I had an extended email exchange with Tom Blinn. There was really no resolution
but some interesting speculation. I'll give some of the contents below, but the
summary is that there is no obvious source of the "++lcb_alloc++" failed message
in the kernel, that there is suspicion that it might come from LSM, which I
don't use, is not licensed, but IS in my config(!), and MY suspiciion that it
might have something to do with latest Java 1.2.1, which I recently installed
and was being heavily used on Aug 5th and 6th (when the messages appeared).
I will continue to monitor. I could find no source for the message in any
binaries or libraries that I examined.
Message summary:
>From Dr Tom Blinn:
There is no manual that lists all the messages that MIGHT come out from the
kernel, because you can build a kernel that has software modules that were
not developed by us. Actually, that could even be coming out of a standard
Compaq kernel, but it's not present in the "/genvmunix" kernel that has most
stuff already built in.
>From myself:
I don't believe I have any unusual hardware. We have one hard disk, are using
the built-in ethernet, no external scsi, and a PowerStorm 4D60T.
I am running pretty recent Open3D software, although not the absolutely latest
release.
I do get this - could it be indicative?
tobler.hs.washington.edu> nm vmunix | grep lcb_alloc
volcb_alloc | 18446739675669435792 | T | 0000000000000008
>From Tom Blinn:
Well, it's like this: You SEEM to have a kernel that has LSM built into it.
I don't know why.
... More likely, it
is the case you've got LSM built into your kernel, in which case, the really
odd question would be "why is it being invoked if you don't think that you're
using it".
Unless something ELSE created that message.. And when you ran strings on the
/vmunix file, the ONLY thing that looked likely was that symbol. Actually,
you ran nm -- I ran strings.. Using 'nm' as you did on /genvmunix I do see
that symbol.
>From me:
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I do not use LSM, and am not licensed for it!
I don't even use advfs on this system!
Could I have had a breakin (I have a modicum of security setup on my systems,
but we do get probed VERY often)?
The only other response I've gotten was that it is what you said - it is not
from the system and must be from a layered product.
I did recently install the latest Java 1.2 distribution, and I do have a fellow
performing number crunching using this. Performance is not good compared to a
PC (and this on a 500 MHz Alpha!), but it does work! I'll investigate that.
The installation was well before yesterday, however.
m me:
FINALLY, the original message:
I am receiving many error messages in our log on a DPW 500au running 4.0d,
patchkit 3.
Unusual System Events
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aug 6 07:51:48 tobler vmunix: ++lcb_alloc++ failed
I do not know what activity this particular message corresponded with.
I do not know where in the manuals to find this.
Thanks for any advice,
Ed
Ed Bolson University of Washington Cardiac Imaging Lab (206)543-4535
bolson_at_u.washington.edu
http://staff.washington.edu/bolson
Box 356422, Room RR 616 Health Science Building, Seattle, WA, 98195-6422
Received on Mon Aug 09 1999 - 15:56:22 NZST