Re: Current state of the Linux kernel on SPARC
On 8/29/25 03:45, Tony Rodriguez wrote:
Regarding my tests:
1) Running non-SMP mode with 6.16.3-1 kernel makes no difference (it
still panics in the same fashion using nosmp keyword via grub).
Confirmed it was truly running in non-smp mode as well with kernel
6.12.38/6.16.3-1 (which cat /proc/cpuinfo shows).
I see the word "panic" and then stop. Feels like a real problem in the
Linux kernel these days for the top of the line SPARC hardware.
2) Believe the ISO installer is using kernel 6.12.38 during the initial
bootup (which at least boots).
Note: After ISO installation, if toggled via grub to use 6.12.38 the
s7-2 boots practically every time, but there are still plenty of tainted
kernel messages during boot-up.
Which may or may not be patched. Furthermore those patches are not in
the mainline Linux kernel ... or are they ?
If not then why not and still have no idea if they work.
3) Sometimes 6.16.3-1 will boot successful ...
I hear you loud and clear on that.
Typically, only does so when previously booted using a 6.12.38 kernel
then rebooted using 6.16.3-1. For kernel 6.16.3-1, often have to select
rescue mode or use systemd.unit=multi-user.target via grub as well.
Right. You have a whole layer of unwanted complexity layered on top of
this kernel problem. Get away from SystemD entirely. Just use a trivial
OpenRC or sysvinit type of system. You really need Gentoo here. For any
trivial testing of a kernel issue it is a disaster to use SystemD.
*4) Also, not ruling out a possible systemd issue, noticed systemd-udevd
is launched shortly before 6.16.3-1 panic(s). Seems latest Debian 12 for
sparc64 is using systemd-258-rc3-1. There certainly may be systemd
related bugs as well.
Remove SystemD from the equation entirely.
5) Regarding the question: "Thought the current Solaris 11.4 CBE
doesn't work on the S7, does it?
I reset the S7-2 LDOM/Service Processor back to factory defaults
using ILOM CLI/web and an older Solaris 11.4 (11.4.42.113.1), without
using the latest Oracle Solaris CBE (11.4.81) version (since it doesn't
work on the S7-2). Hopefully, Oracle will resolve this S7-2 Solaris CBE
problem soon in a future update.
Do not hold your breath for anything to ever be released by Oracle that
will work on this hardware. There is no business process to justify the
expense.
8) Regarding "please test Michael's patch series on your Linux
distribution of choice, be it Gentoo or T2DE and report back!".
Understood, want to rule out systemd first and then will try to allocate
additional time to research this.
Remove that SystemD from the problem. Here we need to create a custom
Gentoo bootable ( or similar ) trivial ISO with the bare minimum of
kernel adjustments and modules. Anything else will just be noise on
top of a very limited signal.
--
--
Dennis Clarke
RISC-V/SPARC/PPC/ARM/CISC
UNIX and Linux spoken
Reply to: