cat causes kernel panic

mr.MikyMaus · 2016-11-27 11:32:51

Hi,

I have this strange problem of my cat causing kernel panic. I sometimes leave my laptop on the table open and locked using slock and probably because it's warm my cat likes lying on it. The problem is whenever she does that for a longer period of time, the laptop ends up frozen with caps lock blinking (there's only one *-lock diode on the keyboard so I can't tell whether num- or scroll-lock is blinking as well) while the screen is blue (that's what slock does) so I can't see any error messages.

There's also nothing in journal.

It's probably not overheating but I can't think of any other reason. Tips?

Kernel ~~version~~ flavour doesn't seem to make any difference - tried vanilla, lts, ck ... same results.

-m.

Last edited by mr.MikyMaus (2016-11-28 14:09:22)

WorMzy · 2016-11-27 12:23:09

Have you tried one of these?

Other than that, I recommend enabling magic SysRq and REISUB-ing the next time it occurs, you may get something in your journal then. Rapidly pressing ctrl+alt+del may have a similar effect, since systemd watches out for that combination.

Trilby · 2016-11-27 12:29:00

Ha - I first opened this thread wondering what file you were cat'ing that could cause a kernel panic. I first read WorMzy's reply thinking he was being a complete smartass - but no, that is what this is about. This should definitely be added to the useless use of cat list.

Overheating sounds most likely to me. But if not that, it could be due to a large volume of stray key presses to slock. You should be able to test this pretty easily.

seth · 2016-11-27 12:35:59

Lol, i thought man 1 cat.
The furball will likely cause a lot of keyboard input. Try to at least stop autorepeating with locking. ("xset -r", "xset r" will re-enable it and slock can probably execute stuff around it)

2ManyDogs · 2016-11-27 14:16:12

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p … %20problem

Seriously, can you not find a place to put your computer where the cat can't lie on it? Or at least close it when you are not using it? It is only a matter of time before your cat vomits (or worse) on your open laptop and then you will have much more serious problems.

Last edited by 2ManyDogs (2016-11-27 14:17:31)

oliver · 2016-11-27 14:21:34

2ManyDogs wrote:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p … %20problem
Seriously, can you not find a place to put your computer where the cat can't lie on it? Or at least close it when you are not using it? It is only a matter of time before your cat vomits (or worse) on your open laptop and then you will have much more serious problems.

My cat decided it would be a fun game to rip half the keys off my laptop keyboard. And those things never go back in correctly.

OP - since there's a cat involved I assume you're at home. Could you not disable slock and see if you get any clues on the screen?

mich41 · 2016-11-27 14:53:41

oliver wrote:

Could you not disable slock and see if you get any clues on the screen?

Yeah, boot with consoleblank=0 loglevel=7 and leave the machine showing some tty instead of X. If it's overheating you'll see an MCE or some random kernel page fault or something. If you are worried that the cat or some intelligent life could wreak havoc in unlocked system, use vlock.

mr.MikyMaus · 2016-11-27 19:12:34

Thanks for all tips I've already tried the Radiator Cat Bed. But cat's don't go well with incentives. When the cat decides that the laptop is the bed-to-be, then the laptop is the bed-to-be. I neither can nor want to change this.

On the serious note: I don't think it's slock-related but I'll try to rule that out as well. I also don't consider this a Henny Youngmann problem as if this really is caused by excessive input produced by the cat (there's not just keyboard there but a touchpad and also touchscreen), then there is a bug somewhere. A cat just shouldn't be able to cause a kernel panic on a locked laptop. Not ever.

I've tried to emulate the excessive input situation by myself but I gave up after 15 minutes. Guess the cat's entropy is better.

I'll try to increase logging as suggested and switch to VT and see what happens.

-m.

PS.

2ManyDogs wrote:

It is only a matter of time before your cat vomits (or worse) on your open laptop and then you will have much more serious problems.

Not really, I have an all-risk NBD insurance and, of course, a full backup Anyway, I'm not primarily concerned about the laptop but about the freeze/kernel panic itself. I want to get to the bottom of this.

Last edited by mr.MikyMaus (2016-11-27 19:17:45)

seth · 2016-11-27 20:49:06

Assuming it's not input (and I suggest that slock *is* a factor because it will certainly stall handling on false inputs):
How weel fed is the cat? Could it be the pressure on the device (probably the entire HW is below the keyboard)

Oh, and about teaching the cat/avoiding the problem: simply close the lid ;-)

mrunion · 2016-11-28 13:38:16

Place a box over the laptop and leave it as usual. If the problem of lockups still occur, it's not the cat.

Or get a dog to guard the laptop.....

Arch Linux

#1 2016-11-27 11:32:51

cat causes kernel panic

#2 2016-11-27 12:23:09

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#3 2016-11-27 12:29:00

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#4 2016-11-27 12:35:59

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#5 2016-11-27 14:16:12

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#6 2016-11-27 14:21:34

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#7 2016-11-27 14:53:41

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#8 2016-11-27 19:12:34

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#9 2016-11-27 20:49:06

Re: cat causes kernel panic

#10 2016-11-28 13:38:16

Re: cat causes kernel panic

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