On 26/03/2009, at 4:58 PM, Christoph Willing wrote: > > On 26/03/2009, at 3:34 AM, Andrew Ford wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> For a while now we've been seeing hard freezes (ie, trying to kill >> the X server does nothing) on one of our Linux machines when it >> tries to send video via an IVC-200 cap card. It tends to occur more >> frequently when the load is heavier - attempting to send 2 or more >> 720x480 mpeg4 or h.264 streams causes it to freeze within 5-10 >> minutes, 4 h.261 videos make it freeze in about half an hour, and 2 >> 261 videos makes it last about 2 days. dmesg and /var/log/messages >> don't give any clues. Other types of load don't seem to cause >> freezes, and I ran memtest86 overnight with no errors. Originally >> the machine was Ubuntu 8.04 64-bit, then 8.10 64-bit, then 8.10 32- >> bit, and the problem was seen in all 3. In all cases it was running >> the UQ-provided AG 3.2beta with the stock VideoProducer services. I >> know there was a bttv driver deadlock issue in kernels pre-2.6.24, >> but this is running kernel 2.6.27 so that shouldn't be the problem. >> >> Also when sending video on that machine occasionally the stream >> would start to flicker, flashing an old frame alternating with the >> current output of the camera. Has anyone seen either of these >> issues before? > > > Andrew, > > I just installed a 32bit Ubuntu 8.10 on the UQVislab node's video > capture machine. I've been running 2x mpeg4 streams and an h261 > stream for over two hours. I just powered the machine down to > confirm it is actually an IVC-200G card (it is). After the restart, > I've now configured it to run with 3x mpeg4 streams. These are full > PAL streams 704x576. Its been running for nearly 10 minutes now - > will leave it running overnight (in the APAG lobby, if you want to > check on them) and report back. Based on the previous successful 2 > hour test, I think this 3 large streams test will be OK too.
Andrew, We've now had this setup (32bit Ubuntu 8.10 with IVC-200G streaming 3x mpeg4 streams @ 704x576) running continuously for over three days now without any discernible problem. That result suggests a hardware issue with your capture card (or even the machine itself). chris > You could try reseating the card - maybe some dust or contact > oxidation is creating some bad effect? Do you have any similar > capture cards lying around you could temporarily replace the IVC > with? That may indicate whether you have a card fault or machine/OS > fault. > > > chris > > > Christoph Willing +61 7 3365 8316 > QCIF Access Grid Manager > University of Queensland > Christoph Willing +61 7 3365 8316 QCIF Access Grid Manager University of Queensland
