Clevo N850EL crashes / freezes under Ubuntu 18.04.1

[Joao Luis]

The details of what I've attempted so far are in

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1068161/clevo-n850el-crashes-freezes-ubuntu-18-04-1-frequently

Any workaround help greatly appreciated. (I do not need NVIDIA graphics, but I do need VirtualBox).

Regards,

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: linux-image-4.15.0-33-generic 4.15.0-33.36
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-33.36-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-33-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jpsl 1955 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Aug 27 14:56:57 2018
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-08-22 (4 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Release amd64 (20180725)
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 5986:2110 Acer, Inc
 Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0461:4de3 Primax Electronics, Ltd
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 8087:0025 Intel Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: Notebook N8xxEL
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.15.0-33-generic root=UUID=60daf8a6-ead0-4dc1-9b51-e7fa0fd7304c ro text crashkernel=384M-:4096M
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.15.0-33-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.15.0-33-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.173.1
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 04/27/2018
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 7.004
dmi.board.asset.tag: Tag 12345
dmi.board.name: N8xxEL
dmi.board.vendor: Notebook
dmi.board.version: Not Applicable
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr7.004:bd04/27/2018:svnNotebook:pnN8xxEL:pvrNotApplicable:rvnNotebook:rnN8xxEL:rvrNotApplicable:cvnNoEnclosure:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.family: Not Applicable
dmi.product.name: N8xxEL
dmi.product.version: Not Applicable
dmi.sys.vendor: Notebook

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

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 v4.18 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/v4.18.3

[Joao Luis (jpluis)]

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

No upgrade. This is a fresh install, on a brand new laptop computer.

> Please test the latest v4.18 kernel[0].

I've tested the mainline kernel build v4.18.5, 2 days ago, which showed the same problem.

Tomorrow, I will test another proposed work-around of adding kernel parameter intel_idle.max_cstate=1 for about 8 hours. (It is looking good today, but only 1 hour of uptime so far...)

Then I will test the v4.18.3 kernel (if ok, the test will take at least 8 hours - 1 full day of work), and I will give feedback here.

Thank you for feedback.

[Joao Luis (jpluis)]

Good evening!

I can give feedback right away from the last 2 notes.

The other workaround proposed (in askubuntu.com) of adding a kernel parameter intel_idle.max_cstate=1 seems to work well (max uptime tested is 6h 45min so far).

Regarding the indication to use 4.18.3-041803-generic, I downloaded and installed the packages (for my own record):

linux-headers-4.18.3-041803_4.18.3-041803.201808180530_all.deb
linux-headers-4.18.3-041803-generic_4.18.3-041803.201808180530_amd64.deb
linux-image-unsigned-4.18.3-041803-generic_4.18.3-041803.201808180530_amd64.deb
linux-modules-4.18.3-041803-generic_4.18.3-041803.201808180530_amd64.deb

The boot cmdline was:

root@jpsl-N8xxEL:~# cat /proc/cmdline
BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.18.3-041803-generic root=UUID=60daf8a6-ead0-4dc1-9b51-e7fa0fd7304c ro text
(
( Note that, it is without intel_idle.max_cstate=1 ) the kernel 4.18.3-041803-generic crashes / freezes frequently also. Already tested 3 times, so I added the tag kernel-bug-exists-upstream

(I should also mention that if I give the command "reboot" or "poweroff" using this kernel, it always freezes - but I don't know if this is related or not).

[Joao Luis (jpluis)]

Just for information, that trying out Ubuntu 18.10 kernel 4.18.0-10-generic booting from USB pen, the problem remains (and the intel_idle.max_cstate=1 workaround still works).