System really slow like if no DMA from Edgy

Bug #157286 reported by borninbronx
8
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
linux (Ubuntu)
Triaged
Medium
Unassigned
linux-source-2.6.17 (Ubuntu)
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

I've a Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100 Notebook...
it's old.. but not that old to give message like this while playing video:

[00000304] ffmpeg decoder error: more than 5 seconds of late video -> dropping frame (computer too slow ?)

or with mplayer

           ************************************************
           **** Your system is too SLOW to play this! ****
           ************************************************

Possible reasons, problems, workarounds:
[snip]

with dapper the system was really fast! I started having some problem then simply enabled DMA and all goes fast..
this WAS my /etc/hdparm.conf
command_line {
       hdparm -q -m16 -q -W0 -q -d1 /dev/hda
}

since edgy the new wrapper for using EIDE disk as SATA disk this is not useful anymore
my /dev/hda is become /dev/sda
I can't use hdparm with it since it's a SATA disk for the system

i don't know if this is the problem.. but when there is disk usage the system become bloody slow..
mouse stuck all stuck and then smooth again for some second.. that it stuck again

example: I write text but I see it all at once after a while...

if i take a window and drag it i can see all frozen but after a while i see the window on another place..
exactly the same that happen without DMA

now i can't stand it anymore... so i'm writing this hoping for help..

here some info on my system

# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82845 845 (Brookdale) Chipset Host Bridge (rev 04)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82845 845 (Brookdale) Chipset AGP Bridge (rev 04)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801CA/CAM USB (Hub #1) (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801CA/CAM USB (Hub #2) (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801CA/CAM USB (Hub #3) (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev 42)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801CAM ISA Bridge (LPC) (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801CAM IDE U100 (rev 02)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801CA/CAM AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.6 Modem: Intel Corporation 82801CA/CAM AC'97 Modem Controller (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 420 Go] (rev a3)
02:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82801CAM (ICH3) PRO/100 VE (LOM) Ethernet Controller (rev 42)
02:0b.0 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC100 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 32)
02:0b.1 CardBus bridge: Toshiba America Info Systems ToPIC100 PCI to Cardbus Bridge with ZV Support (rev 32)
02:0d.0 System peripheral: Toshiba America Info Systems SD TypA Controller (rev 03)
05:00.0 USB Controller: NEC Corporation USB (rev 41)
05:00.1 USB Controller: NEC Corporation USB (rev 41)
05:00.2 USB Controller: NEC Corporation USB 2.0 (rev 02)

# dmesg | grep -i dma
[ 0.000000] DMA 0 -> 4096
[ 0.000000] DMA zone: 32 pages used for memmap
[ 0.000000] DMA zone: 0 pages reserved
[ 0.000000] DMA zone: 4064 pages, LIFO batch:0
[73633.560316] ata1: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0x000101f0 ctl 0x000103f6 bmdma 0x0001cfa0 irq 14
[73633.560362] ata2: PATA max UDMA/100 cmd 0x00010170 ctl 0x00010376 bmdma 0x0001cfa8 irq 15
[ 5.272000] ata1.00: ATA-6: IC25N040ATMR04-0, MO2OAD4A, max UDMA/100
[ 5.280000] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
[ 5.616000] ata2.00: ATAPI, max UDMA/33
[ 5.796000] ata2.00: configured for UDMA/33
[ 31.280000] smsc_superio_flat(): fir: 0x130, sir: 0x3f8, dma: 03, irq: 3, mode: 0x02

# dmesg | grep -i sda
[ 5.848000] SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
[ 5.848000] sda: Write Protect is off
[ 5.848000] sda: Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 5.848000] SCSI device sda: write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[ 5.852000] SCSI device sda: 78140160 512-byte hdwr sectors (40008 MB)
[ 5.852000] sda: Write Protect is off
[ 5.852000] sda: Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 5.852000] SCSI device sda: write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[ 5.852000] sda: sda1 sda2 < sda5 sda6 >
[ 5.916000] sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi disk sda
[ 34.704000] EXT3 FS on sda5, internal journal

# fdisk -l /dev/sda

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40007761920 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4864 cylinders
Units = cilindri of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Dispositivo Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 2432 19535008+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 2433 4864 19535040 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 2434 4733 18474750 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 4734 4864 1052226 82 Linux swap / Solaris

# smartctl -a /dev/sda (it seems no support for smart)
smartctl version 5.36 [i686-pc-linux-gnu] Copyright (C) 2002-6 Bruce Allen
Home page is http://smartmontools.sourceforge.net/

Device: ATA IC25N040ATMR04-0 Version: MO2O
Serial number: MRG289KBJ56JNH
Device type: disk
Local Time is: Fri Oct 26 02:28:09 2007 CEST
Device does not support SMART

Error Counter logging not supported

[GLTSD (Global Logging Target Save Disable) set. Enable Save with '-S on']
Device does not support Self Test logging

