Hangs of interactive sessions on multiprocessor system

From: Ralph Rodriguez <rrodrigu_at_ssc.wisc.edu>
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 10:18:45 -0500

Alpha OSF Managers,

My AS 2100A running DU 4.0, is experiencing hangs of interactive
processes of a few seconds to a several minutes. This began
after I upgraded my computer. I made the following changes:

        - Added Seagate hard disks
        - Added 0.5 GB RAM (now: 1.25 GB)
        - Added two more processors (for a total of three)
 
At first, I pulled the hard disks (which remain off). No change.

Then, checking patches, I found this:

        PROBLEM: (7MPBA0854, QAR 46525, QAR 38394) (Patch ID: OSF400-055)
        ********
        Multi-processor systems using the AdvFS file system, particularly
        systems also using AdvFS for the root and usr file systems, may
        experience intermittent freezing of interactive processes when the
        system has a moderate to heavy I/O load. The freezing of
        interactive processes may last from a few seconds to many minutes
        but will eventually return to normal.

        This problem may also occur on multiprocessor systems using the
        NFS client or graphics sub-systems.

The description of the problem is about as on target as possible (we
are using AdvFS, although not for / and /usr and this is an NFS client,
as well as server). I installed the complete patch kit dated 6/10/98,
which included this patch. The problem persists.

Any ideas? I have called DEC for support (we have a support contract),
but they have not been able to help me.

Ralph Rodriguez rrodrigu_at_ssc.wisc.edu
UNIX System Administrator (608) 263-5204
Social Science Computer Cooperative Office hrs: Wed 1-2pm
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Received on Mon Jul 20 1998 - 17:19:39 NZST

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