[Techtalk] Build it! redux, and AMD woes

[jenn at simegen.com]

Akkana wrote:


> The install went smoothly, but the problem now is that I'm getting
> random glitches during compiles.  It'll get a few (5-20) minutes into
> a build, then die with a segv from as or gcc or something, or it'll
> just hang while ld'ing a library.  Restart the build, and it completes
> whatever it had problems with but dies somewhere else a few minutes later.  

Dancer told me of a way to do a reliable Linux memory test.
Recompile kernels. If they segfault, there's a bad stick of RAM.

Guess what this sounds like to me?
 
> Now, I could run out and invest in an aftermarket fan, but I'm starting
> to think the problem isn't heat after all.  But how to tell what it is?
> Other possibilities that occur to me are
> - memory (DDR): though I have no particular reason to think it's bad

Bu-dum bum CHING! 
RAM is my guess. If you have multiple sticks, try pulling one and 
recompiling. If it segfaults again, swap sticks. Continue until all 
possible combinations are tested or you find a stick/sticks that it 
doesn't segfault with.

If you only have one stick, swap it with a friend and test. Or have someone
on the list recommend a different form of RAM testing.

> Is there any diagnostic software available for Linux that might help me
> test some of these subsystems and narrow down the problem a bit more
> (quick while I still have a warranty)?

Yes there are, but given the number of computers we have here, we tend 
to do the 'swap it with the one from the almost-identical box and test
them both' game.



Jenn V.
-- 
     "Do you ever wonder if there's a whole section of geek culture
             you miss out on by being a geek?" - Dancer.

jenn at simegen.com     Jenn Vesperman     http://www.simegen.com/~jenn/