Bug#354995: amd64-k8-smp kernel makes clock run fast
Package: kernel-image-2.6.8-11-amd64-k8-sm
Version: 2.6.8-16sarge1
System: Debian amd64 Sarge
Architecture: AMD Athalon 64 X2
Libc6: 2.3.5-13
I am experiencing an odd sort of system bug on a new install of sarge
(amd64). The system clock runs too fast and the keyboard speed
(typmmmmaaaatic rate) keeps fluctuating radically. Typing becomes nearly
impossible after a time. This seems to get worse if the machine is left
on over night to the point of the clock being lapped by a day as
compared to real time and the keyboard too fast to even type the
“kbdrate” command. All I can do is reboot witch temporarily cures the
keyboard problems. It was interesting to watch the little mail
notification tux on “gkrellm” roll with wildly varying rates even while
the system was lightly loaded (faster movement coincided with CPU usage
spikes).
These bugs seem to be directly related to the CPU / IO usage. I can make
the clock run roughly 2x the normal speed if I “cat /dev/urandom.
Rapidly moving the mouse can also induce a mild version of the effect.
Both actions result in sporadic intensification of the keyboard problem.
The effect appears to be unrelated to what applications are using the CPUs.
I can reset the system time and the keyboard speed, with “kbdrate” but
the effect is only temporary. I believe this to be a kernel because if I
switch kernels or no SMP 2.6.8-11 kernel this effect stops. As a
consequence of the buggy nature of this 2.6.8-11 kernel I installed
“linux-image-2.6.15-1-amd64-k8-smp” V 2.6.15-7 from testing and this
kernel appears more stable (has run for 24 hours with no observation of
this bug). However, I have not tested it for long enough to be sure.
Thanks,
James C. Baldwin
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James C. Baldwin, PhD
USDA-ARS-CCRU
501 N. Walnut St.
Madison, WI 53726
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