lots of errors in dmesg - 'Error attempting to write lower page'

[Chris Moore]

I recently installed ubuntu 11.10 but kept my encrypted /home from 11.04 and earlier. It's been working for a week or so, but an hour ago update manager had me install a bunch of updates, and now after rebooting I see messages in dmesg:

[ 114.674981] ecryptfs_decrypt_page: Error attempting to read lower page; rc = [-4]
[ 114.674986] ecryptfs_readpage: Error decrypting page; rc = [-4]
[ 244.493310] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 244.493319] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 244.493433] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 244.493438] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 244.493553] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 244.493557] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000002])
[ 244.493670] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 244.493674] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 274.492261] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 274.492266] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000001])
[ 279.492260] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 279.492265] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000002])
[ 284.492170] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 284.492175] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000003])
[ 652.494894] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.494996] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 652.495110] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.495203] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 652.495315] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.495407] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 652.495518] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.495610] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 652.495974] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.496124] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 652.500190] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.500287] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 652.511781] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.511842] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000001])
[ 652.511907] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.511961] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000001])
[ 652.512038] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.512099] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000007])
[ 652.512174] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 652.512228] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000001])
[ 878.364599] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 878.364608] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 878.367702] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 878.367708] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 878.367828] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 878.367832] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 878.367951] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 878.367957] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000279])
[ 878.368688] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 878.368693] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000021])
[ 908.380664] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 908.380673] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000001])
[ 908.383828] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 908.383835] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000283])
[ 908.384577] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 908.384583] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000022])
[ 913.396603] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 913.396612] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000002])
[ 913.399599] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 913.399604] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x00000000000002b9])
[ 913.400321] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 913.400326] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000023])
[ 918.412600] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 918.412609] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000003])
[ 918.415792] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 918.415798] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 918.416687] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 918.416694] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000024])
[ 923.424539] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 923.424548] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000004])
[ 923.427487] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 923.427492] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000001])
[ 923.428203] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 923.428208] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000025])
[ 928.436633] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 928.436643] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000005])
[ 928.439845] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 928.439852] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000002d])
[ 928.440488] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 928.440491] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000026])
[ 933.451742] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 933.451751] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000170])
[ 933.452616] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 933.452622] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000027])
[ 938.468444] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 938.468453] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000028])
[ 943.480440] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 943.480449] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000029])
[ 948.496511] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 948.496521] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000002a])
[ 953.512330] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 953.512340] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000002b])
[ 958.528486] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 958.528496] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000002c])
[ 963.544459] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 963.544468] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000002d])
[ 968.560436] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 968.560445] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000002e])
[ 973.576466] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 973.576475] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000002f])
[ 978.592433] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 978.592442] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000030])
[ 983.608034] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 983.608043] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000031])
[ 988.620215] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 988.620227] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000032])
[ 993.636438] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 993.636447] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000033])
[ 998.652395] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 998.652400] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000034])
[ 1003.664464] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1003.664473] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000035])
[ 1008.676468] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1008.676477] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000036])
[ 1013.692463] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1013.692472] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000037])
[ 1018.708434] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1018.708444] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000038])
[ 1023.724458] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1023.724469] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000039])
[ 1028.740469] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1028.740478] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000003a])
[ 1033.756446] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1033.756455] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000003b])
[ 1038.772413] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1038.772423] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000003c])
[ 1043.788413] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1043.788422] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000003d])
[ 1048.804434] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1048.804443] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000003e])
[ 1053.820432] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1053.820441] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000003f])
[ 1058.836119] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1058.836130] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000040])
[ 1063.848385] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1063.848391] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000041])
[ 1068.860406] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1068.860415] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000000])
[ 1073.872418] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1073.872427] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000001])
[ 1078.888440] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1078.888450] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000002])
[ 1083.904475] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1083.904484] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000003])
[ 1088.920450] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1088.920459] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000004])
[ 1093.936122] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1093.936133] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000005])
[ 1098.948376] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1098.948382] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000006])
[ 1103.960131] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1103.960140] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000007])
[ 1108.972441] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1108.972450] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000008])
[ 1113.988446] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1113.988455] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000009])
[ 1119.004389] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1119.004397] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000000a])
[ 1124.020404] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1124.020413] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000000b])
[ 1129.036438] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1129.036447] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000000c])
[ 1134.052436] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1134.052446] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000000d])
[ 1139.068019] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1139.068028] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000000e])
[ 1144.080400] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1144.080405] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x000000000000000f])
[ 1149.092377] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1149.092386] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000010])
[ 1154.108389] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1154.108398] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000011])
[ 1159.124428] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1159.124437] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000012])
[ 1164.140477] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1164.140486] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000013])
[ 1169.152469] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1169.152478] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000014])
[ 1174.168467] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1174.168476] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000015])
[ 1179.182498] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1179.182503] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000016])
[ 1184.192213] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1184.192223] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000017])
[ 1189.206591] ecryptfs_encrypt_page: Error attempting to write lower page; rc = [-5]
[ 1189.206596] ecryptfs_writepage: Error encrypting page (upper index [0x0000000000000018])

Is this anything to be concerned about?

