[Solved] System freezing - Mint 13 Cinnamon

[esteban1uy]

OMG... this is getting almost surreal...

As you can see from my last posts, I'm trying to learn how to perform a debug, and the infamous Cinnamon freeze seems ideal to me for such purpose because we found an easy way to trigger it.
The problem is that you have to install some debugging packages (those ended in "-dbg") to be able to locate certain things inside a source code. Most Ubuntu packages have their "-dbg" version so you can install them and have those debugging symbols, but both Cinnamon and Muffin have no "-dbg" package available.
The solution: rebuild Cinnamon and Muffin packages with DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt nostrip" as environment variable and then install those local recompiled packages (as explained here: http://jameswestby.net/tips/tips/compil ... debug.html).

Now the funny thing... once Muffin was recompiled and installed that way, THERE'S NO MORE FREEZE!!!

I couldn't believe it, so I re-installed the original (directly downloaded from Mint repos) binary Muffin packages and performed the "infallibly" freeze test, so I was completely sure nothing else was interferring. And yes, with the original binary packages the freeze happened as usual.
Then, recompiled Muffin from sources with just DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt", then installed and... no freeze at all!!!

I'm shocked. It can't be so easy.

So please, could somebody verify my findings?

Here the whole procedure (asuming you have an "untouched" Maya+Cinnamon 32bit installation, no patches and no ppa packages installed):

1- Do a "gksu gedit /etc/apt/sources.list" and modify that file to be able to get the source packages:

Code: Select all

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ precise partner
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ precise free non-free

#deb http://archive.removed/ubuntu precise-removed apps
#deb http://archive.removed/ubuntu precise-removed games

2- Run a "sudo apt-get update"

3- Then install the development tools:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot dpkg-dev devscripts

4- Now the dependencies to compile Muffin:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get build-dep muffin

5- Get Muffin source package

Code: Select all

apt-get source muffin

6- And recompile Muffin as explained:

Code: Select all

cd muffin-1.0.3
export DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt"
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -uc -us

7- Wait for the compilation to end, then install the new packages:

Code: Select all

cd ..
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

8- Restart and try to trigger the freeze the usual way. Any changes?



By the way, using the recompiled Muffin you will notice some minor glitches (Cinnamon's menu becomes kind of "lazy"), you can avoid them this way:
- Execute the following command at a terminal:

Code: Select all

gksu gedit /etc/environment

- Append this line to the end of that file:

Code: Select all

CLUTTER_PAINT=disable-clipped-redraws:disable-culling

-Save and restart.

[kmb42vt]

OMG... this is getting almost surreal...

As you can see from my last posts, I'm trying to learn how to perform a debug, and the infamous Cinnamon freeze seems ideal to me for such purpose because we found an easy way to trigger it.
The problem is that you have to install some debugging packages (those ended in "-dbg") to be able to locate certain things inside a source code. Most Ubuntu packages have their "-dbg" version so you can install them and have those debugging symbols, but both Cinnamon and Muffin have no "-dbg" package available.
The solution: rebuild Cinnamon and Muffin packages with DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt nostrip" as environment variable and then install those local recompiled packages (as explained here: http://jameswestby.net/tips/tips/compil ... debug.html).

Now the funny thing... once Muffin was recompiled and installed that way, THERE'S NO MORE FREEZE!!!

I couldn't believe it, so I re-installed the original (directly downloaded from Mint repos) binary Muffin packages and performed the "infallibly" freeze test, so I was completely sure nothing else was interferring. And yes, with the original binary packages the freeze happened as usual.
Then, recompiled Muffin from sources with just DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt", then installed and... no freeze at all!!!

I'm shocked. It can't be so easy.

So please, could somebody verify my findings?

