system lockup

2007-12-25 10:10:00

You have to love a mailing list where you start getting answers

before you get your own copy of the question.

The original :

>>

> We are using SPARCstation 5s running SunOS 4.1.3_U1 as an operator's

> platform for a product. We have several hundred of them in use. Most

> of the customization of the OS has been kernel parameter stuff, like

> increasing MAXUSERS. We have added the SUN Serial/Parallel Controller

> interface, and a lightpen from Interactive COmputer Products. The user

> interface is X11R5, based on OSF/Motif.

>

> Lately, we have started seeing workstations lock up completely : the

> output to the monitor is stopped, the pointer does not move with the

> mouse, even STOP-A on the keyboard does nothing. The operators have to

> cycle power to get the workstation restarted.

>

> There is an occaisional message of "xdballoc: out of dblks" in

> /var/adm/messages, but it is not consistent. Since the system has to

> be turned off, there's no way to get a coredump. Only a few systems

> have reported this problem.

>

> Our customers can lose a few thousand $$$ of product when this happens,

> so there is a considerable amount of heat on.

>

> So, what I would very much like to know is :

>

> What can cause a system to lock itself up so drastically as to ignore

> STOP-A?

>

> What is the xdballoc message trying to tell me, and how do I fix it?

>

> Thanks greatly!

>

And the replies :

-------------------------------------------------------------

From: Craig Singer <csinger@amtech.com>

I searched Sunsolve ( http://sunsolve.sun.com ) for "xdballoc" and it

looks like you need a patch. I've included two descriptions below. The

first patch is obsoleted by the 2nd, so you should install the 2nd.

OBSOLETE Patch-ID# 100255-01

Keywords: xdballoc: out of dblks

Synopsis: OBSOLETED by 100359 xdballoc: out of dblks, then a "printf"

          to console hangs system

Patch-ID# 100359-08

Keywords: panic assertion, console printf hangs, setrun, process,

interrupt, poll

Synopsis: SunOS 4.1.1;4.1.2;4.1.3: streams jumbo patch

---------------------------------------------------------------

I guess I missed this one; I was looking for 4.1.3_U1 specifically.

And :

------------------------------------------------------------

From: sunman@oak.london.waii.com (Robert.Gillespie@waii.com)

We had 10/20's with similar problems under heavy useage.

ALL these problems went away with patch 101508

I think this is a valid patch for SPARC-5's

-------------------------------------------------------------

I have 101508-15 in place, but not 100359. It's certainly worth a try!

Thanks also to

gibian@stars1.hanscom.af.mil (Marc S. Gibian)

Sun Manager from Hell <sunman@lyra.sso.az.honeywell.com>

John Reynolds

Applied Materials i am over six feet

2901 Patrick Henry Dr. MS 5502 and go everywhere

Santa Clara CA 95054

(408) 235-6352 -archy the cockroach

reynolds@acetsw.amat.com

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