Kernel Panic after Upgrading CPU's

[Steve Burt_1]

Hi Folks,

I had an interesting scenario yesterday, after upgrading a DL585 with 2 extra CPU's giving it a total of 4 physical CPU's, I recieved a very plesent message from the OS...

"Kernel Panic - Not Synching NMI Watchdog"
"Badness at kernel/panic.c:118"

I was trying to put in 2 x 2 Dual Core AMD Opteron CPU's spare part number 412321-001

My Version of RedHat is
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS release 4 (Nahant Update 4)

Linux rdg-backup2 2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp #1 SMP Mon Sep 25 17:24:31 EDT 2006 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Any help would be appreciated

Kind Regards

Steve

[Steven E. Protter · Accepted solution]

Shalom,

The AS release is supposed to be able to handle this many cpu's no problem.

Ideas:
1) The install configured itself or hardcoded for the number of cpu's present and needs another install to fix the issue.

2) One of the cpu's is bad.

3) BIOS problem on the system concerning presentation of the cpus

4) CPU's running at different speeds than the originals.

SEP

[Ivan Ferreira]

See this page:

http://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=5785

"To whom it may be interested: I finally was successfull in installing Centos x86_64 on this specific hardware.

To solve the problem cited in my previous post you have to access the bios settings, select the "Advanced" menu and disable the "8042 keyboard emulator support".

To be true the comment to this option in bios panel clearly suggests to disable the option if willing to install "red hat" x86_64 version, but if you do not get there by chance you would never know it."

[Steve Burt_1]

Hi SEP,

You have hit on one avenue that I am keen to explore looking at a similar thread for a centos kernel

I am going to look at the Advanced Bios Settings

In Particualar the MultiMedia Timer & 8042 keyboard emulator support.

What that's all got to do with it I'll never know but I am not in a position to argue...:-)

Will keep you posted

[Steve Burt_1]

Hi Ivan,

You got there while I was typing my update thanks for you help as well

-- Steve

[Steven E. Protter]

I'm a little confused now.

Is this a Centos or RH system. I know Centos is a RH recompile. Have we actually identified an issue where RH and Centos performs differently?

SEP

[Steve Burt_1]

Hi SEP,

This is an RHEL4 Server, however the closest match came from centos.org, whether this will fix my RHEL4 prob, i am not sure, I am rather hoping that by checking the bios will fix my problem...

Kind Regards

Steve

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

I get it. I use Centos yum to update RH rpm repos I build by hand. Saves some bucks on the Satellite server product. Many centos rpms and fixes will work well with RH

The DL385 comes with a bootable disk that will permit you to do a few mouse clicks and update the firmware and bios. I try and keep important servers up to date regularly on this.

SEP