[g41] X consumes ever-increasing memory

[Tony Lewis]

Binary package hint: xserver-xorg-video-intel

Over a period of a few days, my desktop runs out of memory. "top" sorted by memory usage shows xorg as the biggest, and growing, consumer of memory is xorg.

Memory usage increases when we switch users, "sudo cat /proc/<pid>/status | grep VmPeak" grows by 50MB each switch-plus-switch-back.

Opening windows seems to increase usage too. The more complex the application (firefox vs gnome-terminal), the more memory consumed.

When no new windows are created, memory consumption seems stable.

This only seems to affect the first X session. Starting more applications on the second user doesn't seem to affect memory consumption.

As far as I can tell, this is independent of the use of desktop effects.

Logging off reclaims memory. Killing applications does not reclaim memory.

Lastly, I notice that using "sudo pmap -d `pgrep X`" shows more (and increasing) lines like:
    00007f034b77c000 4 rw-s- 0000000000000000 000:00009 drm mm object (deleted)

The increase in the number of these lines (thousands) correlates to an increase in memory usage. My guess is that this is the source of memory leaks

Drivers and software are all from the standard repos ('cept medibuntu). I did try the latest stable intel video driver from PPA, but it broke badly.

Description: Ubuntu 9.04
Release: 9.04

xserver-xorg-video-intel:
  Installed: 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.3
  Candidate: 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.3
  Version table:
 *** 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.3 0
        500 http://ubuntu.ubucache jaunty-updates/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9 0
        500 http://ubuntu.ubucache jaunty/main Packages

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
Package: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.6.3-0ubuntu9.3
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_AU.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersion: Linux version 2.6.28-14-generic (buildd@yellow) (gcc version 4.3.3 (Ubuntu 4.3.3-5ubuntu4) ) #47-Ubuntu SMP Sat Jul 25 01:19:55 UTC 2009
SourcePackage: xserver-xorg-video-intel
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-14-generic x86_64

[lspci]
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset DRAM Controller [8086:2e30] (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology Device [1458:5000]
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2e32] (rev 03)
     Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology Device [1458:d000]

[lcampagn (luke-campagnola)]

I've had this problem for several months with identical symptoms. I'm using KDE 4.3 (from backports) on a lenovo X60 tablet. Graphics hardware is "Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML".

I've found with 3GB ram, I need to kill the x server usually once or twice per day, depending on what I've been doing.

[lcampagn (luke-campagnola)]

FYI: possibly related to bug #376092. I'll try with EXA and see if problems persist..

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Well, next I'd like to forward this issue upstream, but first it must be retested on latest development version of Karmic to make sure the issue still happens there with the latest code. ISO images are available via http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/. If you can reproduce it in the LiveCD environment, you shouldn't need to modify your installed system. Also please attach a fresh Xorg.0.log and dmesg from this testing.

[Tony Lewis (tonylewis)]

I can confirm that this doesn't happen with Karmic Alpha 4 Live CD. The easiest test was to switch user back and forth a few times. In Jaunty, the number of lines that came from the "pmap" command always increased. In Karmic, the number ebbed and flowed. I didn't run it long enough to be exhaustive, but the bug is not the same (if it even exists) in Karmic

[Tony Lewis (tonylewis)]

This bug doesn't exist in Karmic. I am no longer running 9.04, so can't test any 9.04-related fixes to this.

[zartan (zartan)]

Hello,
Are-you sure that this bug is fixed on Karmic. Because I'm now on Karmic and 'top' shows that Xorg consumes 114Mo Res (386Mo Virt). Moreover some apps which use OpenGL like Cairo-Dock consumes anormally much memory only on my computer with an Intel Card (but less with the indirect mode and the consommation is 'normal' without the OpenGL backend

:00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)

[Paul Jones (pajones)]

I experience a bug with similar symptoms. I'm using an up to date version of Karmic.

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 07)
        Subsystem: Lenovo Device 2112
        Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 30
        Memory at f4400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
        Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
        I/O ports at 1800 [size=8]
        Capabilities: <access denied>
        Kernel driver in use: i915
        Kernel modules: i915

[Geir Ove Myhr (gomyhr)]

This bug report has been inactive for quite some time and in the meantime Ubuntu has moved along. I hope the reported problem has been resolved in the current version of Ubuntu. If it has not and there are people willing to follow up with information collecting and testing, it is best to file a new bug report with the latest Ubuntu development version (10.04 still works, but soon 10.10 is better), using the ubuntu-bug command if possible. Feel free to mention the bug number of this bug.

We are sorry that we are not always have the capacity to look at all reported bugs in a timely manner. Occasionally we have to purge old bug reports where no progress has been made, whether it is due to reporter not being able to respond or lack of manpower on the Ubuntu side, in order to keep our list of "active" bugs current. Sorry for the inconvenience this may cause.

Here are a few tips that will make it easier for triagers and developers to process your bug:
* Read https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Reporting
* Browse https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X and see if there is some relevant information for you problem
* Respond quickly to questions from triagers
* Try changing things to see if the behaviour changes, e.g.
  * A new mainline kernel from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/?C=M;O=D (more information at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/MainlineBuilds)
  * The xorg-edgers PPA: https://launchpad.net/~xorg-edgers/+archive/ppa
  * Various options in `/etc/X11/xorg.conf` (see `man intel`)
* Browse other bug reports to see if you find a similar one and provide the information that is being asked for there.