<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Weird- my ORIGINAL email never made it to the list.   Here it is---  a very very weird HIGH LOAD problem caused by hal---   resolved a day or so later with .fdi file(s) that exclude the virtual devices.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I think the email problem was my inclusion of “lshal” output, which was pretty big…    not included this time.    Message edited a little since I found what was happening-  but important to include this info for the archives.   –kcb<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The big question is:   Why is hal freaking out with the virtual devices??<o:p></o:p> <div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:double windowtext 2.25pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Hi all!  I’m new to the list, and seeking help (aren't we all?) <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Here’s a summary of my problem:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> OS: RedHat Enterprise Linux AS 4 (kernel 2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp)<o:p></o:p> HAL:  hal-0.4.2-4.EL4 (standard redhat distribution- their latest version)<o:p></o:p> System: SUN Sunfire X4200<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The issue is that HAL is causing load spikes.    Over time, (and on a completely IDLE system), the system load starts near zero, spikes up to a load of about 1 for several minutes (as in, between 10 and 20 minutes), then drops back down slowly to zero.   Lather, rinse, repeat, about 2 to 3 times an hour.   Not good.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> After spending DAYS on this and trying to figure what was making my load go up (yet, no “top” processes consuming actual cycles that I could see), I finally determined that HALDAEMON is most definitely the cause.   Here's a visual performance graph ---  <a href="http://cochran.hmgc.mcw.edu/hobbitgraph.png" title="http://cochran.hmgc.mcw.edu/hobbitgraph.png">http://cochran.hmgc.mcw.edu/hobbitgraph.png</a>    The load drop to zero near the end reflects shutting down haldaemon.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Further, I suspect it MIGHT be some kind of interaction between hal’s device probes, and possibly the Virtual devices that the X4200 serves up (i..e, virtual cdrom, virtual floppy) courtesy of the ILOM/console environment.    Either that, or confusion about the mptsas-served devices.   I have other (new) Sun boxes, configured exactly the same way (RedHat AS 4, etc..), but they do not exhibit this symptom—it’s *only* my X4200’s that do this.     [Editor—CONFIRMED – it was the virtual devices…]<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> While “disabling” haldaemon certainly makes the problem go away, that’s obviously not an acceptable solution to the problem--  but it does at least help verify what’s going on……..<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My *guess* is that I can probably solve this by disabling the device probing for whatever device(s) are causing me grief.    I’ve already tried disabling or tweaking tons of BIOS options (ACPI, etc)—to no avail.     [Editor—resolved temporarily with .fdi file that excludes the virtual floppy and cdrom]<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I’d really appreciate any insight on this (as would probably RedHat and/or Sun……)  -- help!  :-)<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> ---------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p> Kent C. Brodie - <a href="mailto:brodie@phys.mcw.edu">brodie@phys.mcw.edu</a><o:p></o:p> Department of Physiology<o:p></o:p> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Medical</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wisconsin</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p> (414) 456-8590<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </body> </html>