On Tue, 8 Jan 2002, Rodent of Unusual Size wrote: > Now that I'm using my T21 more and more, I'm leaving it on for longer > periods of time. Not as long as I'd like, though, since it seems to do > a hard hang sometimes.
I used to have a problem like that, when I was running a buggy X server. To work around it, I combined two things: The kernel's "Magic SysRq" feature, and a utility called "vga_reset". The "Magic SysRq" feature of the kernel is intended mainly for kernel hackers, but can be useful for mere mortals as well. Basically, the Linux kernel contains a very low-level routine which (if enabled) recognizes certain key combinations of the form [Alt]+[SysRq]+<letter>. If there is anything left of the console driver at all, the kernel should respond to these commands. One useful combination, for example, is [Alt]+[SysRq]+[U], which syncs all disks and re-mounts all filesystems re-only. That can come in handy right before the ole 120-reset. However, the particular ones I found applicable to X hangs were [Alt]+[SysRq]+[K] (kill all programs on the current virtual console (e.g., the X session)), followed by [Alt]+[SysRq]+[R] (reset the keyboard and put it in a sane state). This gave me back my keyboard, and let me do things like switch VCs with [Alt]+[Fn] combos. I could even log-in and run commands. However, since the normal X server "restore screen" cleanup routines never got called, I was blind -- random colored garbage on the screen instead of characters. That is where "vga_reset" came in. It was part of the SVGALib development toolkit, IIRC. It did what it said -- reset the VGA card (complete with BIOS copyright banner and everything). Ta-da, I had my console back. At that point, I could re-start X, and resume working. This is not expected to be a long-term solution, but more of a general aide in trouble-shooting. I hope it helps you, or someone. :) (As for why I was running a buggy X server: I was using some VGA card (I forget what exactly) that was not supported by XFree at the time. Through something approaching divine intervention, I found a working (I use the term loosely) X server on the web. It consisted of a bare XF86_SVGA binary hanging out in some directory, without so much as a README. But it worked. Sort of.) -- Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> | The opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not | | necessarily represent the views or policy of any other person, entity or | | organization. All information is provided without warranty of any kind. | ***************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the text 'unsubscribe gnhlug' in the message body. *****************************************************************
