X server crashes due to nvidia-driver segmentation faults

[David]

1)
Description: Ubuntu precise (development branch)
Release: 12.04
2)
LC_ALL=C apt-cache policy nvidia-common
nvidia-common:
  Installed: 1:0.2.39
  Candidate: 1:0.2.39
  Version table:
 *** 1:0.2.39 0
        500 http://de.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
3)
I expected standard behaviour like opening the program by clicking on its icon in the launcher bar

4)
Instead I got a system freeze

My X is freezing and often only a hard reboot helps unfreezing the system. The situation is so bad that from 3 boots 2 are reboots due to freezes. The system usually freezes when doing any 3d-related stuff, when using multimedia applications like flash, or when clicking on the unity-shell (or whatever the name of the programmbar on the left is). The system runs comparable stable (but also freezes often but also is able to unfreeze), when not using nvidia drivers. The same situation was present at ubuntu 11.10.

I have several suggestions grounded on facts but maybe this is a software bug:
a) The laptop has damaged (3d-related) hardware (but neither windows sisoft sandra, nor memtestX86, nor two ther vram and gpu utilities report any problems).
b) There are some bad drivers (Since I was doing cuda programming using the ppa: "http://ppa.launchpad.net/aaron-haviland/cuda-4.0/ubuntu oneiric" on oneiric)

Anyway, in case of a X freeze the x logfiles displays many of those lines:

[ 952.821] [mi] EQ overflowing. Additional events will be discarded until existing events are processed.
[ 952.821]
Backtrace:
[ 952.822] 0: /usr/bin/X (xorg_backtrace+0x26) [0x7fe6b40c32f6]
[ 952.822] 1: /usr/bin/X (mieqEnqueue+0x263) [0x7fe6b40a39d3]
[ 952.822] 2: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x625b4) [0x7fe6b3f9d5b4]
[ 952.822] 3: /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/evdev_drv.so (0x7fe6ab98a000+0x5d88) [0x7fe6ab98fd88]
[ 952.822] 4: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x8acc7) [0x7fe6b3fc5cc7]
[ 952.822] 5: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0xb0bba) [0x7fe6b3febbba]
[ 952.822] 6: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 (0x7fe6b3261000+0xfcb0) [0x7fe6b3270cb0]
[ 952.822] 7: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x8decd) [0x7fe6acf56ecd]
[ 952.822] 8: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x8fac5) [0x7fe6acf58ac5]
[ 952.822] 9: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xf9035) [0x7fe6acfc2035]
[ 952.822] 10: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xfd6f1) [0x7fe6acfc66f1]
[ 952.822] 11: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xe4701) [0x7fe6acfad701]
[ 952.822] 12: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xd6ce1) [0x7fe6acf9fce1]
[ 952.822] 13: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xcfea4) [0x7fe6acf98ea4]
[ 952.822] 14: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xd05f0) [0x7fe6acf995f0]
[ 952.822] 15: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x8eabb) [0x7fe6acf57abb]
[ 952.822] 16: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xf9293) [0x7fe6acfc2293]
[ 952.822] 17: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xc38e2) [0x7fe6acf8c8e2]
[ 952.822] 18: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x4df2ac) [0x7fe6ad3a82ac]
[ 952.822] 19: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x4ad39c) [0x7fe6ad37639c]
[ 952.822] 20: /usr/bin/X (BlockHandler+0x4a) [0x7fe6b3f8d4ca]
[ 952.822] 21: /usr/bin/X (WaitForSomething+0x11d) [0x7fe6b40c065d]
[ 952.822] 22: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x4e472) [0x7fe6b3f89472]
[ 952.822] 23: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x3d64a) [0x7fe6b3f7864a]
[ 952.822] 24: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (__libc_start_main+0xed) [0x7fe6b20f876d]
[ 952.822] 25: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x3d93d) [0x7fe6b3f7893d]
[ 952.822] [mi] These backtraces from mieqEnqueue may point to a culprit higher up the stack.
[ 952.822] [mi] mieq is *NOT* the cause. It is a victim.
[ 953.253] [mi] EQ overflow continuing. 100 events have been dropped.
[ 953.253]
Backtrace:
[ 953.253] 0: /usr/bin/X (xorg_backtrace+0x26) [0x7fe6b40c32f6]
[ 953.253] 1: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x625b4) [0x7fe6b3f9d5b4]
[ 953.253] 2: /usr/lib/xorg/modules/input/evdev_drv.so (0x7fe6ab98a000+0x5d88) [0x7fe6ab98fd88]
[ 953.253] 3: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x8acc7) [0x7fe6b3fc5cc7]
[ 953.254] 4: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0xb0bba) [0x7fe6b3febbba]
[ 953.254] 5: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 (0x7fe6b3261000+0xfcb0) [0x7fe6b3270cb0]
[ 953.254] 6: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x8decd) [0x7fe6acf56ecd]
[ 953.254] 7: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x8fac5) [0x7fe6acf58ac5]
[ 953.254] 8: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xf9035) [0x7fe6acfc2035]
[ 953.254] 9: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xfd6f1) [0x7fe6acfc66f1]
[ 953.254] 10: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xe4701) [0x7fe6acfad701]
[ 953.254] 11: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xd6ce1) [0x7fe6acf9fce1]
[ 953.254] 12: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xcfea4) [0x7fe6acf98ea4]
[ 953.254] 13: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xd05f0) [0x7fe6acf995f0]
[ 953.254] 14: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x8eabb) [0x7fe6acf57abb]
[ 953.254] 15: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xf9293) [0x7fe6acfc2293]
[ 953.254] 16: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0xc38e2) [0x7fe6acf8c8e2]
[ 953.254] 17: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x4df2ac) [0x7fe6ad3a82ac]
[ 953.254] 18: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fe6acec9000+0x4ad39c) [0x7fe6ad37639c]
[ 953.254] 19: /usr/bin/X (BlockHandler+0x4a) [0x7fe6b3f8d4ca]
[ 953.254] 20: /usr/bin/X (WaitForSomething+0x11d) [0x7fe6b40c065d]
[ 953.254] 21: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x4e472) [0x7fe6b3f89472]
[ 953.254] 22: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x3d64a) [0x7fe6b3f7864a]
[ 953.254] 23: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (__libc_start_main+0xed) [0x7fe6b20f876d]
[ 953.254] 24: /usr/bin/X (0x7fe6b3f3b000+0x3d93d) [0x7fe6b3f7893d]
[ 989.285] [mi] EQ overflow continuing. 200 events have been dropped.
[ 989.285]
Backtrace:
... and so on.