Here the whole procedure (asuming you have an "untouched" Maya+Cinnamon 32bit installation, no patches and no ppa packages installed):

1- Do a "gksu gedit /etc/apt/sources.list" and modify that file to be able to get the source packages:

Code: Select all

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ precise partner
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ precise free non-free

#deb http://archive.removed/ubuntu precise-removed apps
#deb http://archive.removed/ubuntu precise-removed games

2- Run a "sudo apt-get update"

3- Then install the development tools:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot dpkg-dev devscripts

4- Now the dependencies to compile Muffin:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get build-dep muffin

5- Get Muffin source package

Code: Select all

apt-get source muffin

6- And recompile Muffin as explained:

Code: Select all

cd muffin-1.0.3
export DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt"
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -uc -us

7- Wait for the compilation to end, then install the new packages:

Code: Select all

cd ..
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

8- Restart and try to trigger the freeze the usual way. Any changes?



By the way, using the recompiled Muffin you will notice some minor glitches (Cinnamon's menu becomes kind of "lazy"), you can avoid them this way:
- Execute the following command at a terminal:

Code: Select all

gksu gedit /etc/environment

- Append this line to the end of that file:

Code: Select all

CLUTTER_PAINT=disable-clipped-redraws:disable-culling

-Save and restart.

I must say you learn fast (must be younger than me--old brains get dusty you know ). Okay, since I haven't had the time to work through your previous procedure I'll do my best to confirm your findings tomorrow although it may be the next day before I can post the results. My laptop is just the platform to do it on too since it exhibits that "classic" freeze problem. I have been using the "cinnamon-nightly" PPA but I can use "ppa-purge" to revert easily enough (with your little "fix" that you discovered). I'll confirm that the freeze has returned and go from there.

I'll post back as soon as I can.

Somebody else needs to get in on this whether they're experienced testers or not--3 confirmations are always best in a case or not.

[esteban1uy]

I have been using the "cinnamon-nightly" PPA but I can use "ppa-purge" to revert easily enough (with your little "fix" that you discovered)...

Hmmm... remember to replace "oneiric" with "maya" (not "precise") in this special case. The little "fix" works for purging those ppas that replace original Ubuntu packages, not Mint packages.

And thank you very much for your help with the test.

[clem]

Esteban,

Compile it with 02 and nostrip (to get the debugging symbols), and then run it with gdb to get some backtraces of where the crash happens.

[clem]

We're preparing two versions for people to test:

- A 1.4-UP3 (same version as currently present in Mint 13 Maya) compiled with no optimizations, to see if this solves the freezing issue for some.
- The latest dev. version of Cinnamon compiled with optimizations, to see if the code changes since 1.4 fix the causes of the freezing.

Stay tuned.

[clem]

Please find below Cinnamon 1.4 UP3 built with no optimizations and the very latest snapshot of Cinnamon:

1. Download the packages:

- Download the packages from here: http://linuxmint.com/tmp/cinnamon-maya- ... 718.tar.gz

2. Extract the archive:

- Right click and extract the archive.

3. Choose the version you want to test:

Choose your version between 1.4-UP3-noopt and git20120718:

- The 1.4 UP3 "noopt" version is the exact same as in Linux Mint 13 but built with no optimizations. If your computer freezes under Cinnamon we want to know if that fixes it.
- The 1.5 "git20120718" version is the latest Cinnamon development snapshot, it comes with a lot of features and changes which are not in Cinnamon 1.4. Its internal version is still 1.4 although the package is labeled as 1.5. It's a preview of Cinnamon 1.6 which should come out later this year.

4. Choose your architecture:

- Choose between i386 and am64 depending on the architecture of your system

5. Install the packages:

- Open up a terminal in the folder you selected and type "sudo dpkg -i *.deb" to install all the packages.

6. Give us some feedback:

- We're not interested in getting feedback for Cinnamon 1.5, its new features, changes, improvements etc..
- We're not interested in getting feedback about bugs in Cinnamon 1.5 either (unless they're related to the freezing issue discussed in this thread)
- If your desktop currently freezes when you insert a table in OO writer and move the mouse cursor at the top please do this test (there are other causes of freeze, some related to the drivers/kernel, others related to Java, others related to other DEs... here we want to hear from people who have a "Cinnamon freeze", i.e. who can freeze their Cinnamon via OO writer and whose display is frozen and whose mouse pointer is still active).
- If you're experiencing this problem with Cinnamon 1.4 UP3, please install muffin/cinnamon from the 1.4 UP3 noopt first and tell us if it fixes the issue for you. Then try the 1.5 git-20120718 versions and tell us if the problem is there as well or not.

