Linux testing software?

[ddalley]

At times, I struggle with some of my Linux installs. There are some very long pauses when absolutely nothing seems to be happening for quite a while, or the pauses may gradually extend into longer times as I use Linux. Most of the time, this happens when using a browser, but it isn't just one browser, it could be any of them, so it isn't just one extension that may be causing problems. Some browsers put up feedback saying that it is waiting fr a response from something out in the ether, which indicates that some pauses may be from web sites, but why would just that slow down the Linux install itself? In other words, it may simply be a symptom, not the cause. It isn't necessarily the ISP, either, since I have a reasonable service and not all runs of Linux are affected.

On the other hand, I see nothing to indicate that it isn't something within the OS. These pauses afflict only some installs and not others, so it is hard to narrow this down just by observation.

How do I test for the cause? What Linux tools will help me pinpoint why this happens on various installs? Right now, I am dealing with Cinnamon 64-bit Rosa, but this isn't the only one that is bugging me.

[kc1di]

Lets start with a look at your machine. could you go to a terminal and type the following command and post the output here.

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inxi -Fxz

[ddalley]

$ inxi -Fxz
System: Host: lm17 Kernel: 3.19.0-32-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.2)
Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.6 (Gtk 3.10.8~8+qiana)
Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine: Mobo: Gigabyte model: H61M-DS2 REV 1.2 v: x.x
Bios: Award v: FB date: 10/12/2011
CPU: Dual core Intel Core i3-2100 (-HT-MCP-) cache: 3072 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 12372
clock speeds: max: 3100 MHz 1: 1769 MHz 2: 1616 MHz 3: 1609 MHz
4: 1615 MHz
Graphics: Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Redwood LE [Radeon HD 5550/5570/5630/6390/6490/7570]
bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1920x1080@60.0hz
GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD REDWOOD
GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.5.9 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card-1 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Redwood HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 5000 Series]
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
Card-2 Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.19.0-32-generic
Network: Card-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: ee00 bus-ID: 03:00.0
IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: de00 bus-ID: 04:00.0
IF: eth1 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 4313.0GB (21.3% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD5000AAKX size: 500.1GB
ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST3750640AS size: 750.2GB
ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: Storage_Media size: 62.2GB
ID-4: USB /dev/sdd model: Expansion_Desk size: 3000.6GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 15G used: 6.4G (45%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc1
ID-2: /home size: 40G used: 5.3G (14%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc6
ID-3: swap-1 size: 2.05GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdc5
ID-4: swap-2 size: 2.00GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdb5
ID-5: swap-3 size: 6.18GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdb8
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 44.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 50.5
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 192 Uptime: 3:47 Memory: 988.2/7967.6MB
Init: Upstart runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.8.4
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.111) inxi: 2.2.28

[kc1di]

I Suspect the problems may be video related. AMD is not the best choice for Linux.
lets see what driver is being used>
please post the output of

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lsmod

You may also want to run the memory test. It needs to run a long time so start it say before you go to bed and let in run all night.
See if it reveals any memory problems (what you describe can sometimes happen with intermittent memory problems.

Memory test can be run at the grub2 boot prompt (he may have to hit the shift or tab key ) or from the live dvd/usb.

[ddalley]

I'll see about the mem test.

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$ lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
reiserfs              245760  1 
bnep                   20480  2 
rfcomm                 69632  8 
binfmt_misc            20480  1 
gpio_ich               16384  0 
intel_rapl             20480  0 
iosf_mbi               16384  1 intel_rapl
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    16384  0 
joydev                 20480  0 
snd_hda_codec_realtek    81920  1 
intel_powerclamp       20480  0 
snd_hda_codec_generic    69632  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
coretemp               16384  0 
btusb                  40960  0 
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     53248  1 
snd_hda_intel          36864  6 snd_hda_codec_hdmi
kvm_intel             151552  0 
bluetooth             491520  22 bnep,btusb,rfcomm
snd_hda_controller     32768  1 snd_hda_intel
kvm                   479232  1 kvm_intel
snd_hda_codec         143360  5 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_controller
snd_hwdep              20480  1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm               106496  4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_controller
snd_seq_midi           16384  0 
snd_seq_midi_event     16384  1 snd_seq_midi
crct10dif_pclmul       16384  0 
snd_rawmidi            32768  1 snd_seq_midi
crc32_pclmul           16384  0 
snd_seq                65536  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
dm_multipath           24576  0 
ghash_clmulni_intel    16384  0 
scsi_dh                16384  1 dm_multipath
snd_seq_device         16384  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer              32768  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd                    86016  21 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device
serio_raw              16384  0 
soundcore              16384  2 snd,snd_hda_codec
cryptd                 20480  1 ghash_clmulni_intel
shpchp                 40960  0 
8250_fintek            16384  0 
mei_me                 20480  0 
mei                    90112  1 mei_me
lpc_ich                24576  0 
mac_hid                16384  0 
parport_pc             32768  1 
ppdev                  20480  0 
lp                     20480  0 
parport                45056  3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
dm_mirror              24576  0 
dm_region_hash         24576  1 dm_mirror
dm_log                 20480  2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
hid_generic            16384  0 
usbhid                 53248  1 
hid                   110592  2 hid_generic,usbhid
uas                    24576  0 
usb_storage            69632  6 uas
amdkfd                 81920  1 
amd_iommu_v2           20480  1 amdkfd
radeon               1556480  4 
i2c_algo_bit           16384  1 radeon
pata_acpi              16384  0 
r8169                  81920  0 
ttm                    94208  1 radeon
mii                    16384  1 r8169
drm_kms_helper        126976  1 radeon
drm                   344064  7 ttm,drm_kms_helper,radeon

[ddalley]

Any follow-up, kc1di?

[kc1di]

Any follow-up, kc1di?

I Can find nothing that stands out. But did you do the Memory test and what were the results?
sorry for taking so long to answer -- Been very busy at work.

Other than that you might try the fglrx open source driver and see if it makes a difference. it may be worse though.
good luck

[austin.texas]

I don't think it is a graphics problem. My 17.3 system is similar - with the differences being Radeon HD 6550D and the 4.2.0-23-generic kernel. I haven't noticed any problems with this kernel or with the 3.19.0-32-generic kernel that you are using, that I used previously.

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~ $ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: skynet1 Kernel: 4.2.0-23-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.8.2)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.6 (Gtk 3.10.8~8+qiana) Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine:   Mobo: Gigabyte model: GA-A75-UD4H v: x.x Bios: Award v: F2 date: 06/08/2011
CPU:       Quad core AMD A8-3870 APU with Radeon HD Graphics (-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4a svm) bmips: 24001
           clock speeds: max: 3000 MHz 1: 1900 MHz 2: 1900 MHz 3: 1500 MHz 4: 3000 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] BeaverCreek [Radeon HD 6550D] bus-ID: 00:01.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1600x1200@60.0hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD SUMO GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.5.9 Direct Rendering: Yes

I would be looking at a memory problem, as kc1di said, and maybe overheating.