Supportconfig hangs on SLE 11 SP3 after updating kernel
This document (7012980) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.
Environment
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP3
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP3
Situation
This problem occurs when running the supportconfig utility on a SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 Service Pack 3 (SLE11SP3) system after the linux kernel has been updated to version 3.0.82-0.7.
The execution of supportconfig will hang during the gathering of information from /proc and get stuck at the
PROC...
output line.
It enters an infinite loop while trying to read /proc/timer_list.
This causes the temporary file /var/log/nts_<server-timpestamp>/proc.txt to grow until supportconfig is terminated by the user.
If the tool is not monitored and terminated, the filesystem hosting /var/log/ will run out of space.
The execution of supportconfig will hang during the gathering of information from /proc and get stuck at the
PROC...
output line.
It enters an infinite loop while trying to read /proc/timer_list.
This causes the temporary file /var/log/nts_<server-timpestamp>/proc.txt to grow until supportconfig is terminated by the user.
If the tool is not monitored and terminated, the filesystem hosting /var/log/ will run out of space.
Resolution
The problem has been reported to SUSE engineering.
A correction for the SLE kernel has been produced and will most likely be submitted for inclusion in an upcoming maintenance update for the linux kernel.
Although the root cause is not in the supportutils package, a new version (1.20-0.75.1) that works around the problem has been released.
As a workaround run supportconfig -o PROC to skip the proc.txt file.
To keep the workaround persistent, it is possible to create a /etc/supportconfig.conf file with the command
OPTION_PROC=0
Both will disable the module that reads /proc/.
A correction for the SLE kernel has been produced and will most likely be submitted for inclusion in an upcoming maintenance update for the linux kernel.
Although the root cause is not in the supportutils package, a new version (1.20-0.75.1) that works around the problem has been released.
As a workaround run supportconfig -o PROC to skip the proc.txt file.
To keep the workaround persistent, it is possible to create a /etc/supportconfig.conf file with the command
# supportconfig -Cand then edit /etc/supportconfig.conf and set the option
OPTION_PROC=0
Both will disable the module that reads /proc/.
Cause
The root cause was a problem in the iterator code for the kernel's timer_list, which was introduced by the fix for another bug (bnc#818047 - can be found in the change-log of the kernel).
Disclaimer
This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
- Document ID:7012980
- Creation Date: 02-Aug-2013
- Modified Date:14-Oct-2022
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- SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
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