Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:56:08 -1000 From: Al Plant <noc@hdk5.net> To: Matthew Seaman <matthew@FreeBSD.org> Cc: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: 9.0 spontaneously reboots Message-ID: <4F5E54D8.9010808@hdk5.net> In-Reply-To: <4F5E2ADB.6020104@FreeBSD.org> References: <4F5E031D.5060203@gmail.com> <4F5E2ADB.6020104@FreeBSD.org>
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Matthew Seaman wrote: > On 12/03/2012 14:07, Volodymyr Kostyrko wrote: >> What should I blame now? Is it some programming error or should I >> continue with testing/changing motherboard and cpu? > > Instability that appears spontaneously (and especially if it persists > across system updates) is almost always caused by hardware problems. > So, yes, carry on swapping out components until you can isolate where > the problem is. > > Some common hardware problems which might result in the problems you've > seen: > > * PSU going flakey. If you have the right measuring equipment, this > is pretty easy to detect by looking at the output voltages -- if > they've drifted out of spec, or if you've got mains frequency > jitter leaking through then its no wonder your system crashes. > > * Similarly, if the crashing is associated with system load, > (particularly at startup, when things are happening like disks > spinning up) this can indicate a power supply fading under load. > That can happen due to age, or because you've been adding extra > hardware and haven't considered the power requirements. > > * The other reason for crashing under load is overheating. > Sometimes this can be cured easily by cleaning dust out of vents > and heat-sinks. Check too for fans either seized or running > slowly. > > * You may need to clean off any old heat-sink compound and re-apply > a fresh layer, especially if you've taken CPU coolers off at > some point. > > * There's also the old capacitor problem: electrolytic capacitors > have a failure mode that generates some positive pressure inside > them. This is detectable by the end of the capacitor being bowed > out, rather than slightly concave. (Generally this means a new > motherboard, although I've heard of people being able to solder in > replacements successfully.) > > Other than that, try disconnecting and reconnecting peripherals like > disks or DVDs and so forth in various combinations to test if that > improves system stability. One faulty component can knock the whole > machine over. > > Cheers, > > Matthew > Aloha, Have seen the problems Matthew is addressing here in Hawaii. And if your equipment is in a non climate controlled room check for corrosion on the board or any plugins. Clean all the cabled and components that can be removed. (No air-con in my systems here in Hawaii and humidity is around 60-70% normally so we have to clean and put teflon on contacts about 2 times a year.) Corrosion is worse if your on the ocean or brackish river. Happy hunting. ~Al Plant - Honolulu, Hawaii - Phone: 808-284-2740 + http://hawaiidakine.com + http://freebsdinfo.org + + http://aloha50.net - Supporting - FreeBSD 7.2 - 8.0 - 9* + < email: noc@hdk5.net > "All that's really worth doing is what we do for others."- Lewis Carrol
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