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10 Posts
0
614763
October 19th, 2006 14:00
Linux USB Problems on Dimension E521 AMD 64 X2
Hi,
Anyone else try running Linux (in my case Ubuntu 6.06) on the E521 with the AMD 64 X2 processor? I am having a problem when using xorg where my USB devices, more often my mouse, but my keyboard has had the problem as well stops working. It is almost like the interrupts start getting masked, but it isn't that. Because when the mouse stops working I am usually able to still use the keyboard.
It happens after a while, and usually in times of heavy use. I guess really instead of heavy I would say normal. But it has never happened that it will be working and then I let it lay idle for a while and then reach for it again and it be frozen.
This started happening under the amd64 version of Ubuntu but I have tried several different versions by now and the problem continues to happen.
As far as troubleshooting it has been a real pain. There is never a message in the kernel log or shown by running dmesg. Actually once or twice I have seen the irq status -71 received, but I am pretty sure that is not the cause, becuase it has only happened about twice out of maybe 40 occurances. And there is no message in the Xorg log either.
I have tried the default amd64-generic kernel the latest amd64-generic, the latest amd64-k8 kernel (I think 2.6.15-27.48) I have tried running the i386 uniprocessor kernel and the latest k7-smp kernel. All of them have the same problem.
In an effort to get to the bottom of it I have re-compiled the kernel according to the directions here: http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Kernel_Compilation_Dapper and turned on debugfs and collected data, but there doesn't seem to be anything of interest. It seems I get hundreds of thousands of lines of -115 status (Which I believe is the controller just telling the device that yeah, I hear ya and I am going to do something EINPROGRESS) and then nothing. The mouse appears to continue to function at least the circuit which senses movement and turns the LED into bright mode. And under Windows I have had no problems at all.
The only solution that always works is to disconnect the USB cable and then reconnect it, which grabs a new device file /dev/input/event7 and probably does some other magic registers with the USB controller, and a bunch of other stuff and then the mouse starts working again.
The only other consistent problem I have noted is the IOAPIC stuff complains about a bug, and sometimes it won't boot and panics, other times it figures out a way to get by and does so. Because of this I have tried booting with noapic and other than changing the way /proc/interrupts looks there seems to be no change in the problem. Eventually under usage the mouse stops responding entirely. Even looking at cat /dev/input/mice there is nothing getting there.
I have upgraded the BIOS to 1.0.3 that had no effect. And also turned off the Cool and Quiet support in the bios.
Any thoughts, recommendations of how to proceed, or any other suggestions are appreciated.
Thank you,
Kevin
Anyone else try running Linux (in my case Ubuntu 6.06) on the E521 with the AMD 64 X2 processor? I am having a problem when using xorg where my USB devices, more often my mouse, but my keyboard has had the problem as well stops working. It is almost like the interrupts start getting masked, but it isn't that. Because when the mouse stops working I am usually able to still use the keyboard.
It happens after a while, and usually in times of heavy use. I guess really instead of heavy I would say normal. But it has never happened that it will be working and then I let it lay idle for a while and then reach for it again and it be frozen.
This started happening under the amd64 version of Ubuntu but I have tried several different versions by now and the problem continues to happen.
As far as troubleshooting it has been a real pain. There is never a message in the kernel log or shown by running dmesg. Actually once or twice I have seen the irq status -71 received, but I am pretty sure that is not the cause, becuase it has only happened about twice out of maybe 40 occurances. And there is no message in the Xorg log either.
I have tried the default amd64-generic kernel the latest amd64-generic, the latest amd64-k8 kernel (I think 2.6.15-27.48) I have tried running the i386 uniprocessor kernel and the latest k7-smp kernel. All of them have the same problem.
In an effort to get to the bottom of it I have re-compiled the kernel according to the directions here: http://doc.gwos.org/index.php/Kernel_Compilation_Dapper and turned on debugfs and collected data, but there doesn't seem to be anything of interest. It seems I get hundreds of thousands of lines of -115 status (Which I believe is the controller just telling the device that yeah, I hear ya and I am going to do something EINPROGRESS) and then nothing. The mouse appears to continue to function at least the circuit which senses movement and turns the LED into bright mode. And under Windows I have had no problems at all.
The only solution that always works is to disconnect the USB cable and then reconnect it, which grabs a new device file /dev/input/event7 and probably does some other magic registers with the USB controller, and a bunch of other stuff and then the mouse starts working again.
The only other consistent problem I have noted is the IOAPIC stuff complains about a bug, and sometimes it won't boot and panics, other times it figures out a way to get by and does so. Because of this I have tried booting with noapic and other than changing the way /proc/interrupts looks there seems to be no change in the problem. Eventually under usage the mouse stops responding entirely. Even looking at cat /dev/input/mice there is nothing getting there.
I have upgraded the BIOS to 1.0.3 that had no effect. And also turned off the Cool and Quiet support in the bios.
