[mythtv-users] Question on 8GB of RAM. Was: 32 bit or 64bit???

Francis Hartojo fhartojo at gmail.com
Mon Jan 26 20:18:05 UTC 2009 

On Mon, Jan 19, 2009 at 3:02 AM, diane mittnik <dianemittnik at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Don't remember exactly where, maybe wikipedia, or other tech articles
> on the AMD cpus, but the TLB bug was supposedly eliminated in the cpus
> ending in 50, ie: 9550, 9750, 9850, 9950, 8450, 8650, 8750 (cpus
> currently listed on pricewatch).  Also, I recall reading at least one
> source other than Intel/AMD about the TLB bug with the source (don't
> recall who) stating that most or all TLB bugs can be eliminated
> through a BIOS update, along with a tech article also stating that the
> AMD TLB bug was eliminated in affected cpus with a either a BIOS
> update or through the workaround switch in the BIOS as the parent
> states.  Once either the BIOS update (if there is one that is
> different from the workaround) is installed/adjusted, there is no
> longer a TLB bug.
>
> Like to know further details on this, please update us here as well if possible
>
> Agreed, if it's a 8x50 or 8x50 cpu it's not TLB, or if the TLB
> workaround or BIOS update is used, not likely? or not? TLB?
>
> Please let us know if this issue is resolved with a definitive cause

Sorry for the late response.  Here are some details of the problem I
run into.  First the tech. specs.:

- ASUS M3A with the latest BIOS and the "TLB Fix" option enabled.
- Phenom 9600 BE Quad Core.
- 8GB RAM DDR2-6400 Crucial Ballistix.
- NVidia FX5200 256MB PCI graphics.
- Hauppauge PVR-500 tuner.
- Serial IR blaster, StreamZap remote.
- 500GB Seagate SATA/300 system disk (i.e., /boot and /) under ext3.
- 1TB Seagate SATA/300 MythTV recording partition (i.e.,
/var/lib/mythtv) under LVM2 and JFS.
- Mythbuntu 8.10 x64 with the latest updates (i.e., kernel 2.6.27-9
SMP) as a combined FE/BE box.
- Anything else you'd like to know?

This system ran solid as a 32-bit system with Mythbuntu 8.04 and 4GB
RAM---kernel saw only about 3.1GB---before I "upgraded" it.  After the
upgrade Live TV started to freeze after anywhere from a couple of
hours to a couple days.  More accurately, it'd freeze after about a
couple of hours of watching Live TV following a fresh boot or a few
days of up time.  When it freezes the system wouldn't respond to any
keystroke (e.g., Ctrl-Alt-Del, Alt-SysRq-<whatever>, etc.).  Some
times existing SSH connections would still be alive, but I wouldn't be
able to initiate a proper shutdown/reset because processes would hang.
 And the kernel trace would always be the same:

Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] BUG: soft lockup - CPU#3 stuck
for 61s! [mythfrontend.re:6710]
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] Modules linked in: lirc_serial
rfcomm bridge stp bnep sco l2cap bluetooth ppdev ipv6 video output pci_slot
sbs sbshc wmi container battery iptable_filter ip_tables x_tables jfs ac
parport_pc lp parport tuner_simple tuner_types tda9887 tda8290 tea5767
snd_hda_intel snd_pcm_oss snd_mixer_oss wm8775 cx25840 snd_pcm snd_seq_dummy
tuner snd_seq_oss ivtv compat_ioctl32 videodev snd_seq_midi v4l1_compat joydev
i2c_algo_bit snd_rawmidi cx2341x lirc_streamzap v4l2_common tveeprom psmouse
evdev snd_seq_midi_event lirc_dev serio_raw pcspkr i2c_piix4 nvidia(P) snd_seq
snd_timer snd_seq_device i2c_core shpchp snd pci_hotplug soundcore
snd_page_alloc button ext3 jbd mbcache sr_mod cdrom sd_mod crc_t10dif sg
ata_generic pata_acpi usbhid hid pata_atiixp ahci ehci_hcd atl1 libata mii
scsi_mod ohci_hcd dock usbcore dm_mirror dm_log dm_snapshot dm_mod thermal
processor fan fbcon tileblit font bitblit softcursor fuse
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] CPU 3:
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] Modules linked in: lirc_serial
rfcomm bridge stp bnep sco l2cap bluetooth ppdev ipv6 video output pci_slot
sbs sbshc wmi container battery iptable_filter ip_tables x_tables jfs ac
parport_pc lp parport tuner_simple tuner_types tda9887 tda8290 tea5767
snd_hda_intel snd_pcm_oss snd_mixer_oss wm8775 cx25840 snd_pcm snd_seq_dummy
tuner snd_seq_oss ivtv compat_ioctl32 videodev snd_seq_midi v4l1_compat joydev
i2c_algo_bit snd_rawmidi cx2341x lirc_streamzap v4l2_common tveeprom psmouse
evdev snd_seq_midi_event lirc_dev serio_raw pcspkr i2c_piix4 nvidia(P) snd_seq
snd_timer snd_seq_device i2c_core shpchp snd pci_hotplug soundcore
snd_page_alloc button ext3 jbd mbcache sr_mod cdrom sd_mod crc_t10dif sg
ata_generic pata_acpi usbhid hid pata_atiixp ahci ehci_hcd atl1 libata mii
scsi_mod ohci_hcd dock usbcore dm_mirror dm_log dm_snapshot dm_mod thermal
processor fan fbcon tileblit font bitblit softcursor fuse
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] Pid: 6710, comm: mythfrontend.re
Tainted: P          2.6.27-9-generic #1
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] RIP: 0010:[<ffffffff80225db6>]
[<ffffffff80225db6>] native_flush_tlb_others+0xb6/0xf0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] RSP: 0000:ffff8802231e1c38
EFLAGS: 00000202
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] RAX: 00000000000008f3 RBX:
ffff8802231e1c78 RCX: 800000009cc9a067
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] RDX: 0000000000000003 RSI:
00000000000008f3 RDI: 0000000000000246
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] RBP: 0000000000000000 R08:
0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000000
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] R10: 0000000000000000 R11:
0000000000000246 R12: ffff88022b2fe330
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] R13: 0000000000200200 R14:
0000000000100100 R15: ffffffff802475b0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] FS:  00000000425ed950(0063)
GS:ffff88023f06a080(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] CS:  0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0:
0000000080050033
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] CR2: 00007f852ead1038 CR3:
00000002230c3000 CR4: 00000000000006e0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1:
0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6:
00000000ffff0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502] Call Trace:
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff80225da5>] ?
native_flush_tlb_others+0xa5/0xf0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff80225e57>] ?
flush_tlb_page+0x67/0xa0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff80237037>] ?
ptep_set_access_flags+0x47/0x60
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff802c25fd>] ?
do_wp_page+0xad/0x640
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff802c32d0>] ?
handle_mm_fault+0x3b0/0x470
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff802f9269>] ?
set_fd_set+0x9/0x30
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff802fa265>] ?
core_sys_select+0x1e5/0x2a0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff805053cf>] ?
do_page_fault+0x34f/0x750
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff805028b8>] ?
_spin_unlock_bh+0x18/0x20
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff804b46bf>] ?
udp_ioctl+0x9f/0xb0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff804bd3ac>] ?
inet_ioctl+0x2c/0xd0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff80454ede>] ?
sock_ioctl+0x6e/0x280
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff802f8586>] ?
vfs_ioctl+0x36/0xb0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff802f8883>] ?
do_vfs_ioctl+0x283/0x2f0
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]  [<ffffffff80502a7a>] ?
error_exit+0x0/0x70
Jan  8 23:14:25 host kernel: [82212.117502]
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] BUG: soft lockup - CPU#1 stuck
for 61s! [mythfrontend.re:6686]
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] Modules linked in: lirc_serial
rfcomm bridge stp bnep sco l2cap bluetooth ppdev ipv6 video output pci_slot
sbs sbshc wmi container battery iptable_filter ip_tables x_tables jfs ac
parport_pc lp parport tuner_simple tuner_types tda9887 tda8290 tea5767
