Re: Linux-1.3.19

Todd Fries (tfries@umr.edu)
Sat, 19 Aug 1995 02:55:14 +0000 (GMT)

> > I'm getting cross-VT corruption, where the text on one VT appears on
> > another (which is never active, and it doesn't happen to that VT after I
> > switch back to it, for a while). This corruption can be from a couple
> > lines of obvious garbage (random characters of random colors) to text from
> > other VTs (even VTs that aren't currently scrolling, but just sitting
> > there with for example a login prompt) to entire screenfuls of output
> > from another VT with a kernel compile going on in it.
> >
> > This isn't a common occurrence, but it's certainly not rare, either. And
> > apparently totally random.

I have experienced this very same phenomenon. I am in X a lot, so I don't
notice it as much, but I have noticed it.

> I was getting this on some occasions with 1.2.3 and (more rarely)
> 1.3.10, and it usually meant impending doom :)

> BTW, I coudn't get 1.3.19 to boot once I compiled it. (Using lilo
> from a boot floppy and I _did_ have things set up right; I can
> still load my other kernels ok). I'm compiling 1.3.20 now

I have not been able to boot any kernel beyond 1.3.15. I was told it was
an init bug, so I downloaded and compiled init version 2.5. This, however,
resulted in the very same error: an EIP that 'pointed' to dead zero. I, also,
am compiling 1.3.20, in hopes this will help. I am certain, however, that you
will finish before me.

> 386/7dx33 8Mb ram, 1Mb trident 8900c, linux on /dev/hdb1 in 200
> Mb (less 16Mb swap), no ELF, ppp networking and SB Pro support,
> gcc 2.6.3.
>
> (Yeah I know, lame system, but I can't afford an upgrade at the
> moment :-( But linux still runs just great! :-)

I know the feeling:

386sx25 8Mb ram, 1Mb trident 8900cl, linux on /dev/hda2 (80mb), a5 (110mb),
and b5 (25mb), with swap on b1 (10mb). Total elf--kernel, libs, binaries.
SB-ASP-16: 0x330,0x220,irq10, Mitsumi-cdrom: 0x300,irq11, serial: irq 3,4,5.
gcc 2.7.0, init 2.5.

I will let the 'hardware experts' suggest a possible pattern, although I find
our systems somewhat similar. Any 'risky' tests I could perform would be
acceptable.

-- 
Todd Fries...tfries@umr.edu
http://www.cs.umr.edu/~tfries