BUG: unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at 000000000000043c; RIP: 0010:[<ffffffff8117cdaa>] [<ffffffff8117cdaa>] kmem_cache_alloc+0x5a/0x130

[Matthew Spraggs]

Raring ringtail (standard Ubuntu) hangs at boot time occassionally. My uname -a:

Linux matthew-PBL21 3.8.0-19-generic #29-Ubuntu SMP Wed Apr 17 18:16:28 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

My syslog is attached, with an example occuring at 22:43:26 on Apr 27.
---
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: matthew 2713 F.... pulseaudio
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=6cbadb1c-0df4-40f9-b96d-130d167ea1ab
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-05-29 (333 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
MachineType: Compal PBL21
MarkForUpload: True
NonfreeKernelModules: wl nvidia
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcFB:

ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-3.8.0-19-generic root=UUID=98a6580b-5403-44e9-9c6b-9cad6f1d03c4 ro quiet splash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-19.29-generic 3.8.8
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.8.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.8.0-19-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.106
Tags: raring
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-19-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-04-27 (0 days ago)
UserGroups: adm admin cdrom dialout lpadmin plugdev sambashare
dmi.bios.date: 08/26/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: INSYDE
dmi.bios.version: 2.40
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: PBL21
dmi.board.vendor: Compal
dmi.board.version: Base Board Version
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Chassis Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Compal
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnINSYDE:bvr2.40:bd08/26/2011:svnCompal:pnPBL21:pvr2.40:rvnCompal:rnPBL21:rvrBaseBoardVersion:cvnCompal:ct10:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: PBL21
dmi.product.version: 2.40
dmi.sys.vendor: Compal

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. From a terminal window please run:

apport-collect 1173772

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

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[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.9 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.9-raring/

[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

Looking at my syslog it looks like the bug didn't cause a full system halt, as there's another event written to the log about 25 seconds later.

I have noticed a couple of bugs at boot time, that don't prevent the system booting fully, but these only appear to occur when I restart the machine (which doesn't seem to work properly either, I have to hold the power button down to force it to turn off after the shutdown process has stopped).

[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

PS I will test the upstream kernel when I get a chance. It's possible this is a problem with my set up somewhere.

[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

Ok so I tested kernel 3.9 RC8. Many of the ACPI problems I was having have been ironed out (restarts and boots are seamless, and it goes into sleep mode no problem). I get a black screen on resume from wake though, which is probably a separate bug. But yeah the random segfaults on boot and shutdown/restart no longer occur.

As an aside, with this kernel Unity doesn't load when I log in. I expect I didn't install the upstream kernel correctly or something (NVIDIA graphics driver) but that's really something for another bug report.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Matthew Spraggs, could you please test for this in Saucy via http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/ and comment to the results?

[Matthew Spraggs (matthew-spraggs)]

Sorry, I changed distro to Debian recently so I'm not able to do this. I'm pretty sure this got fixed by the upstream kernel though; it certainly did when I tested it. Also I'm fairly sure this is a duplicate of one of the dummy sound device bugs that have been doing the rounds, as I noticed that is linked to startup errors too.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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