Many thanks for your patience and for your help with this issue.

[clem]

Note that dpkg doesn't install dependencies... if you encounter APT/DPKG problems, follow the instructions written in the terminal. For instance you can usually grab dependencies with "apt install -f".

[clem]

Another note: Since 1.4 was the latest public release, "Cinnamon" is currently the only theme compatible with 1.6. There are many graphical changes which impact themes... tooltips, workspace OSD and new features won't look good with Cinnamon 1.5-git20120718 unless you select the theme "Cinnamon".

[clem]

According to our tests both versions seem to fix the freezing issue. We're not sure whether they fix it permanently though or whether they just make the conditions for the freeze less likely to happen. Let us know how things go for you and whether these versions fix the freezes on your system after using them for a long time.

[esteban1uy]

Esteban,

Compile it with 02 and nostrip (to get the debugging symbols), and then run it with gdb to get some backtraces of where the crash happens.

Aye Aye my Captain!

I recompiled both Muffin and Cinnamon original Maya source packages (from Maya repos) with "export DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS=nostrip" as environment variable and then installed them. In both cases optimization level was "-02" (the default level) as reported by "dpkg-buildflags --get CFLAGS". I also installed the "-dbg" packages for Clutter and Cogl.
This is the backtrace of the Cinnamon freeze:

Code: Select all

#0  0x00875416 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
#1  0x0409a9f0 in writev () from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libc.so.6
#2  0x027d3216 in ?? () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libxcb.so.1
#3  0x027d373c in ?? () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libxcb.so.1
#4  0x027d37f1 in xcb_writev () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libxcb.so.1
#5  0x03051040 in _XSend () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libX11.so.6
#6  0x0305164a in _XReply () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libX11.so.6
#7  0x0304cf0b in XSync () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libX11.so.6
#8  0x0014d07a in ?? () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgdk-3.so.0
#9  0x00150353 in ?? () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgdk-3.so.0
#10 0x001287e3 in ?? () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libgdk-3.so.0
#11 0x003862f4 in meta_error_trap_pop_with_return (display=0x8564060)
    at core/errors.c:65
#12 0x00376a12 in check_needs_pixmap (self=0x9322378)
    at compositor/meta-window-actor.c:1865
#13 meta_window_actor_pre_paint (self=0x9322378)
    at compositor/meta-window-actor.c:2325
#14 0x00376cda in meta_window_actor_get_paint_volume (actor=0x9322378, 
    volume=0x9322544) at compositor/meta-window-actor.c:698
#15 0x00941736 in _clutter_actor_get_paint_volume_real (pv=0x9322544, 
    self=0x9322378) at ./clutter-actor.c:15420
#16 _clutter_actor_get_paint_volume_mutable (self=0x9322378)
    at ./clutter-actor.c:15496
#17 0x00949da4 in _clutter_actor_finish_queue_redraw (self=0x9322378, clip=0x0)
    at ./clutter-actor.c:7203
#18 0x009ab19e in _clutter_stage_maybe_finish_queue_redraws (
    stage=<optimized out>) at ./clutter-stage.c:4102
#19 _clutter_stage_do_update (stage=0x84a5a48) at ./clutter-stage.c:1225
#20 0x0098eb81 in master_clock_update_stages (stages=0x86b3d18, 
    master_clock=0x84a2920) at ./clutter-master-clock.c:386
#21 clutter_clock_dispatch (source=0x84a6428, callback=0, user_data=0x0)
    at ./clutter-master-clock.c:519
#22 0x00ac8d86 in g_main_context_dispatch ()
   from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libglib-2.0.so.0
#23 0x00ac9125 in ?? () from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libglib-2.0.so.0
#24 0x00ac956b in g_main_loop_run () from /lib/i386-linux-gnu/libglib-2.0.so.0
#25 0x0038f630 in meta_run () at core/main.c:555
#26 0x08049f27 in main (argc=1, argv=0xbff39784) at main.c:571

By the way, I triple-checked the compilation of Muffin without optimizations (by exporting "DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS=noopt") and the results are always the same: no more freeze.