$ dpkg -l | grep ecrypt
ii ecryptfs-utils 92-0ubuntu1 ecryptfs cryptographic filesystem (utilities)
ii libecryptfs0 92-0ubuntu1 ecryptfs cryptographic filesystem (library)

$ uname -a
Linux chris 3.0.0-12-generic-pae #20-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 7 16:37:17 UTC 2011 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

$ lsb_release -d
Description: Ubuntu 11.10

These are the packages that were updated:

$ grep '10-18 12.* installed ' /var/log/dpkg.log
2011-10-18 12:15:48 status installed gconf2 3.2.0-0ubuntu1
2011-10-18 12:15:51 status installed man-db 2.6.0.2-2
2011-10-18 12:15:51 status installed gnome-menus 3.2.0-0ubuntu2
2011-10-18 12:15:51 status installed bamfdaemon 0.2.104-0ubuntu1
2011-10-18 12:15:51 status installed desktop-file-utils 0.18-0ubuntu8
2011-10-18 12:15:52 status installed ureadahead 0.100.0-11
2011-10-18 12:15:52 status installed doc-base 0.10.2
2011-10-18 12:16:02 status installed hicolor-icon-theme 0.12-1ubuntu1
2011-10-18 12:16:04 status installed libglib2.0-0 2.30.0-0ubuntu4
2011-10-18 12:16:05 status installed compiz-core 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu5
2011-10-18 12:16:05 status installed compiz-plugins-main-default 1:0.9.6-0ubuntu4
2011-10-18 12:16:07 status installed libdecoration0 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu5
2011-10-18 12:16:08 status installed compiz-plugins-default 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu5
2011-10-18 12:16:09 status installed compiz-gnome 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu5
2011-10-18 12:16:09 status installed compiz 1:0.9.6+bzr20110929-0ubuntu5
2011-10-18 12:16:09 status installed libnm-util2 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu4
2011-10-18 12:16:10 status installed libnm-glib4 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu4
2011-10-18 12:16:10 status installed gir1.2-networkmanager-1.0 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu4
2011-10-18 12:16:10 status installed libunity6 4.0.6-0ubuntu3
2011-10-18 12:16:11 status installed gir1.2-unity-4.0 4.0.6-0ubuntu3
2011-10-18 12:16:11 status installed php5-common 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:14 status installed php5-cli 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:16 status installed libapache2-mod-php5 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:17 status installed php5-mysql 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:17 status installed php5-gmp 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:17 status installed php5-gd 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:18 status installed php5-curl 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:18 status installed libnm-glib-vpn1 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu4
2011-10-18 12:16:19 status installed network-manager 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu4
2011-10-18 12:16:19 status installed php-pear 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:19 status installed php5 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:20 status installed php5-dev 5.3.6-13ubuntu3.2
2011-10-18 12:16:44 status installed software-center 5.0.1.5
2011-10-18 12:16:44 status installed unity-lens-applications 0.4.12-0ubuntu2
2011-10-18 12:16:45 status installed update-notifier-common 0.117ubuntu3.1
2011-10-18 12:16:45 status installed update-notifier 0.117ubuntu3.1
2011-10-18 12:16:45 status installed libc-bin 2.13-20ubuntu5

[Chris Moore (dooglus)]

I rebooted, and haven't seen those messages since.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Mohammad Zeid (m7md-zeid)]

I have the very same problem
ubuntu server 11.10 with ubuntu-desktop installed on it

[AndreK (andre-k)]

this happends every hour or so , ending up stopping me from doing anything , (cannot unlock desktop or run an application ) works for another hour or two after reboot.

[Alexander I.Grafov (grafov)]

I've got this error when space end on my /home partition.

[FelipeAF (felipealexandref)]

i have the same in ubuntu 14.04. The system freezes many times.

[john doe (yourenigmaster)]

This just happened to me as well. However, my rc = [-30]. It appeared when suspending my laptop. Odd thing is that the screensaver still works. I am using Ubuntu 14.04 on a 4,1 macbook. It had problems earlier today when trying to wake it; I had to reboot it. I have both MacOSX and Ubuntu on separate partitions while using rEFIt to chose between them. The grub menu still pops up when choosing Linux.

[Paula Thomas (paula11thomas)]

I have also observed the same problem in 15.10 it appears to only occur when I am playing videos with vlc. Also the videos have to be stored on my encrypted hd, it never occurs whilst streaming from my kodi system. In addition it appears to be related to the amount of prior activity. I have never had the problem if I am playing the video immediately after logging back in after a fail or immediately after a system start up. Hope this helps.