[SOLVED] Gentoo Freezes on VIA Eden Processor 1200MHz

Joseph_sys · Last edited by Joseph_sys on Tue Oct 21, 2008 4:27 am; edited 3 times in total

I have compiled Gentoo on VIA
cpuinfo identified it as: VIA Eden Processor 1200MHz
CPU Family: 6
Model: 13

But in the kernel I only have selections: "VIA C3-2" or "VIA C7"

It is Mini ITX box with 1Gb of RAM 80Gb hard drive, no problem with compiling, everything went smooth.
The box is running only Asterisk and few other processes so it ideals most of the time.
However, it freeze on me several times, the CPU wasn't compiling or running anything, it usually happens after running it for a few days.

Here is my emerge --info:

CrazyIvanMN · n00b Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 45

I'm no expert on this, but I have the same processor in a new machine I purchased.

I'm using different cflags..

http://gentoo-wiki.com/Safe_Cflags#VIA_Processors

The one for the Esther processor C7. i.e.
CFLAGS="-O2 -march=i686 -pipe -mmmx -msse -msse2 -msse3 -fomit-frame-pointer"

and I have no problems, though the machine I'm using is a headless box, that's just running some network services for me.

my /proc/cpuinfo

Joseph_sys · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:15 am Post subject:

CrazyIvanMN · n00b Joined: 20 Feb 2007 Posts: 45

IRQsRFun · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:20 pm Post subject:

I also have an Ester processor 1200MHz stepping 9 model 10, cpu family 6 (based on /proc/cpuinfo). I am using mostly KDE and I have played some DVDs. I have been using this machine for at least six months and I have had no stability problems, including many times when I leave the machine on for several days. However, it is easy to overload the machine. I also used the CFLAGS in http://gentoo-wiki.com/Safe_Cflags#VIA_Processor. My CFLAGS are:

Joseph_sys · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject:

IRQsRFun · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:32 pm Post subject:

Than you for the update, Joseph_sys

I have checked my kernel configuration and CPU Frequency Scaling (cpufreq-scaling) was not enabled.

Joseph_sys · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

IRQsRFun · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject:

Joseph_sys,

1) The possiblity of bad CFLAGS has not been removed yet, so If you want to continue the rebuild, I woud try

emerge -e world --resume

I have never used --resume with these options, but is should work. This should save rebuilding the first 60 packages. If you emerge anything you will loose your place with --resume.

2) I have assumed that you have already reun memtest86 to check ram

3) If you have lmsensors installed, I might want to run

Joseph_sys · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject:

Just "emerge --resume" works OK

Yes, I run mem86 test it pass OK
I've check with lmsensors and CPU temp. is 29.00C max

I'm currently trying to upgrade BIOS but I'm struggling putting DOS on USB stick, the box has only USB as an external connection.
https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-706899.html
and BIOS upgrade must be done from DOS; or is there Linux way of doing it?

When I enter BIOS menu it is not telling me what version is it, but running:
# dmidecode -s bios-version

gives me: "6.00 PG"

My mother board is: Jetway Versa J7F4K1G2E
so according to Jetway web-page: http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/VIA3.html
the new baios version for model: J7F4 Series is:
BIOS Version A10.1
Release Date 2008-6-13

Worth to try it, but I need to run DOS from USB stick.

Joseph_sys · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject:

SOLVED

It seems to me the problem was caused by the use of flags suggested on Gentoo-wiki:
http://gentoo-wiki.com/Safe_Cflags#VIA_Processors
I used:
CFLAGS="-march=c3-2 -mtune=c3-2 -pipe -mfpmath=sse,387 -msse2 -mmmx -msse"

With these flags the system would randomly freeze and compiling was a problem.

After changing to next flags:
CFLAGS="-march=i686 -mmmx -msse -msse2 -msse3 -O2 -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer"
The problem with freezing went away, I was able to compile 350 packages without any interruption or errors, I re-compile as well "world" 460 packages without stopping.

So I'm 99% convinced that the problem was caused by us of flags.

I didn't noticed at the beginning, there is:
Eden
GCC 4.2.x

but I'm not sure if this note applies to first section or both and I'm using GCC 4.1.x

Joseph_sys · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject:

I posted too fast, the problem still exist - UNSOLVED.

I just run "emerge -uDNav world" four packages showed up for update and computer freeze twice.
On: db-4.5.20.. lm_sensors showed CPU temp stopped at 31C
the next freeze was on samba-3.0.28a CPU temp stopped at 29C

The box is fanless, it just has some small fan on the case.
The lm_sensors showing another temp. "AUX at 111C" but I don't know what is it?
So at this point I don't know what to look for, should I analyze temp for problems?

Few days ago I was able to compiled 460-packages on single run and now the box freezes twice on compiling just for packages :-(

Joseph_sys · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

Another note.
I've added FAN on the heat sink (this via processor is advertised and sold as fanless) but the box has a poor ventilation.
Anyhow, I've added a fan on the CPU and now I'm getting from "lm_sensors" some nonsense.

Ambient air temperature is 22C

CPU temp. is 12C
Sys. temp. is 24C
Aux. temp. is 106C

So CPU temp. is a nonsense number, it could be that heat was the problem all along; will post an update.

beandog · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject:

Couple of things -- which processor did you select in the kernel, C3 or C7? They are different, and having the wrong one will break things.

Plus, you need the get the model # down right and pick your CFLAGS for *that* one and do not change it. At this point, I'd say just start over from scratch.