# uname -a
Linux storm 2.6.20-16-generic #2 SMP Sun Sep 23 19:50:39 UTC 2007 i686 GNU/Linux

# lsmod
Module Size Used by
nls_iso8859_1 5120 2
nls_cp437 6784 2
binfmt_misc 12680 1
rfcomm 40856 0
l2cap 25856 5 rfcomm
bluetooth 55908 4 rfcomm,l2cap
nfs 240876 0
nfsd 218992 17
exportfs 6912 1 nfsd
lockd 64904 3 nfs,nfsd
sunrpc 161340 12 nfs,nfsd,lockd
ppdev 10116 0
speedstep_ich 6288 0
speedstep_lib 6148 1 speedstep_ich
cpufreq_userspace 5408 0
cpufreq_stats 7360 0
cpufreq_powersave 2688 0
cpufreq_ondemand 9228 1
freq_table 5792 3 speedstep_ich,cpufreq_stats,cpufreq_ondemand
cpufreq_conservative 8200 0
tc1100_wmi 8068 0
pcc_acpi 13184 0
dev_acpi 12292 0
sony_acpi 6284 0
video 16388 0
toshiba_acpi 11972 0
sbs 15652 0
i2c_ec 6016 1 sbs
dock 10268 0
button 8720 0
battery 10756 0
container 5248 0
ac 6020 0
asus_acpi 17308 0
backlight 7040 2 toshiba_acpi,asus_acpi
xpad 9988 0
usb_storage 72256 3
libusual 17936 1 usb_storage
af_packet 23816 0
vfat 14208 2
fat 53916 1 vfat
nls_utf8 3072 1
ntfs 107764 1
lp 12452 0
ehci_hcd 34188 0
snd_intel8x0 34332 1
snd_ac97_codec 98464 1 snd_intel8x0
ac97_bus 3200 1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss 44544 0
ohci_hcd 22532 0
snd_pcm 79876 3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_mixer_oss 17408 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy 4740 0
snd_seq_oss 32896 0
pcmcia 39212 0
snd_seq_midi 9600 0
snd_rawmidi 25472 1 snd_seq_midi
usblp 14848 0
irda 201276 0
parport_pc 36388 0
parport 36936 3 ppdev,lp,parport_pc
crc_ccitt 3072 1 irda
nvidia 4713780 22
serio_raw 7940 0
snd_seq_midi_event 8448 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 52592 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 23684 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 9100 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
pcspkr 4224 0
psmouse 38920 0
i2c_core 22656 2 i2c_ec,nvidia
snd 54020 12 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_pcm,snd_mixer_oss,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore 8672 1 snd
yenta_socket 27532 3
rsrc_nonstatic 14080 1 yenta_socket
snd_page_alloc 10888 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
pcmcia_core 40852 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
iTCO_wdt 11812 0
iTCO_vendor_support 4868 1 iTCO_wdt
intel_agp 26140 1
agpgart 35400 2 nvidia,intel_agp
shpchp 34324 0
pci_hotplug 32576 1 shpchp
ipv6 268960 8
evdev 11008 2
tsdev 8768 0
ext3 133128 2
jbd 59816 1 ext3
mbcache 9604 1 ext3
sg 36252 0
sr_mod 17060 0
cdrom 37664 1 sr_mod
sd_mod 23428 7
usbhid 26592 0
hid 27392 1 usbhid
ata_piix 15492 5
ata_generic 9092 0
libata 125720 2 ata_piix,ata_generic
scsi_mod 142348 5 usb_storage,sg,sr_mod,sd_mod,libata
e100 36232 0
mii 6528 1 e100
generic 5124 0 [permanent]
uhci_hcd 25360 0
usbcore 134280 9 xpad,usb_storage,libusual,ehci_hcd,ohci_hcd,usblp,usbhid,uhci_hcd
thermal 14856 0
processor 31048 1 thermal
fan 5636 0
dm_mod 59084 6
fbcon 42656 0
tileblit 3584 1 fbcon
font 9216 1 fbcon
bitblit 6912 1 fbcon
softcursor 3200 1 bitblit
vesafb 9220 0
capability 5896 0
commoncap 8192 1 capability

can't think of other things you could need.. please ask me...
hope you can help me... other distro works well.. but i would like to keep ubuntu if possible..

Revision history for this message
borninbronx (daniele-segato) wrote :

additional info

i've downloaded "stress"

# stress --cpu 1
...
system fast and responsive

# stress --io 1
...
system fast and responsive

# stress --vm 1
...
system fast and responsive

# stress --hdd 1
...
system bloody slow and unresponsive

proof is something related to disk usage....
as I though :)

Revision history for this message
unggnu (unggnu) wrote :

Could you please recheck it with Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon 7.10 Live CD or installation?

Revision history for this message
borninbronx (daniele-segato) wrote :

i can with a live cd (but i don't have it at the moment.. i will check as soon as possible)

in the meanwhile i post a work around i found for this wich disable the new ata support

since i found out the problem is with ata_piix module i blaklisted it

sudo echo blacklist ata_piix >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-local
sudo echo piix >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
sudo echo ide_generic >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
sudo echo ide_cd >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
sudo echo ide_disk >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
sudo update-initramfs -u

will comment again when i found a CD of 7.10

Revision history for this message
borninbronx (daniele-segato) wrote :

well.. i forgot...
with that workaround now my computer keep going well either if i use hard drive..
it start to slow down again if i fill my RAM and it start to swap a lot.. but that's not a bug :)

Revision history for this message
Sergio Zanchetta (primes2h) wrote :

The 18 month support period for Edgy Eft 6.10 has reached it's end of life. As a result, we are closing the linux-source-2.6.17 Edgy Eft kernel task.

Changed in linux-source-2.6.17:
status: Incomplete → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Sergio Zanchetta (primes2h) wrote :

Hardy Heron 8.04 was recently released. It would be helpful if you could test the new release and verify if this is still an issue - http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download . You should be able to test your bug using the LiveCD. Please let us know your results. Thanks.

Changed in linux:
status: New → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara) wrote :

The Ubuntu Kernel Team is planning to move to the 2.6.27 kernel for the upcoming Intrepid Ibex 8.10 release. As a result, the kernel team would appreciate it if you could please test this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. There are one of two ways you should be able to test:

1) If you are comfortable installing packages on your own, the linux-image-2.6.27-* package is currently available for you to install and test.

--or--

2) The upcoming Alpha5 for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 will contain this newer 2.6.27 Ubuntu kernel. Alpha5 is set to be released Thursday Sept 4. Please watch http://www.ubuntu.com/testing for Alpha5 to be announced. You should then be able to test via a LiveCD.

Please let us know immediately if this newer 2.6.27 kernel resolves the bug reported here or if the issue remains. More importantly, please open a new bug report for each new bug/regression introduced by the 2.6.27 kernel and tag the bug report with 'linux-2.6.27'. Also, please specifically note if the issue does or does not appear in the 2.6.26 kernel. Thanks again, we really appreicate your help and feedback.

Revision history for this message
n3ko (n3ko74) wrote :

I have the same problem with an old HP XE3 and intrepid kernel 2.6.27-9.
When updatedb runs, it freezes everything, openoffice starting time goes up to five or ten minutes.

output of ,,lspci -vv'':
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801CAM IDE U100 Controller (rev 01) (prog-if 8a [Master SecP PriP])
        Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 0021
        Control: I/O+ Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
        Status: Cap- 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B+ ParErr- DEVSEL=medium >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
        Latency: 0
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 5
        Region 0: I/O ports at 01f0 [size=8]
        Region 1: I/O ports at 03f4 [size=1]
        Region 2: I/O ports at 0170 [size=8]
        Region 3: I/O ports at 0374 [size=1]
        Region 4: I/O ports at 1860 [size=16]
        Region 5: Memory at e0100000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
        Kernel driver in use: ata_piix
        Kernel modules: ata_piix

I tried to blacklisting ata_piix, but cant find alternative driver:

sudo bash
echo blacklist ata_piix >> /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-local
echo pata_oldpiix >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
echo pata_mpiix >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
echo ide_generic >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
echo ide_cd >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
echo ide_disk >> /etc/initramfs-tools/modules
update-initramfs -u

please help :)
any ideas?

Revision history for this message
Leann Ogasawara (leannogasawara) wrote :

n3ko,

Are there are error messages in your log files that you could attach after you experience this issue? I'd suggest looking at dmesg output and also /var/log/syslog . Thanks.

Revision history for this message
n3ko (n3ko74) wrote :

Attached the output of dmesg.
Sometimes dmesg mention somting else, like ,limiting speed to UDMA/66'.
I didnt care if UDMA/100 or 66 is used, but it didnt use eighter. It realy slow, it seams there is no dma at all.
The same tasks (soffice writer, firefox) are noticable faster with ms xp (not very fast, because of lack of memory, there are only 256M), which on other low memory machine is slower then ubuntu.

Revision history for this message
n3ko (n3ko74) wrote :

with stress --hdd 1 the dmesg grows with this:
[ 2369.116568] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/100
[ 2369.116608] ata1: EH complete
[ 2369.515800] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 39070080 512-byte hardware sectors (20004 MB)
[ 2369.536382] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 2369.536404] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 2369.563311] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
[ 2578.557332] ata1.00: limiting speed to UDMA/66:PIO4
[ 2578.557354] ata1.00: exception Emask 0x0 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x0 action 0x6
[ 2578.557363] ata1.00: BMDMA stat 0x25
[ 2578.557377] ata1.00: cmd c8/00:68:67:06:10/00:00:00:00:00/e2 tag 0 dma 53248 in
[ 2578.557381] res 51/84:01:ce:06:10/00:00:00:00:00/e2 Emask 0x10 (ATA bus error)
[ 2578.557389] ata1.00: status: { DRDY ERR }
[ 2578.557394] ata1.00: error: { ICRC ABRT }
[ 2578.557441] ata1: soft resetting link
[ 2579.120584] ata1.00: configured for UDMA/66
[ 2579.120617] ata1: EH complete
[ 2579.506610] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] 39070080 512-byte hardware sectors (20004 MB)
[ 2579.506727] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 2579.506733] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 00 3a 00 00
[ 2579.516236] sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA

Changed in linux:
importance: Undecided → Medium
status: Incomplete → Triaged
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