snd_hda_intel snd_pcm_oss snd_mixer_oss wm8775 cx25840 snd_pcm snd_seq_dummy
tuner snd_seq_oss ivtv compat_ioctl32 videodev snd_seq_midi v4l1_compat joydev
i2c_algo_bit snd_rawmidi cx2341x lirc_streamzap v4l2_common tveeprom psmouse
evdev snd_seq_midi_event lirc_dev serio_raw pcspkr i2c_piix4 nvidia(P) snd_seq
snd_timer snd_seq_device i2c_core shpchp snd pci_hotplug soundcore
snd_page_alloc button ext3 jbd mbcache sr_mod cdrom sd_mod crc_t10dif sg
ata_generic pata_acpi usbhid hid pata_atiixp ahci ehci_hcd atl1 libata mii
scsi_mod ohci_hcd dock usbcore dm_mirror dm_log dm_snapshot dm_mod thermal
processor fan fbcon tileblit font bitblit softcursor fuse
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] CPU 1:
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] Modules linked in: lirc_serial
rfcomm bridge stp bnep sco l2cap bluetooth ppdev ipv6 video output pci_slot
sbs sbshc wmi container battery iptable_filter ip_tables x_tables jfs ac
parport_pc lp parport tuner_simple tuner_types tda9887 tda8290 tea5767
snd_hda_intel snd_pcm_oss snd_mixer_oss wm8775 cx25840 snd_pcm snd_seq_dummy
tuner snd_seq_oss ivtv compat_ioctl32 videodev snd_seq_midi v4l1_compat joydev
i2c_algo_bit snd_rawmidi cx2341x lirc_streamzap v4l2_common tveeprom psmouse
evdev snd_seq_midi_event lirc_dev serio_raw pcspkr i2c_piix4 nvidia(P) snd_seq
snd_timer snd_seq_device i2c_core shpchp snd pci_hotplug soundcore
snd_page_alloc button ext3 jbd mbcache sr_mod cdrom sd_mod crc_t10dif sg
ata_generic pata_acpi usbhid hid pata_atiixp ahci ehci_hcd atl1 libata mii
scsi_mod ohci_hcd dock usbcore dm_mirror dm_log dm_snapshot dm_mod thermal
processor fan fbcon tileblit font bitblit softcursor fuse
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] Pid: 6686, comm: mythfrontend.re
Tainted: P          2.6.27-9-generic #1
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] RIP: 0010:[<ffffffff80225db2>]
[<ffffffff80225db2>] native_flush_tlb_others+0xb2/0xf0
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] RSP: 0000:ffff880223683c38
EFLAGS: 00000202
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] RAX: 00000000000008f1 RBX:
ffff880223683c78 RCX: 80000000b4ae8067
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] RDX: 0000000000000001 RSI:
00000000000008f1 RDI: 0000000000000246
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] RBP: ffff880223683bc8 R08:
0000000000000001 R09: 0000000000000000
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] R10: 0000000000000000 R11:
0000000000000206 R12: 0000000000000010
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] R13: ffffffff805026d8 R14:
ffffffffffffff10 R15: 0000000000000246
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] FS:  00007f853ee0d730(0000)
GS:ffff88023fc02980(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] CS:  0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0:
000000008005003b
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] CR2: 00007f852c150208 CR3:
00000002230c3000 CR4: 00000000000006e0
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] DR0: 0000000000000000 DR1:
0000000000000000 DR2: 0000000000000000
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] DR3: 0000000000000000 DR6:
00000000ffff0ff0 DR7: 0000000000000400
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502] Call Trace:
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff80225da5>] ?
native_flush_tlb_others+0xa5/0xf0
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff80225e57>] ?
flush_tlb_page+0x67/0xa0
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff8050263e>] ?
_spin_lock+0xe/0x20
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff80306a2e>] ?
mnt_drop_write+0x7e/0x1b0
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff80237037>] ?
ptep_set_access_flags+0x47/0x60
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff802c25fd>] ?
do_wp_page+0xad/0x640
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff802c32d0>] ?
handle_mm_fault+0x3b0/0x470
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff805053cf>] ?
do_page_fault+0x34f/0x750
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff80267050>] ?
autoremove_wake_function+0x0/0x40
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff8031fa56>] ?
inotify_inode_queue_event+0x16/0x100
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff802e938e>] ?
fsnotify_access+0x6e/0x80
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff802ea10a>] ?
vfs_read+0xda/0x130
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]  [<ffffffff80502a7a>] ?
error_exit+0x0/0x70
Jan  8 23:14:37 host kernel: [82225.004502]

It's always the mythfrontend process that gets stuck and it's always
when it's the middle of handling a page fault while doing some TLB
operation.  That's really the only reason why I ever think of I may be
hitting the AMD TLB bug (i.e., the mention of TLB in the trace).  Of
course, I could be completely wrong and this has nothing to do with
that bug.

In any case, a few days ago the system which had been running quite
stable with the BIOS TLB Fix option enabled again started to freeze
rather consistently with the same trace as above.  Currently, I
throttled down the number of CPUs once more down to 2 via "maxcpus=2"
and it's been running stable.  For now.  I left Live TV on for hours
over the weekend and it didn't freeze.

FWIW.  If you need more details, just ask and I'll provide what I can.

Thanks.
-- 
Francis
echo "sunegbwb at tznvy.pbz" | tr '[a-z]' '[n-za-m]'

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