August 2001 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

RE: [Wlug] System crash

by Long, Mike

I am running SuSE 7.0 with the 2.2.18? kernel. I have not compiled my own kernel before. Last night when attempting to upgrade to XFree86 4.1 I somehow f**ked up my configuration and can now only run X as root and I don't know what changed to cause that to happen. I had backed up my entire partition so the original configuration files are around but I am not sure which files I should restore to get back to my original configuration. I am contemplating upgrading to SuSE 7.2 with the 2.4.x kernel and reformatting my partition to be a Rieserfs file system. Is this configuration likely to be any more stable than my current configuration? -----Original Message----- From: Ben Dow [mailto:bdow@WPI.EDU] Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 10:43 PM To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Subject: Re: [Wlug] System crash Well, XFree86 4.1 is out, which is what I was referring to, but as far as I know, that's a really well-supported video card (the chipset's been around forever)... what kernel are you running? Is it a stock Suse kernel? Do you know how to compile your own, if it might help? On Mon, 6 Aug 2001, Michael Long wrote: > I saw on the suse website where there is an updated version of XFree86 > (4.0.2) as well as an updated xloader and xmodules packages. I will be > installing these and see if this solves the problem. > > As for my system components: > ABIT KT7-RAID Motherboard w/ an Athlon 800 > ATI Rage 128 video card > SoundBlaster Live > 2 Realtek RTL8139B ethernet cards > 2 DiamondMax Hard drives > Toshiba CD-RW/DVD-ROM #SD-R1002 > > The output from lspci is: > 00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 0305 (rev 02) > 00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 8305 > 00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super] (rev 22) > 00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586 IDE [Apollo] (rev 10) > 00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B USB (rev 10) > 00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B USB (rev 10) > 00:07.4 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev > 30) > 00:09.0 Communication controller: Lucent Microelectronics Venus Modem (V90, > 56KFlex) > 00:0b.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139 (rev 10) > 00:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139 (rev 10) > 00:0f.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10000 (rev 08) > 00:0f.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! (rev 08) > 00:13.0 Unknown mass storage controller: Triones Technologies, Inc. HPT366 > (rev 03) > 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage 128 RF > > > On Monday 06 August 2001 11:34, you wrote: > > I've seen this kind of thing happen for 2 reasons I've been able to figure > > out on my systems... after running XFree86 4 for a few minutes with my > > Diamond (since taken over by S3, now SonicBlue... it's so hard to keep > > track) Stealth III S540 (based on the Savage 4 or 4+, I think), the system > > will lock up hard... 3.3.6 was no problem, and I haven't tried the latest > > version of X, which is now supposed to have special drivers for that > > chipset, and it tends to happen much more often than once every few days, > > but since I know nothing about your system, I thought I'd mention it... > > The other thing that seems to cause it is a lot of hard disk activity on > > an Intel PIIX3 controller (for an old Pentium/166). Copying large files > > to/from a Reiserfs partition with DMA enabled seems to really do the trick > > (I should probably send in a kernel bug report, really)... but that's > > another possibility, I guess. Again, tell us some more about your system > > (lspci often gives useful information). > > Now to wake up. > > > > Ben > > > > On Mon, 6 Aug 2001, Long, Mike wrote: > > > Hi all, > > > > > > I have been having problems with my system locking to the point where I > > > needed to press the reset button to recycle the box. Well, this happened > > > again and this time things are not working properly after bringing the > > > system back up. I have been able to start networking services and I can > > > start KDE desktop but none of my X applications will run. Now I have > > > several questions: > > > > > > 1) What type of problems could have been created by an improper shutdown > > > of the box? > > > 2) Will reinstalling KDE fix this problem? > > > 3) How do I go about figuring out what is causing my machine to lock up? > > > It is happening frequently (every few days) > > > and when I am doing different things. I have not been able to > > > determine a pattern. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Mike > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Aug. 7, 2001

Secure Modems (A little off topic)

by cc.noyes

Does anyone know of a secure modem(s) that does MD4, MD5 or SHA1 authentication? They would be running with UnixWare and Solaris platforms. I would guess that they're probably O/S independent. Thanks, Chuck

Aug. 7, 2001

Re: [Wlug] System crash

by Ben Dow

Well, XFree86 4.1 is out, which is what I was referring to, but as far as I know, that's a really well-supported video card (the chipset's been around forever)... what kernel are you running? Is it a stock Suse kernel? Do you know how to compile your own, if it might help? On Mon, 6 Aug 2001, Michael Long wrote: > I saw on the suse website where there is an updated version of XFree86 > (4.0.2) as well as an updated xloader and xmodules packages. I will be > installing these and see if this solves the problem. > > As for my system components: > ABIT KT7-RAID Motherboard w/ an Athlon 800 > ATI Rage 128 video card > SoundBlaster Live > 2 Realtek RTL8139B ethernet cards > 2 DiamondMax Hard drives > Toshiba CD-RW/DVD-ROM #SD-R1002 > > The output from lspci is: > 00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 0305 (rev 02) > 00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 8305 > 00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super] (rev 22) > 00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586 IDE [Apollo] (rev 10) > 00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B USB (rev 10) > 00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B USB (rev 10) > 00:07.4 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev > 30) > 00:09.0 Communication controller: Lucent Microelectronics Venus Modem (V90, > 56KFlex) > 00:0b.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139 (rev 10) > 00:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139 (rev 10) > 00:0f.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10000 (rev 08) > 00:0f.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! (rev 08) > 00:13.0 Unknown mass storage controller: Triones Technologies, Inc. HPT366 > (rev 03) > 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage 128 RF > > > On Monday 06 August 2001 11:34, you wrote: > > I've seen this kind of thing happen for 2 reasons I've been able to figure > > out on my systems... after running XFree86 4 for a few minutes with my > > Diamond (since taken over by S3, now SonicBlue... it's so hard to keep > > track) Stealth III S540 (based on the Savage 4 or 4+, I think), the system > > will lock up hard... 3.3.6 was no problem, and I haven't tried the latest > > version of X, which is now supposed to have special drivers for that > > chipset, and it tends to happen much more often than once every few days, > > but since I know nothing about your system, I thought I'd mention it... > > The other thing that seems to cause it is a lot of hard disk activity on > > an Intel PIIX3 controller (for an old Pentium/166). Copying large files > > to/from a Reiserfs partition with DMA enabled seems to really do the trick > > (I should probably send in a kernel bug report, really)... but that's > > another possibility, I guess. Again, tell us some more about your system > > (lspci often gives useful information). > > Now to wake up. > > > > Ben > > > > On Mon, 6 Aug 2001, Long, Mike wrote: > > > Hi all, > > > > > > I have been having problems with my system locking to the point where I > > > needed to press the reset button to recycle the box. Well, this happened > > > again and this time things are not working properly after bringing the > > > system back up. I have been able to start networking services and I can > > > start KDE desktop but none of my X applications will run. Now I have > > > several questions: > > > > > > 1) What type of problems could have been created by an improper shutdown > > > of the box? > > > 2) Will reinstalling KDE fix this problem? > > > 3) How do I go about figuring out what is causing my machine to lock up? > > > It is happening frequently (every few days) > > > and when I am doing different things. I have not been able to > > > determine a pattern. > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > Mike > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

Aug. 7, 2001

Re: [Wlug] System crash

by Michael Long

I saw on the suse website where there is an updated version of XFree86 (4.0.2) as well as an updated xloader and xmodules packages. I will be installing these and see if this solves the problem. As for my system components: ABIT KT7-RAID Motherboard w/ an Athlon 800 ATI Rage 128 video card SoundBlaster Live 2 Realtek RTL8139B ethernet cards 2 DiamondMax Hard drives Toshiba CD-RW/DVD-ROM #SD-R1002 The output from lspci is: 00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 0305 (rev 02) 00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc.: Unknown device 8305 00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super] (rev 22) 00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586 IDE [Apollo] (rev 10) 00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B USB (rev 10) 00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586B USB (rev 10) 00:07.4 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 30) 00:09.0 Communication controller: Lucent Microelectronics Venus Modem (V90, 56KFlex) 00:0b.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139 (rev 10) 00:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139 (rev 10) 00:0f.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10000 (rev 08) 00:0f.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! (rev 08) 00:13.0 Unknown mass storage controller: Triones Technologies, Inc. HPT366 (rev 03) 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage 128 RF On Monday 06 August 2001 11:34, you wrote: > I've seen this kind of thing happen for 2 reasons I've been able to figure > out on my systems... after running XFree86 4 for a few minutes with my > Diamond (since taken over by S3, now SonicBlue... it's so hard to keep > track) Stealth III S540 (based on the Savage 4 or 4+, I think), the system > will lock up hard... 3.3.6 was no problem, and I haven't tried the latest > version of X, which is now supposed to have special drivers for that > chipset, and it tends to happen much more often than once every few days, > but since I know nothing about your system, I thought I'd mention it... > The other thing that seems to cause it is a lot of hard disk activity on > an Intel PIIX3 controller (for an old Pentium/166). Copying large files > to/from a Reiserfs partition with DMA enabled seems to really do the trick > (I should probably send in a kernel bug report, really)... but that's > another possibility, I guess. Again, tell us some more about your system > (lspci often gives useful information). > Now to wake up. > > Ben > > On Mon, 6 Aug 2001, Long, Mike wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > I have been having problems with my system locking to the point where I > > needed to press the reset button to recycle the box. Well, this happened > > again and this time things are not working properly after bringing the > > system back up. I have been able to start networking services and I can > > start KDE desktop but none of my X applications will run. Now I have > > several questions: > > > > 1) What type of problems could have been created by an improper shutdown > > of the box? > > 2) Will reinstalling KDE fix this problem? > > 3) How do I go about figuring out what is causing my machine to lock up? > > It is happening frequently (every few days) > > and when I am doing different things. I have not been able to > > determine a pattern. > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > Mike > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Aug. 7, 2001

