Random GUI freezes.

[GiP]

Hi,

once in a while I experience a GUI freeze, it just sits there and nothing changes it, the only thing to do is switch it off from the back or log in and restart enigma. I didn't post before because I wasn't able to reproduce the problem, it seems random, but yesterday it happened twice, so here I am...

It always happens when I give a command from the remote, most of the times when the Info bar is showing and I push another button (yesterday was "audio"). The other time yesterday (and it was a new one) was changing channel giving the number and pressing OK; it froze there with "11" in the middle of the screen. In all cases the video and audio keep working and the display on the STB shows that the remote signal is received but nothing happens.

I have to admit that sometimes I exceed in giving commands one after another but has anyone experienced anything similar?

I am using Vix 1.3 with the default skin and only extras are CCcam 2.1 and filebrowser.

Thanks,
GiP

 

[sonc]

I had a similar thing last night. I'd just changed channel and it locked up. Image and sound were ok, but no reponse using the remote (apart from the led on the STB display lighting when a button was pressed).

Its the first time its happened to me. I have almost the same setup, VIX1.3 and CCcam 2.2.1. (I was using Vix1.2 and CCcam2.1.4 until a few days ago).

 

[dfdream]

Either of you using crossepg ?

 

[sonc]

I'm just using Ryvix. Its set to download daily at around 04:45.

 

[GiP]

Either of you using crossepg ?

Yes, I am using CrossEPG with only Sky Italy on OpenTV selected, EPG on external USB and download every hour in the setup.

GiP

 

[dfdream]

Gip I stopped using crossepg a few days ago and it seems fine since.
I found that if I went to change channel nothing happened for 15-20 seconds and then the channel changed.
Try stopping crossepg for a day or 2.

 

[andyblac]

do you have a swap setup ?, you could try to see if it helps.i am coding a debug option into the next updates, that will create a log file even without a greenscreen to help find these problems

 

[sonc]

I've got a 64MB swap on USB stick. Just noticed it didn't get 'activated' when I rebooted. (It was set to autostart).

 

[GiP]

do you have a swap setup ?, you could try to see if it helps.i am coding a debug option into the next updates, that will create a log file even without a greenscreen to help find these problems

Yes, I have a 64Mb swap on the same external USB where the EPGs are.
I was thinking that in case like this it would be extremely useful an option to restart the GUI (with a memory dump or something) by, for example, pressing for 5 sec the button on the STB.

GiP

 

[andyblac]

Yes, I have a 64Mb swap on the same external USB where the EPGs are.
I was thinking that in case like this it would be extremely useful an option to restart the GUI (with a memory dump or something) by, for example, pressing for 5 sec the button on the STB.

GiP

how long did it take to create the swapfile on the USB Stick. if it was more than 15 secs, then it is really to slower stick, the delay could be the system accessing the swapfile, and because it slow it freezes

 

[GiP]

how long did it take to create the swapfile on the USB Stick. if it was more than 15 secs, then it is really to slower stick, the delay could be the system accessing the swapfile, and because it slow it freezes

It was quite fast, a few seconds, but I did it when I had 1.2 installed and just used the same file with 1.3.
The fact that the access is slow can totally freeze the GUI? Not just slow it down? I waited more than 10 minutes and it didn't budge.

GiP

 

[andyblac]

It was quite fast, a few seconds, but I did it when I had 1.2 installed and just used the same file with 1.3.
The fact that the access is slow can totally freeze the GUI? Not just slow it down? I waited more than 10 minutes and it didn't budge.

GiP

does your USB STick have a LED on it? next time it happens, check the LED for access ?, but as i have said i have coded a debug log option in the next update, that you could send me, we just need to do final testing tonight, we are on a feature freeze ATM so, if NO major bug are found then i will push the updates live tomorrow.

 

[underzone]

I have had a few of these... I was going to send in the crash log, but the crash log is 0 bytes. Happenned about 3 times in the last 2 weeks. The remote does nothing, and a power cycle is required. My image is totally standard, apart from auto standby is disabled.

 

[andyblac]

I have had a few of these... I was going to send in the crash log, but the crash log is 0 bytes. Happenned about 3 times in the last 2 weeks. The remote does nothing, and a power cycle is required. My image is totally standard, apart from auto standby is disabled.

in the coming updates there is a Debug log feature that logs EVERYTHING even without a crash, this will help us find out what going on, but my own tests with SWAP on USB sticks is not good, i would go as far to say i will not be doing it, it just to slow in moving the memory around. best stick with a small usb powered 2.5" HDD.

 

[dfdream]

Andy,
Is a usb HDD just for Swap file not Over The Top.
Also will the swap file work OK on a disk that would have to spin up all the time to be accessed or would the disk have to be kept spun up all the time.
What did you find an issue with the USB Swap File as its been the recommended way for swap files for ages ???

 

[andyblac]

Andy,
Is a usb HDD just for Swap file not Over The Top.
Also will the swap file work OK on a disk that would have to spin up all the time to be accessed or would the disk have to be kept spun up all the time.
What did you find an issue with the USB Swap File as its been the recommended way for swap files for ages ???

to get the speed of you usb stick open a telnet and type:

 hdparm -tT /dev/sda

this is what i get

root@vusolo:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
 Timing cached reads:   368 MB in  2.01 seconds = 183.00 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:   38 MB in  3.18 seconds =  11.94 MB/sec
root@vusolo:~#

and my hdd on the duo:

root@andys-bm750:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
 Timing cached reads:   864 MB in  2.01 seconds = 430.84 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  128 MB in  3.01 seconds =  42.57 MB/sec
root@andys-bm750:~#

 

[irishchris]

my usb reads :
root@bm750:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 948 MB in 2.01 seconds = 472.67 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 82 MB in 3.00seconds = 27.31 MB/sec


good or bad??

 

[andyblac]

my usb reads :
root@bm750:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
Timing cached reads: 948 MB in 2.01 seconds = 472.67 MB/sec
Timing buffered disk reads: 82 MB in 3.00seconds = 27.31 MB/sec


good or bad??

is that a USB HDD ?

i was recording something, here is my hdd with nothing recording

root@andys-bm750:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
 Timing cached reads:   936 MB in  2.00 seconds = 467.76 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  134 MB in  3.01 seconds =  44.51 MB/sec
root@andys-bm750:~#

 

[irishchris]

is that a USB HDD ?

i was recording something, here is my hdd with nothing recording

root@andys-bm750:~# hdparm -tT /dev/sda

/dev/sda:
 Timing cached reads:   936 MB in  2.00 seconds = 467.76 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads:  134 MB in  3.01 seconds =  44.51 MB/sec
root@andys-bm750:~#

no that was off a usb flash stick

 

[andyblac]

no that was off a usb flash stick

what make ?, that far faster than mine