[kmb42vt]

OMG... this is getting almost surreal...

As you can see from my last posts, I'm trying to learn how to perform a debug, and the infamous Cinnamon freeze seems ideal to me for such purpose because we found an easy way to trigger it.
The problem is that you have to install some debugging packages (those ended in "-dbg") to be able to locate certain things inside a source code. Most Ubuntu packages have their "-dbg" version so you can install them and have those debugging symbols, but both Cinnamon and Muffin have no "-dbg" package available.
The solution: rebuild Cinnamon and Muffin packages with DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt nostrip" as environment variable and then install those local recompiled packages (as explained here: http://jameswestby.net/tips/tips/compil ... debug.html).

Now the funny thing... once Muffin was recompiled and installed that way, THERE'S NO MORE FREEZE!!!

I couldn't believe it, so I re-installed the original (directly downloaded from Mint repos) binary Muffin packages and performed the "infallibly" freeze test, so I was completely sure nothing else was interferring. And yes, with the original binary packages the freeze happened as usual.
Then, recompiled Muffin from sources with just DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt", then installed and... no freeze at all!!!

I'm shocked. It can't be so easy.

So please, could somebody verify my findings?

Here the whole procedure (asuming you have an "untouched" Maya+Cinnamon 32bit installation, no patches and no ppa packages installed):

1- Do a "gksu gedit /etc/apt/sources.list" and modify that file to be able to get the source packages:

Code: Select all

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ precise partner
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ precise free non-free

#deb http://archive.removed/ubuntu precise-removed apps
#deb http://archive.removed/ubuntu precise-removed games

2- Run a "sudo apt-get update"

3- Then install the development tools:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot dpkg-dev devscripts

4- Now the dependencies to compile Muffin:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get build-dep muffin

5- Get Muffin source package

Code: Select all

apt-get source muffin

6- And recompile Muffin as explained:

Code: Select all

cd muffin-1.0.3
export DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS="noopt"
dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -uc -us

7- Wait for the compilation to end, then install the new packages:

Code: Select all

cd ..
sudo dpkg -i *.deb

8- Restart and try to trigger the freeze the usual way. Any changes?



By the way, using the recompiled Muffin you will notice some minor glitches (Cinnamon's menu becomes kind of "lazy"), you can avoid them this way:
- Execute the following command at a terminal:

Code: Select all

gksu gedit /etc/environment

- Append this line to the end of that file:

Code: Select all

CLUTTER_PAINT=disable-clipped-redraws:disable-culling

-Save and restart.

Confirmed! Purged the "cinnamon-nightly" PPA then removed all cinnamon and muffin packages and reinstalled from the official repositories. Logged out and back in--freeze returned. Modified sources and recompiled and installed muffin as per your instructions and no more freeze!. Nice job, sir!

Am going to revert back once more, confirm freeze has returned and then try Clem's builds one at a time.

[Technischer]

Hi again,

I had the Writer/Table Problem with 100% success.
I testet the 1.4 UP3 "noopt" version and it worked really fine and till now it was not possible to get the system freezing. So thanks a lot

Is there a need to turn things back if there is a official update avaliable or is this configuration just fine for the future?

Technischer

[kmb42vt]

Please find below Cinnamon 1.4 UP3 built with no optimizations and the very latest snapshot of Cinnamon:

1. Download the packages:

- Download the packages from here: http://linuxmint.com/tmp/cinnamon-maya- ... 718.tar.gz

2. Extract the archive:

- Right click and extract the archive.

3. Choose the version you want to test:

Choose your version between 1.4-UP3-noopt and git20120718:

- The 1.4 UP3 "noopt" version is the exact same as in Linux Mint 13 but built with no optimizations. If your computer freezes under Cinnamon we want to know if that fixes it.
- The 1.5 "git20120718" version is the latest Cinnamon development snapshot, it comes with a lot of features and changes which are not in Cinnamon 1.4. Its internal version is still 1.4 although the package is labeled as 1.5. It's a preview of Cinnamon 1.6 which should come out later this year.