Re: [Wlug] Possible topic for the next meeting?

by William Smith

On Fri, 3 Aug 2001, Brian J. Conway wrote: BJC>.... Is anyone interested on seeing a BJC>presentation on the various DVD players that are available for Linux BJC>along with their setup. hardware support, and configuration, etc? i'm interested! :) i recently got a Delta DVDROM drive ($34 from a Pricewatch.com listing, includes WinDOZE software)... i know that my RH7.1 system sees it (the DVD drive shows up in the hardware list), but i haven't had time yet to toy with the DVD software in Linux yet... Bill Smith Fall River, MA

Aug. 6, 2001

Re: [Wlug] System crash

by Ben Dow

I've seen this kind of thing happen for 2 reasons I've been able to figure out on my systems... after running XFree86 4 for a few minutes with my Diamond (since taken over by S3, now SonicBlue... it's so hard to keep track) Stealth III S540 (based on the Savage 4 or 4+, I think), the system will lock up hard... 3.3.6 was no problem, and I haven't tried the latest version of X, which is now supposed to have special drivers for that chipset, and it tends to happen much more often than once every few days, but since I know nothing about your system, I thought I'd mention it... The other thing that seems to cause it is a lot of hard disk activity on an Intel PIIX3 controller (for an old Pentium/166). Copying large files to/from a Reiserfs partition with DMA enabled seems to really do the trick (I should probably send in a kernel bug report, really)... but that's another possibility, I guess. Again, tell us some more about your system (lspci often gives useful information). Now to wake up. Ben On Mon, 6 Aug 2001, Long, Mike wrote: > Hi all, > > I have been having problems with my system locking to the point where I > needed to press the reset button to recycle the box. Well, this happened > again and this time things are not working properly after bringing the > system back up. I have been able to start networking services and I can > start KDE desktop but none of my X applications will run. Now I have several > questions: > > 1) What type of problems could have been created by an improper shutdown of > the box? > 2) Will reinstalling KDE fix this problem? > 3) How do I go about figuring out what is causing my machine to lock up? It > is happening frequently (every few days) > and when I am doing different things. I have not been able to determine a > pattern. > > > > Thanks, > Mike >

Aug. 6, 2001

System crash

by Long, Mike

Hi all, I have been having problems with my system locking to the point where I needed to press the reset button to recycle the box. Well, this happened again and this time things are not working properly after bringing the system back up. I have been able to start networking services and I can start KDE desktop but none of my X applications will run. Now I have several questions: 1) What type of problems could have been created by an improper shutdown of the box? 2) Will reinstalling KDE fix this problem? 3) How do I go about figuring out what is causing my machine to lock up? It is happening frequently (every few days) and when I am doing different things. I have not been able to determine a pattern. Thanks, Mike

Aug. 6, 2001

bizzare font behavior

by brad

Hey all, Each time i boot my machine it seems to toggle between two interpretations of 12pt fonts. There seems to be a random patten for my computer interpreting fonts. One time it will be really, small, the next boot, it will have big fonts. The font configuration is the same (mostly size 10pt font in KDE2). But each time the computer boots, i have no idea if I'm going to be able to read the fonts on my screen, or if it's going to be too big. It's on a RH7.1 i installed few weeks ago. I have KDE2 running, and i have the graphical login window when i boot. Any ideas? Thanks, --Brad

Aug. 4, 2001

Re: [Wlug] Possible topic for the next meeting?

by Brian J. Conway

> There is currently no scheduled speaker or topic for the August WLUG > meeting. If you would like to do this talk, I think it would be great. > I'm curious as to what you would like to cover, or what others might like > to see covered. That sounds good, I'll plan on it then. Any suggestions should get to me by this Sunday and I'll try my best to include them. > 1) Supported DVD players Check. > 2) What software, kernel, apps, etc needed to use DVD Check. > 3) DVD-ROM - just like a CDROM, but bigger - anything special or funny > here? Check. > 4) DVD-RAM - now there's an idea Never touched them, but I'll do some research on the basics. > 5) Video DVD - can I watch The Matrix while coding? :-) Check. (Definitely, this is intended to be the bulk of the presentation, comparing a few players and their features, etc.) > These are just thoughts and suggestions....are there others? I'd love to hear them. Thanks all. -b

Aug. 4, 2001

Re: [Wlug] Possible topic for the next meeting?

by Andy Stewart

HI all, There is currently no scheduled speaker or topic for the August WLUG meeting. If you would like to do this talk, I think it would be great. I'm curious as to what you would like to cover, or what others might like to see covered. Let me seed the conversation bu suggesting the following possibilities: 1) Supported DVD players 2) What software, kernel, apps, etc needed to use DVD 3) DVD-ROM - just like a CDROM, but bigger - anything special or funny here? 4) DVD-RAM - now there's an idea 5) Video DVD - can I watch The Matrix while coding? :-) These are just thoughts and suggestions....are there others? Thanks, Andy -- Andy Stewart Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group Worcester, MA, USA http://www.wlug.org

Aug. 4, 2001