’t solve the issue with PulseAudio on Void PPC.

Thanks for your help,

Christian

Re: Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

[Takashi Iwai]

On Tue, 03 Nov 2026 08:34:52 +0100,
Christian Zigotzky wrote:
> 
> On 01 November 2026 at 04:26 pm, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> 
> Hm, could you verify whether the below oneliner recovers from your
> problem or not?
> 
> -- 8< --
> --- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c
> +++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
> @@ -965,7 +965,8 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_user(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
>    if (IS_ERR(params))
>        return PTR_ERR(params);
> 
> -    err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
> +    //err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
> +    err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
>    if (err < 0)
>        return err;
> 
> -- 8< --
> 
> If this works, clear this change again, and figure out which check in
> snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() gives the error.  The function has three
> preliminary checks: PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(), snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock()
> (& unlock()), and hw_parms_state_check.  The first one must be
> harmless, and the real problem must be either
> snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock() or hw_params_state_check().
> 
> ```
> static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
>                       struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params)
> {
>    struct snd_pcm_runtime *runtime;
>    int err;
> 
>    if (PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(substream))
>        return -ENXIO;
>    runtime = substream->runtime;
>    err = snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock(runtime);
>    if (err < 0)
>        return err;
>    err = hw_params_state_check(substream);
>    if (err)
>        goto unlock;
> 
>    err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
> 
> unlock:
>    snd_pcm_buffer_access_unlock(runtime);
>    return err;
> }
> ```
> 
> OTOH, if the oneliner above doesn't change the behavior, something
> else overlooked obviously.
> 
> Oh wait, it might be the 32bit compat path?  If so, the call at
> snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compat() needs to be tested, instead.
> 
> 
> thanks,
> 
> Takashi
> 
> 
> - - -
> 
> Hi Takashi,
> 
> Thank you for your patch.
> 
> I tested your patch today but unfortunately it doesn’t solve the issue with PulseAudio on Void PPC.

Have you tried changing the call of snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() in
snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compat(), too?  Or check the call in
snd_pcm_hw_refine_old_user(), too.

If it doesn't change even if you replace all callers of
snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() with snd_pcm_hw_refine(), something
wrong in the test itself.


Takashi

Re: Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

[Christian Zigotzky]

On 03 November 2026 at 08:44 am, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:

Have you tried changing the call of snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() in
snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compat(), too?  Or check the call in
snd_pcm_hw_refine_old_user(), too.

If it doesn't change even if you replace all callers of
snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() with snd_pcm_hw_refine(), something
wrong in the test itself.


Takashi

- - -

I have tried it and sound works again.

My modifications:

diff -rupN a/sound/core/pcm_compat.c b/sound/core/pcm_compat.c
--- a/sound/core/pcm_compat.c	2026-11-01 22:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_compat.c	2026-11-03 10:01:54.228010513 +0100
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ static int snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compa
 		return -EFAULT;
 
 	if (refine) {
-		err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, data);
+		err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, data);
 		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
 		err = fixup_unreferenced_params(substream, data);
diff -rupN a/sound/core/pcm_native.c b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
--- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c	2026-11-01 22:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c	2026-11-03 10:02:24.836343549 +0100
@@ -932,29 +932,6 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_params_user(struct
  * this one should be used for ioctls and other external paths instead of
  * direct call of snd_pcm_hw_refine()
  */
-static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
-				       struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params)
-{
-	struct snd_pcm_runtime *runtime;
-	int err;
-
-	if (PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(substream))
-		return -ENXIO;
-	runtime = substream->runtime;
-	err = snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock(runtime);
-	if (err < 0)
-		return err;
-	err = hw_params_state_check(substream);
-	if (err)
-		goto unlock;
-
-	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
-
- unlock:
-	snd_pcm_buffer_access_unlock(runtime);
-	return err;
-}
-
 static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_user(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
 				  struct snd_pcm_hw_params __user * _params)
 {
@@ -965,7 +942,7 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_user(struct
 	if (IS_ERR(params))
 		return PTR_ERR(params);
 
-	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
+	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
@@ -4247,7 +4224,7 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_old_user(st
 	if (IS_ERR(oparams))
 		return PTR_ERR(oparams);
 	snd_pcm_hw_convert_from_old_params(params, oparams);
-	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
+	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;

Re: Void PPC: PulseAudio issue with sound updates 7.4-rc1

[Takashi Iwai]

On Tue, 03 Nov 2026 13:00:24 +0100,
Christian Zigotzky wrote:
> 
> On 03 November 2026 at 08:44 am, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> 
> Have you tried changing the call of snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() in
> snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compat(), too?  Or check the call in
> snd_pcm_hw_refine_old_user(), too.
> 
> If it doesn't change even if you replace all callers of
> snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() with snd_pcm_hw_refine(), something
> wrong in the test itself.
> 
> 
> Takashi
> 
> - - -
> 
> I have tried it and sound works again.

Then please figure out which replacement of
snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() actually matters.
(You can keep snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock() definition there.)


thanks,

Takashi

> 
> My modifications:
> 
> diff -rupN a/sound/core/pcm_compat.c b/sound/core/pcm_compat.c
> --- a/sound/core/pcm_compat.c	2026-11-01 22:26:31.000000000 +0100
> +++ b/sound/core/pcm_compat.c	2026-11-03 10:01:54.228010513 +0100
> @@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ static int snd_pcm_ioctl_hw_params_compa
>  		return -EFAULT;
>  
>  	if (refine) {
> -		err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, data);
> +		err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, data);
>  		if (err < 0)
>  			return err;
>  		err = fixup_unreferenced_params(substream, data);
> diff -rupN a/sound/core/pcm_native.c b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
> --- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c	2026-11-01 22:26:31.000000000 +0100
> +++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c	2026-11-03 10:02:24.836343549 +0100
> @@ -932,29 +932,6 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_params_user(struct
>   * this one should be used for ioctls and other external paths instead of
>   * direct call of snd_pcm_hw_refine()
>   */
> -static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
> -				       struct snd_pcm_hw_params *params)
> -{
> -	struct snd_pcm_runtime *runtime;
> -	int err;
> -
> -	if (PCM_RUNTIME_CHECK(substream))
> -		return -ENXIO;
> -	runtime = substream->runtime;
> -	err = snd_pcm_buffer_access_lock(runtime);
> -	if (err < 0)
> -		return err;
> -	err = hw_params_state_check(substream);
> -	if (err)
> -		goto unlock;
> -
> -	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
> -
> - unlock:
> -	snd_pcm_buffer_access_unlock(runtime);
> -	return err;
> -}
> -
>  static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_user(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream,
>  				  struct snd_pcm_hw_params __user * _params)
>  {
> @@ -965,7 +942,7 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_user(struct
>  	if (IS_ERR(params))
>  		return PTR_ERR(params);
>  
> -	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
> +	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
>  	if (err < 0)
>  		return err;
>  
> @@ -4247,7 +4224,7 @@ static int snd_pcm_hw_refine_old_user(st
>  	if (IS_ERR(oparams))
>  		return PTR_ERR(oparams);
>  	snd_pcm_hw_convert_from_old_params(params, oparams);
> -	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine_with_lock(substream, params);
> +	err = snd_pcm_hw_refine(substream, params);
>  	if (err < 0)
>  		return err;