fwupd taking 100% CPU

[Greg d'Eon]

After I boot into Ubuntu, top shows me a fwupd process taking 100% CPU. The log file /var/log/syslog has several highlighted messages like

Jun 13 18:11:23 opal gnome-session[1487]: (gnome-software:1660): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_add_updates_historical on fwupd: failed to start fwupd: Error calling StartServiceByName for org.freedesktop.fwupd: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.TimedOut: Failed to activate service 'org.freedesktop.fwupd': timed out

Jun 13 18:11:26 opal gnome-session[1487]: (gnome-software:1660): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Error opening file: Permission denied

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-78-generic 4.4.0-78.99
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-78.99-generic 4.4.62
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-78-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.6
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: greg 1620 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: greg 1620 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Fri Jun 16 19:00:37 2017
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=c05e0556-350a-4c17-8558-c475f250ccbf
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-04-28 (414 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
MachineType: TOSHIBA Satellite S50-B
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-78-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=9200f944-2d22-4f9b-8c44-e1498370470d ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-78-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-78-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.157.11
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 05/05/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: INSYDE Corp.
dmi.bios.version: 1.40
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Type2 - Board Product Name1
dmi.board.vendor: Type2 - Board Vendor Name1
dmi.board.version: Type2 - Board Version
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: OEM Chassis ManuFacturer
dmi.chassis.version: OEM Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnINSYDECorp.:bvr1.40:bd05/05/2014:svnTOSHIBA:pnSatelliteS50-B:pvrPSPQ6C-020001:rvnType2-BoardVendorName1:rnType2-BoardProductName1:rvrType2-BoardVersion:cvnOEMChassisManuFacturer:ct10:cvrOEMChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: Satellite S50-B
dmi.product.version: PSPQ6C-020001
dmi.sys.vendor: TOSHIBA

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Did this issue start happening after an update/upgrade? Was there a prior kernel version where you were not having this particular problem?

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v4.12 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'.

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/v4.12-rc5

[Greg d'Eon (gregdeon)]

I don't remember any big changes that caused this.

I tried using the 4.12-rc5 kernel - the bug still occurs with the same log messages.

[Greg d'Eon (gregdeon)]

It looks like I fixed it. I tried a couple of things yesterday, but I didn't think any of them solved this problem... so I'm not sure what exactly I did to fix this.

I _think_ the solution was
sudo apt-get autoremove gnome-software
sudo apt-get install gnome-software
as in this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/appstream-glib/+bug/1591868/comments/40

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

Closing as reported fixed by user. If you can reproduce it again please re-open.