4. Choose your architecture:

- Choose between i386 and am64 depending on the architecture of your system

5. Install the packages:

- Open up a terminal in the folder you selected and type "sudo dpkg -i *.deb" to install all the packages.

6. Give us some feedback:

- We're not interested in getting feedback for Cinnamon 1.5, its new features, changes, improvements etc..
- We're not interested in getting feedback about bugs in Cinnamon 1.5 either (unless they're related to the freezing issue discussed in this thread)
- If your desktop currently freezes when you insert a table in OO writer and move the mouse cursor at the top please do this test (there are other causes of freeze, some related to the drivers/kernel, others related to Java, others related to other DEs... here we want to hear from people who have a "Cinnamon freeze", i.e. who can freeze their Cinnamon via OO writer and whose display is frozen and whose mouse pointer is still active).
- If you're experiencing this problem with Cinnamon 1.4 UP3, please install muffin/cinnamon from the 1.4 UP3 noopt first and tell us if it fixes the issue for you. Then try the 1.5 git-20120718 versions and tell us if the problem is there as well or not.

Many thanks for your patience and for your help with this issue.

Clem - Confirmed that both the 1.4 UP3 noopt build (i386) as well as the 1.5 git-20120718 (i386) builds fix the freeze on my Thinkpad R61 laptop. Same as the rebuild of muffin as per "esteban1uy's" instructions did. Looks like you guys nailed it!

After I had reverted back to the original Cinnamon and muffin packages from recompiling muffin (as per "esteban1uy 's" instructions) and confirmed the return of the "Cinnamon freeze" (using table in LO), I installed your 1.4 UP3 noopt .debs (i386), logged out and back in--no freeze.

Reverted back to original Cinnamon and muffin packages, logged out and back in and confirmed that the freeze had returned--it did.

Installed the 1.5 git-20120718 .debs (i386) packages, logged out and back in--no freeze.

Let me know if you need me to test anything further. If not, I'll stick with the i386 1.4 UP3 "noopt" version until the official update is released. I'll keep the packages for compiling installed just in case you need more testing done.

[esteban1uy]

Confirmed! Purged the "cinnamon-nightly" PPA then removed all cinnamon and muffin packages and reinstalled from the official repositories. Logged out and back in--freeze returned. Modified sources and recompiled and installed muffin as per your instructions and no more freeze!. Nice job, sir!

Am going to revert back once more, confirm freeze has returned and then try Clem's builds one at a time.

Thank you!!!

[clatworthy]

Brilliant stuff - well done you guys. I am not as brave as you and will wait for the repo version of LM13.

[ashtonford]

tried something different today Iam running fedora17 with cinnamon and it absolute flies. Havent had any crashes at all.

[ShyGuy]

I've been following this thread for a while. When will I be able to download an official non-beta ISO of the fixed Mint 13 Cinnamon and reinstall?

[srikaewa]

Hi there,
I have experienced random freezes in Mint 13 Cinnamon too. Not particular to just LO though.
I thought at first that it's some of my configs but until I see this thread, then I jump in to try
the nightly built of cinnamon. I have a fresh installation of Mint 13 Cinnamon on a new machine (Sony Vaio T11)
with Intel 4000 graphic. Everything works just fine except random freezes in which I didn't
get around into it to find out the pattern of the freeze yet. However, after I installed nightly built
cinnamon, everything seems to be just fine (no restart yet, all night long). This morning though,
after I restarted the machine, cinnamon just didn't load... after login, only wall paper and mouse
cursor (moving) show up... I reversed back to stable cinnamon from synaptic, cinnamon
still won't show up... I've bin using Gnome classic for now, trying to fix the cinnamon... oh well
:D:D

[palo]

I installed the snapshot in a vm and the noopt in another and no freezes. I would like to install the noopt to my main install so that it gets more use with drivers but I would like to understand first what is going to happen when there are updates available for those pkgs. which currently show as the latest available:

My question is will the updates (when they become available) show up as such or will there be some notification in this thread and I would need to force version to Maya repository. Sorry for the simple question but I am trying to learn.

[bradman334]

I have tested the 1.4 UP3 noopt build (i386) and can confirm it has fixed the issue for me too. Excellent work, thanks.