[MPlayer-users] mencoder often COMPLETLY locks up my machine

[Rick Warner]

Message: 10
Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 10:25:35 -0400
From: Diego Zuccato <diego at otello.alma.unibo.it>
To: mplayer-users at mplayerhq.hu
Subject: Re: [MPlayer-users] mencoder often COMPLETLY locks up my machine
Reply-To: mplayer-users at mplayerhq.hu


Hi.  I work for a linux cluster company.  We have to make sure we have VERY 
stable hardware.  Our tests typically include the following:
repetitive recompile of kernel (scripted)
repetitive dd if=/dev/HARDDRIVE of=/dev/null              --repeat for 
multiple drives- tests io and hard drive at same time
1 copy of cpuburn per cpu in system- be sure to use the correct one for your 
system- burnP6 in your case
These tests are all run at the same time on separate vt's in plain console 
mode.  We typically run setterm -blank to prevent the screen from blanking 
(allows you so see kernel panic if one occurs) and doing a top as well --make 
sure you turn the monitor off to avoid burn in!

If your system can handle running that overnight without crashing, you can 
start blaming mencoder then.




Arpi wrote:

> > 1) last bugreport I sent still awaits moderator approval

> it was probably too big - reread bugreports, it says gzip it if it's too
> large or better: upload to ftp and send the link only with problem descr.

It was 82K... just 2K too much :-(
Zipped is 15k. Uploading trashedvideomem.bugreport.gz . It's all there
(ah, you can delete "Aida_degli_Alberi.*" since the problem reported
have already been taken care of ...


> > 2) once locked, I have NO way of recovering the machine, except booting

> it is not mplayer/mencoder bug. it is hardware problem, we cannot help you.
> (sorry, i have no spare p4 to send to you :))

Well, it's just a P3 :-) Have you some handy ? :-)


> mplayer/mencoder can NOT hang your system. your drivers can. your cpu can
> overhelm. your chipset can be buggy etc. but they are not our fault.

I know. But I already tested for other possible causes...
Memory: used Ram Stress Test => all tests OK (including LEAK ones!)
CPU overheat: apart it doesen't overheat during encode (could feel it
with fingers), I tried to make it REALLY overheat (closing air accesses)
and it just slows down to 200MHz (HW imposed limit) or shuts down (at
95C).
Buggy chipset: I think that if the chipset is buggy I should experience
other random lockups, expecially during kernel recomp. or at least every
time I squeeze it to the limits (REALLY often, trust me :-) ).


I too was ready to blame HW, but all the tests done seem to exclude
it...


The only other tests I can think of are:
1) using mencoder in a telnet session, so at least I could save some
output...
2) try encoding on another machine, just to know if it's due to the
source file


Could you think about some other test that doesen't require an ICE (I
haven't a P3/700 ICE handy, at the moment :-( Have you ?)?


BYtE,
 Diego.