Gentoo Linux freezes [unsolved]

[jonfr]

My friends Gentoo Linux system freezes for no reason and therefore he can't use his computer as a server as he had hoped for. Since he is not advanced linux guy, he did ask me to help. The computer is remote and I don't have direct accsess to it. So far I havent found the error in the logs, all I know is that the computer freezes after 7 to 8 days of running.

His motherboard is of MSI type, I don't know for sure exacly what MSI type.

Here is what lspci gives me.

[xalan]

Is the machine either single processor with Hyperthreading or a dual processor? Is your friend running a uni-processor kernel rather than an SMP kernel on the box?

Since we dont know the source of problem lets try to locate it fist. You said the m/c is remote, is it possible for you to look at /var/log/messages (if you use syslog-ng) or some other log to see exactly why the m/c is cribbing.

When the machines crashes, does it just freeze or does the kernel panic?

Are you able to associate kernel crash with the usage of any particular hardware like graphics card or harddrive etc?

I don't understand this line in dmesg:

[yabbadabbadont]

Also, what is the "emerge --info" for the system?
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[jonfr]

It is a single CPU computer, I don't think that the cpu has hyperthreading.

Here is emerge --info.

[yabbadabbadont]

[jonfr]

I have changed the make settings and I have started to rebuild his system. I have been using those flags for some time now (without a problem btw). First time I've been told that they are unstable. But late is better then never.

[xalan]

[jonfr]

I am going to fix the multicore cpu later on, when I recompile the kernel. I just found out that he is using dualcore cpu now (he had to look it up on Intel webpage), he was using single core cpu before but he did replace that cpu some time ago. But even he had single core cpu (Pentium 4), Gentoo Linux did still freeze. So that isn't what's cosing the freeze up.

[lefsha]

I had same issue for a while.

It was due to the problems with certain kernel versions.
No CFLAGS problem or similar, as it was mentioned here before.

Just try to get other kernel version.

P.S. Normaly there are some CFLAGS, that you should never use! They are very critical,
but your ones are quite harmless. Additionally, kernel will be compiled with it's own
CFLAGS, which have nothing to do with your flags located in make.conf
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Lefsha

[lefsha]

[jonfr]

I have revised the CFLAGS into better settings. Going to recompile everything all over agen. Doesn't bother me, I just go and watch a DVD or something else.

I am going to try to downgrade the kernel in the computer that is freezing, it did freeze even if I did turn on hyperthreading and recompile everything with this CFLAGS, "CFLAGS="-O2 -march=i686 -pipe". That is my reason to change them agen.

[dsd]

[jonfr]

How do I get rid of this "nvidia: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel.". I am using the nvidia-kernel drivers that are in portage.

[htranou]

[dsd]

sorry, should have been clearer. i was suggesting that on a system where you want absolute maximum stability you should not used any closed-source drivers. the nvidia driver especially contains a huge amount of secret code which runs in kernel mode, it could be doing a truckload of bad things, and nobody knows about it. granted it probably wont make your problem disappear, its a necessary precaution you should take, especially on a server
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http://dev.gentoo.org/~dsd

[jonfr]

[jschellhaass]

Does the system freeze under X? Is there a screen saver enabled?

jeff