[SOLVED] LM21 randomly freezing - problem with nouveau driver

[tim_vb]

I upgraded LM20.3 (Cinnamon) to LM21 and now it will sometimes freeze up completely, several times a day. Only a hard reboot works; things like Alt+PrintScreen+REISUB does nothing. I then made a fresh installation of LM21 but the problem continues.

Result of inxi -Fxxxrz

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-46-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.2.0
    Desktop: Cinnamon 5.4.10 tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: Mutter vt: 7
    dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21 Vanessa base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends v: 2104
    date: 11/21/2013
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard
    serial: <filter> charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: Discharging
CPU:
  Info: 6-core model: AMD FX-6350 bits: 64 type: MT MCP smt: enabled
    arch: Piledriver rev: 0 cache: L1: 288 KiB L2: 6 MiB L3: 8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3582 high: 3913 min/max: N/A cores: 1: 3913 2: 3913
    3: 1931 4: 3913 5: 3913 6: 3913 bogomips: 46957
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GT215 [GeForce GT 240] vendor: ZOTAC driver: nouveau
    v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DVI-I-1,VGA-1
    empty: HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0ca3 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.3 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3200x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 846x285mm (33.3x11.2")
    s-diag: 893mm (35.1")
  Monitor-1: DVI-I-1 pos: primary,left model: BenQ GL2450H serial: <filter>
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 92 size: 531x298mm (20.9x11.7")
    diag: 609mm (24") modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: VGA-1 pos: right model: Dell E176FP serial: <filter>
    res: 1280x1024 hz: 60 dpi: 96 size: 338x270mm (13.3x10.6")
    diag: 433mm (17") modes: max: 1280x1024 min: 720x400
  OpenGL: renderer: NVA3 v: 3.3 Mesa 22.0.5 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD SBx00 Azalia vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:14.2 chip-ID: 1002:4383 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA High Definition Audio vendor: ZOTAC
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0be4 class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-46-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Ralink RT5392 PCIe Wireless Network Adapter driver: rt2800pci
    v: 2.3.0 pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 06:00.0 chip-ID: 1814:5392
    class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp6s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: ASUSTeK P8 series driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 port: b000 bus-ID: 0a:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp10s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.84 TiB used: 1.56 TiB (55.0%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda type: USB model: KESU USB 3.0 size: 931.51 GiB type: N/A
    serial: <filter> rev: 0209 scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Kingston model: SV300S37A120G size: 111.79 GiB
    speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: BBF0 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdc vendor: Seagate model: ST1000DM003-1CH162 size: 931.51 GiB
    speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> rev: CC49 scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdh type: USB vendor: Samsung model: M3 Portable
    size: 931.5 GiB speed: <unknown> type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 3
    scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 108.99 GiB used: 11.41 GiB (10.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb2
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 499.7 MiB used: 9.1 MiB (1.8%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sdb1
  ID-3: /home size: 931.06 GiB used: 531.77 GiB (57.1%) fs: xfs
    dev: /dev/sdc1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 768 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    file: /swapfile
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 27.5 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 48.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: apt: 2334
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/packages.linuxmint.com/packages vanessa main upstream import backport
    2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
Info:
  Processes: 287 Uptime: 28m wakeups: 4 Memory: 15.53 GiB
  used: 2.34 GiB (15.1%) Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers:
  gcc: 11.2.0 alt: 11 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: gnome-terminal
  inxi: 3.3.13

Result of journalctl -rb -1 | nc termbin.com 9999 can be found at https://termbin.com/b7qj2
It looks like a problem with the graphics / nouveau driver but beyond that I don't know.

[MiZoG]

Let me guess: You were using the proprietary Nvidia 340 legacy drivers on LM 20, were you not? End-of-life for Nvidia, so they're not supported on newer kernels.
You're stuck with the open-source Nouveau driver which possibly does not support some features properly. Back to LM 20.3! It is the most reasonable move for now. You may consider a cheap replacement for your Nvidia gpu, a second-hand card or whatever to upgrade safely to newer Linux distro versions cause you cannot realistically look forward to better nouveau support.

[tim_vb]

Thank you MiZoG. Yes, I think you are right about the proprietary driver. End of life, eh. Bother. On the other hand, I've been wondering about getting a new cheap/second hand GPU for a while, so now I really need to.

Is there a reliable source of information that I can check to ensure that any new-to-me GPU won't be end-of-life any time soon?

[SMG]

Is there a reliable source of information that I can check to ensure that any new-to-me GPU won't be end-of-life any time soon?