Also, what kernel are you using?
_________________
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Joseph_sys · Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject:

Joseph_sys · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 4:26 am Post subject:

SOLVED.

I think I can add "SOLVED" flag to this topic. Initially I think I have used wrong flags but that wasn't the only problem.
The system has been without any problems for a over a month when I added CPU Fan.

This CPU + motherboard is advertised as Fan-less but I think there are no such things nowadays (on moderns CPU's). They run much more stable with CPU Fans.

minor_prophets · Apprentice Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 281

A little late to the party, but which case are you using? I've got a J7F2 Jetway(newegg) case. Also, which fans? I'd like to swap the fans with something quieter. I bought SILEX fans but they are too deep. Pity.

Joseph_sys,

Can we get an update on your experience now, after a couple of months?

Thanks,

MP

Joseph_sys · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:15 pm Post subject:

minor_prophets · Apprentice Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 281

Thanks for responding. I just had the box with no drives, etc. and had read your thread last month and wanted to see what the real deal was in terms of temps and "fanless" cpu when I first received it. CPU set for 1.2Ghz. CPU and system temps with the two fans running were ~23-25C, IIRC. No fans, the temp settled at ~57C. One fan, again IIRC, was at about 27-28C. There was little difference in the horrendous noise between having one or both fans running.

1 day with both fans. CPU and sys temps ~23-25C.
1 day with no fans. CPU and sys temps ~57C.
1 day with one fan. CPU and sys temps ~27C.

The BIOS has some killer features. I'm waiting on the CF-to-IDE reader and have a ComixWall image(OpenBSD w/ some very cool features) I'd like to install. There seems to be a bit of info for installing OpenBSD on CF and have certain right intensive directories in RAM, but I'm not exactly certain if it is practical on Gentoo nor have I found enough detailed info on the subject yet.

The idea, obviously, is a router/firewall with some extras, namely IDS, proxy, etc.

I have the J7F2WE1G2E
http://www.jetwaycomputer.com/spec/J7F2WE1G2E.pdf

Forgive my ignorance on asterisk, but am I to understand that you're running an internal PBX without VoIP and, therefore, have no need for internet connectivity? Is it connected to anything on the inside that is running NTP, SNTP, DAYTIME or similar?

Joseph_sys · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 1:21 am Post subject:

I'm running "lm_sensor" but I'm not sure as to their accuracy. My Mother Board has an extra wide heat sick, it almost cover 1/3 of the MB with 80GB HD.
So, this mother board is a Fan-less MB.
Right now I've taken top cover off and no Fans,
CPU temp. 32C
Sys. temp. 36C
But I'm not to sure as to the accuracy of these temperatures.

When I was running it with one internal fan the temp was below 20C; but most of these small fans are cheap and noisy so I prefer without fan.

Anyhow, sometimes it compiles half a day and is running smoothly but sometimes it idles and it freezes; it doesn't happen very often but even occasionally freeze makes it unsuitable as an Asterisk PBX.
The box is running only few internal phone in a Dental Clinic, voice messaging, make a backup etc (nothing CPU intensive). I have few external Linsys VoIP units that connects external phones to PBX; so for internal PBX I don't need any Internet.

Though, I've noticed that after last upgrade my click us running fairly accurate (I don't know what had happened). I've an external Linksys Router 54GL running "White Russian" so maybe I could install NTP server there.

The good news is that the box takes only about 18W of power.

minor_prophets · Apprentice Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 281

I know my wrt54g units running dd-wrt have an ntp client. Not what you're looking for.

But, interestingly enough. There are already pre-compiled ntpd binaries for dd-wrt. Check this thread.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=82340

Looks to me like there are also ntpd packages for white russian and kamikaze. Just might be your ticket. Lots of google results for both.

Is there the possibility of checking the system temperature through the BIOS(can you take down the system for a short while) for you? Or is it physically inaccessible.

minor_prophets · Apprentice Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 281

Joe,

Did you emerge a 4.2* gcc and compile with -march=native? Hear good things about that.

I won't be able to, because I'll be using a hardened-gcc profile. Those CFlags that you recompiled with look like the ones I'll be using tonight, hopefully.

richard.scott · Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:05 am Post subject:

Hi,

I had a VIA PD10000 1Ghz board that used to hang at random times and I found out that having anything to do with SMP active in the kernel caused problems. I also think I needed to add the "Generic x86 support" too! You could also (just for testing) revert to a more generic CPU setting i.e. i586 etc.

Also, the 1Ghz board would "emerge -e world" in less than 24hrs without distcc.... what do you have on your system that makes it take so long, I'd guess X or something?

Rich.

minor_prophets · Apprentice Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 281

Yeah, Joseph_sys has a rather full desktop environment.

I on the other hand am building a hardened install for router/firewall purposes. I had already disabled anything SMP and HPET as well. Have C7 in processor type and generic x86 support. We'll see how it goes. Just fixing portage barfs during an install with the slick portage rescue script.

minor_prophets · Apprentice Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 281

Joseph_sys,

I've had my Jetway running for over a week straight now with a reboot here and there, banging my head against what seems like a reiser4 issue on a hardened install(don't know for sure though). Gone through 4 emerge worlds and the system hasn't ticked above 29C temp and cpu at 24-26C. No freezes so far. Backed it down to reiser3.6 and putting her through the paces again.

I'm impressed by this little guy. Once I have lm_sensors up and running and appropriate system monitoring tools installed and configured, I'm going to unplug one, then the second fan and see if I can't get this thing to hicup.