Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 11:08:24 -0800 From: "FreeBSD" <freebsd@gtonet.net> To: "David Bushong" <david@bushong.net>, <freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: RE: load spike strangeness Message-ID: <NCBBILEECKNKMONCIAIOAEFCCGAA.freebsd@gtonet.net> In-Reply-To: <20000108104902.A47984@Bushong.NET>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
> -----Original Message----- > From: owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG > [mailto:owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG]On Behalf Of David Bushong > Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2000 10:49 AM > To: freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG > Subject: load spike strangeness > > > I have noticed a strange occurrence infrequently over the last year > or so running -STABLE. I will describe it as best I can, and what > I've tried to figure it out. I don't expect anyone here to know > immediately why it's happening, but maybe someone can give me tips > on things to try to figure it out. > > System: > PII/266 overclocked to 300 > 3 DIMMs: 2 x 32 + 1 x 64 > 2 SCSI UW drives: 1 9GB 7200 rpm, 1 4GB 5400 rpm, both IBM > Adaptec 2940UW > Seagate 4GB travan tape drive > IDE Creative 5x DVD w/ mpeg card > Creative TNT video card Overclocking is *NEVER* recommended > > Software: > OS: Many different versions of FreeBSD X.Y-STABLE > daemons: apache 1.3.6, named, ypbind, ypserv, nfsd, xntpd > > Symptom: > I'm running X, a few xterms, a few ssh's, fvwm2. Have an xload in > the corner. Typing along happily, I notice the load running flat > at one. Never heard any exciting disk activity. If left > unattended (or even if not) goes away by itself in maybe 5 minutes. > Must time more precisely next time. > > Things I tried: > Run uptime. Get a load of ~ 1. Check top. Says CPU is 99.5% > idle. Run ps, wait 10 seconds, run ps, and compare PIDs. They > aren't flying by (difference in 'ps' PID is max 1 or 2). I start > up an mp3 encode on a known track and time it. The load reads 2 > while I'm doing this. It takes no longer than when my machine is > completely unloaded. > > Now I know everyone says load is a poor indicator of this and doesn't > reflect that, but anyone have: > > a) any idea what could cause a phantom, meaningless spike in the load? > b) any idea what other things I could try to figure out why this is > happening? (i'll try timing it next time, and keeping track of when > it happens to see if there's a pattern) > > Important? No. Baffling? Yes. > > --David Bushong FreeBSD freebsd@gtonet.net "LinSUX is only free if your time is worthless" To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-stable" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?NCBBILEECKNKMONCIAIOAEFCCGAA.freebsd>