Re: Total lockups using ext3

[Anthony Campbell <ac@acampbell.org.uk>]

On 01 Feb 2002, Stephen C. Tweedie wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> On Fri, Feb 01, 2002 at 06:10:48PM +0000, Anthony Campbell wrote:
>  
> > They always occur when I am online, downloading. The moden stops, the
> > hard disk light is on, and no key works. They never happen with 2.2.20
> > or with earlier (i.e. pre-ext3) 2.4 kernels, and they never occur on my
> > laptop with any kernel, including those using ext3.
> > 
> > Since inactivating ext3 (by changing /etc/fstab) the lockups have ceased
> > to occur.
> > 
> > I therefore conclude that the lockups are due to ext3. I can manage
> > without it but would like to use it if possible. Any suggestions please?
> 
> Doesn't sound like a filesystem problem --- if the hd remains on, it
> sounds very much as if you've got something going wrong in the disk
> stack, either in the ide driver or the disk itself giving up.  The
> fact that it always happens when the modem is on also suggests that
> this is not a filesystem problem.
> 

> Try reproducing it with a readable console enabled --- either run in
> text console mode (no X), or set up a serial console and use another
> machine to capture the output.  "ttywatch" is excellent for monitoring
> serial consoles.
> 
> Cheers,
>  Stephen
> 

I doubt it's the disk; it works perfectly without ext3, even downloading
a complete kernel tarball. I'll try the text console later (though
probably at the cost of yet another reboot...)

Anthony

-- 
Anthony Campbell - running Linux GNU/Debian (Windows-free zone)
For an electronic book (The Assassins of Alamut), skeptical 
essays, and over 150 book reviews, go to: http://www.acampbell.org.uk/

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