If you need any more information, please let me know.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: nvidia-common 1:0.2.39
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-17.27-generic 3.2.6
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-17-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 1.94-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun Mar 4 22:47:02 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=de:en
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: nvidia-common
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-03-03 (1 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Christoph Shipley (champro)]

Here's some more information.

Mine is very reproducible if I just watch some Adobe Flash videos in Firefox or Chrome. The crash will not happen at a regular time interval, but can be encouraged by changing tabs while watching a video.

Possibly unrelated, but even using the Nvidia setttings tool, I cannot get Precise to stay in Twinview. I'll save the xorg.conf and it will read it. LightDM will use Twinview, but then after logging in it boots me back to a single monitor. Probably a bug of Unity, not the drivers.

[ 17812.845]
Backtrace:
[ 17812.845] 0: /usr/bin/X (xorg_backtrace+0x26) [0x7fa0daa7e2d6]
[ 17812.845] 1: /usr/bin/X (0x7fa0da8f6000+0x18c17a) [0x7fa0daa8217a]
[ 17812.845] 2: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpthread.so.0 (0x7fa0d9c1c000+0xfcb0) [0x7fa0d9c2bcb0]
[ 17812.845] 3: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fa0d387a000+0x902a9) [0x7fa0d390a
2a9]
[ 17812.845] 4: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fa0d387a000+0xfd5e7) [0x7fa0d3977
5e7]
[ 17812.845] 5: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fa0d387a000+0x4e2570) [0x7fa0d3d5
c570]
[ 17812.845] 6: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fa0d387a000+0x4e0ff5) [0x7fa0d3d5aff5]
[ 17812.845] 7: /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so (0x7fa0d387a000+0x4e27ad) [0x7fa0d3d5c7ad]
[ 17812.845] 8: /usr/bin/X (0x7fa0da8f6000+0x11976c) [0x7fa0daa0f76c]
[ 17812.845] 9: /usr/bin/X (0x7fa0da8f6000+0xe8b1c) [0x7fa0da9deb1c]
[ 17812.845] 10: /usr/bin/X (0x7fa0da8f6000+0xe9b65) [0x7fa0da9dfb65]
[ 17812.845] 11: /usr/bin/X (0x7fa0da8f6000+0x4e761) [0x7fa0da944761]
[ 17812.845] 12: /usr/bin/X (0x7fa0da8f6000+0x3d68a) [0x7fa0da93368a]
[ 17812.845] 13: /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc.so.6 (__libc_start_main+0xed) [0x7fa0d8ab176d]
[ 17812.845] 14: /usr/bin/X (0x7fa0da8f6000+0x3d97d) [0x7fa0da93397d]
[ 17812.845] Segmentation fault at address (nil)
[ 17812.845]
Caught signal 11 (Segmentation fault). Server aborting

[Christoph Shipley (champro)]

I wanted to put some more information to show that this isn't the Nvidia 295.40 issue we are seeing with older cards.

/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: Quadro FX 3700/PCIe/SSE2
OpenGL version string: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 295.40

Not software rendered: yes
Not blacklisted: yes
GLX fbconfig: yes
GLX texture from pixmap: yes
GL npot or rect textures: yes
GL vertex program: yes
GL fragment program: yes
GL vertex buffer object: yes
GL framebuffer object: yes
GL version is 1.4+: yes

Unity 3D supported: yes

[Christoph Shipley (champro)]

So the issues do seem to be related to the card installed. I swapped out my Quadro FX 3700 for a GeForce GT120 and I don't have any crashes.

/usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: GeForce GT 120/PCIe/SSE2
OpenGL version string: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 295.40

[kenorb (kenorb)]

I think this one is the proper duplicate:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/966744