Any thoughts, recommendations of how to proceed, or any other suggestions are appreciated.
Thank you,
Kevin
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dmoroian
7 Posts
0
November 29th, 2006 14:00
I bought an e521 too, and had some hard time with it.
I tried several linux distributions and finally I succeded with suse 10.1
The problem with the freezing usb mouse and keyboard was solved according to the solution shown on this thread: use a self powered usb hub, like the one that comes on the screen (and I was wondering what was the purpose for that ).
The next problem was the sound. This was solved installing the last alsa distribution.
It also seems that it is mandatory to use "irqpoll" as kernel (2.6.16 - standard Suse 10.1) command line parameter.
I have compiled the last kernel 2.6.18(.3) and I can activate acpi with "acpi=noirq" and "irqpoll" is no longer needed. Though I get a warning regarding the acpi modules. Later on I cannot load them, but at least I can issue "halt" and the computer shuts off.
To be able to use the card reader that I have on the front panel of the case, I had to enable "multiple LUN" in the scsi drivers in the kernel configuration.
Dragos
jrminter
10 Posts
0
November 30th, 2006 19:00
I used to like and respect Dell; They have come down a great deal in my view with this system. I wish I had NEVER bought it.
Donnyr7
5 Posts
0
November 30th, 2006 21:00
drgrep
1 Message
0
November 30th, 2006 21:00
It's clear that nothing has changed with Dell. They are in the quality death spiral. This is just like their PowerEdge 2650 two years ago which they pitched as Linux certified, whose Adaptec RAID card caused the server to mysteriously lock up for thousands of customers. Despite not being able to determine the cause the problem (firmware, driver, or otherwise), they continued to sell this overpriced boat anchor, claiming all the while it worked fine with Linux. The E521 is the same old story.
I guess I will return to building my own machines. At least then I know my components work and are free of poorly supported chipsets and buggy bios.
As I think many Linux/BSD users on this and other forums are finding out, when you buy cheap Dell computers, you get what you pay for.
Message Edited by drgrep on 12-01-200605:00 PM
noisefan
7 Posts
0
December 1st, 2006 10:00
I will plugin a PCI-USB card and will see whats the result.
For now I pluged my mouse and keyboard in front usb and when the mouse or keyboard hangs, I un- and replug it. It works for some time, but its no solution!
If thats the normal business from Dell, I will never buy nor make a recommendation to friends. No, will make sure, that no one, who I know, ever buys from Dell!
Thank a lot for this thread.
My_spece
5 Posts
0
December 1st, 2006 15:00
Donnyr7
5 Posts
0
December 1st, 2006 16:00
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R132919&SystemID=DIM_P4_C521&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=9843&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=1&formatcnt=1&libid=27&fileid=176721
lunarbof
1 Message
0
December 1st, 2006 17:00
Guess what, I have the same, very annoying, problem that you're having.
Every once in a while, my usb mouse just freezes and the only thing to do to revive it is to reboot the computer.
However, once the mouse have frozen, the computer will get stuck in the rebooting process and I must perform a hard shutdown.
So the answer to your question is: the same problem occurs with Windows 2000.
I'll contact Dell support to see what they propose... I hope they won't tell me to install Windows XP !
Roulian
1 Message
0
December 4th, 2006 09:00
The only way to have my keyboard and mouse working on Linux, is to use Knoppix 5.0 DVD (use Kernel 2.6.17-rc*git*), where it seems to work very well, but I don't try for a long time....
I'm thinking about buying a usb hub this evening...
Message Edited by Roulian on 12-04-200605:51 AM
kign
2 Posts
0
December 7th, 2006 20:00
Accordingly, I have a questions: what other options do I have if I want AMD64 desktop on which I can install Linux without much pain?
Thank you!
t35t0r
16 Posts
0
December 8th, 2006 10:00
Duli
31 Posts
0
December 8th, 2006 10:00
t35t0r
16 Posts
0
December 8th, 2006 15:00
The newer nvidia chipsets as you can see cause problems. I don't think we will know if it's the chipset's fault (nvidia) or a buggy bios (dell).
kign
2 Posts
0
December 8th, 2006 15:00
I know - I am using one right now (also from Dell) :-) My problem is that I want 64-bit Linux and as I understand kernel support for 64-bit intel isn't very robust just yet - so I was looking at AMD64.
So, what are the recommended chipsets for AMD64 that are known to work under Linux?
mwette
38 Posts
0
December 9th, 2006 00:00
My wife called me at work today. She wants to get our kids
two new desktops and suggested the same I have (C521). However,
my older one is now running Ubuntu and likes it. (She hasn't
booted WinXP in over two weeks.) I would like to set up my
other daughter on dual boot also. We are looking at HP boxes.
The fact that Dell no longer sells Windows CD-ROMS with their
boxes is not helping either.
Why my daughter likes Ubuntu over WinXP: GIMP does not crash.
IM does not crash. It runs faster... The artwork is better.