You could check the Nvidia information Support timeframes for Unix legacy GPU releases and then compare that to what is on your install with regards to kernel and Xorg versions.

The Nvidia-340 stopped receiving support from Nvidia in December 2019. The kernel and Xorg version with LM20 versions means the Nvidia-340 will work with it and LM20 is supported until April 2025. Some people have come up with workarounds for the newer kernel in LM21, but I do not know how long they might work.

[tim_vb]

Thank you SMG. (Again. You helped me with something some months ago!) I might give that workaround a try while I research GPUs. I'm very grateful for you help. I'll mark this as Solved.

[John_B]

I upgraded LM20.3 (Cinnamon) to LM21 and now it will sometimes freeze up completely, several times a day. Only a hard reboot works; things like Alt+PrintScreen+REISUB does nothing. I then made a fresh installation of LM21 but the problem continues.

Result of inxi -Fxxxrz

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-46-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.2.0
    Desktop: Cinnamon 5.4.10 tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: Mutter vt: 7
    dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21 Vanessa base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends v: 2104
    date: 11/21/2013
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard
    serial: <filter> charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: Discharging
CPU:
  Info: 6-core model: AMD FX-6350 bits: 64 type: MT MCP smt: enabled
    arch: Piledriver rev: 0 cache: L1: 288 KiB L2: 6 MiB L3: 8 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3582 high: 3913 min/max: N/A cores: 1: 3913 2: 3913
    3: 1931 4: 3913 5: 3913 6: 3913 bogomips: 46957
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GT215 [GeForce GT 240] vendor: ZOTAC driver: nouveau
    v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DVI-I-1,VGA-1
    empty: HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0ca3 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.3 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
    unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3200x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 846x285mm (33.3x11.2")
    s-diag: 893mm (35.1")
  Monitor-1: DVI-I-1 pos: primary,left model: BenQ GL2450H serial: <filter>
    res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 92 size: 531x298mm (20.9x11.7")
    diag: 609mm (24") modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  Monitor-2: VGA-1 pos: right model: Dell E176FP serial: <filter>
    res: 1280x1024 hz: 60 dpi: 96 size: 338x270mm (13.3x10.6")
    diag: 433mm (17") modes: max: 1280x1024 min: 720x400
  OpenGL: renderer: NVA3 v: 3.3 Mesa 22.0.5 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD SBx00 Azalia vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:14.2 chip-ID: 1002:4383 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA High Definition Audio vendor: ZOTAC
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0be4 class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-46-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Ralink RT5392 PCIe Wireless Network Adapter driver: rt2800pci
    v: 2.3.0 pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 06:00.0 chip-ID: 1814:5392
    class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp6s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet
    vendor: ASUSTeK P8 series driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 port: b000 bus-ID: 0a:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp10s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.84 TiB used: 1.56 TiB (55.0%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda type: USB model: KESU USB 3.0 size: 931.51 GiB type: N/A
    serial: <filter> rev: 0209 scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Kingston model: SV300S37A120G size: 111.79 GiB
    speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: BBF0 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdc vendor: Seagate model: ST1000DM003-1CH162 size: 931.51 GiB
    speed: 3.0 Gb/s type: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter> rev: CC49 scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdh type: USB vendor: Samsung model: M3 Portable
    size: 931.5 GiB speed: <unknown> type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 3
    scheme: MBR
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 108.99 GiB used: 11.41 GiB (10.5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb2
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 499.7 MiB used: 9.1 MiB (1.8%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sdb1
  ID-3: /home size: 931.06 GiB used: 531.77 GiB (57.1%) fs: xfs
    dev: /dev/sdc1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 768 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    file: /swapfile
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 27.5 C mobo: N/A gpu: nouveau temp: 48.0 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: apt: 2334
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/packages.linuxmint.com/packages vanessa main upstream import backport
    2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
Info:
  Processes: 287 Uptime: 28m wakeups: 4 Memory: 15.53 GiB
  used: 2.34 GiB (15.1%) Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers:
  gcc: 11.2.0 alt: 11 Shell: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: gnome-terminal
  inxi: 3.3.13

Result of journalctl -rb -1 | nc termbin.com 9999 can be found at https://termbin.com/b7qj2
It looks like a problem with the graphics / nouveau driver but beyond that I don't know.

Your motherboard's UEFI is out-of-date.

"Version 2104
2013/12/11"

The final version:

"Version 2901
2016/08/05"

SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0 - Support
https://www.asus.com/us/supportonly/sab ... Desk_BIOS/