I have been testing Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid with all the latest updates and have periodically experienced a soft lockup. This happens on multiple Ubuntu-released kernels. They recommend that their packaged "mainline" kernels are tried so I have installed a couple to see if the issue is related to particular kernel releases. I am using 2.6.33-020633-generic now which has not locked up after 30 minutes. I had been using the later version 2.6.34-020634rc4-generic which caused lockups within about 5 minutes of a restart or cold boot. When locked up, the screen freezes and caps-lock will not register. If I wait for a few minutes, the lockup will end and everything starts to work again. I am using an Asus M2V-MX motherboard. Previously reported issues when running the Ubuntu Kernels to the Ubuntu Launchpad site are shown here with diagnostic files attached. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/565202 https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-backports-modules-2.6.32/+bug/560676 https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/560493 https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/559781 I am happy to help with testing this, just let me know what you would like me to attempt.
After leaving the machine idle for a couple of hours, I started to use it again and within 15 minutes had a soft lockup for about a minute with Ubuntu-packaged mainline kernel 2.6.33-020633-generic. I am using only Evolution, Firefox and Terminator (Terminal replacement).
Please add a copy of the kernel's soft-lockup diagnostic messages to this report.
Andrew, Would be glad to. Can you direct me to any documentation on how to get that? Regards, Tony.
Created attachment 26060 [details] kern.log
There was a line on startup I noticed as being odd (in attached kern.log), not sure if it's relevant [ 0.356714] pci 0000:00:02.0: address space collision: [mem 0xd0000000-0xdfffffff 64bit pref] conflicts with GART [mem 0xd0000000-0xd7ffffff]
I have recently replaced my motherboard going from an ASUS M2V-MX SE (which was running very well with Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid in the Alpha stages) to its predecessor ASUS M2V-MX. This replacement motherboard has suffered from CPU soft lockups periodically but noticeably since Ubuntu kernel 2.6.32-21-generic. I am using the following now (uname -a) for about 30 minutes without a lockup. On the later kernel (or the "mainline" kernels up to vmlinuz-2.6.34-020634rc5-generic, this would have certainly locked up within 10 minutes of usage. Linux orac 2.6.32-20-generic #30-Ubuntu SMP Mon Apr 12 15:20:57 UTC 2010 x86_64 GNU/Linux I am keen to help with diagnosing this and am happy to learn what is required to assist in debugging the issue.
I have disabled APIC and ACPI in the BIOS and have not had any lockups since. The lockups were so regular that I am sure this is what was causing the issue. If anyone wants more information, let me know.
Several days later and still no lockups. The BIOS changes I made have definitely resolved the issue. Is there any benefit in further investigation on this?