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#1 2014-04-04 16:51:18

kenny3794
Member
Registered: 2013-05-04
Posts: 20

Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

I have had this issue since Gnome 3.8.  It continued with a fresh install of Gnome-Shell 3.10 and now again with the unstable 3.12.  I have PC with multiple users, though it seems unrelated to use of multiple users.  At times, the gnome-shell application appears to fail to respond while the PC is locked.  Typically, I end up with a frozen gnome-shell  that will show the lock screen, but no new notifications or animations.  The mouse works fine as do VTs.  I switch to another VT and back to the VT with the frozen gnome-shell, and now I have only the mouse on a black background.    Being in the "locked" state, gnome-shell doesn't respond to attempts to run CTRL + ALT + F2 and then 'r' to restart the shell.  The only solution I have is to go back to the VT, login as the same user and run 'pkill -kill gnome-shell'.  Most times, this fixes the behavior.

This particular failure manifests itself in multiple forms.  This is the most common.  Alternatively, it's made manifest by allowing me to unlock the PC, but then not responding when I try to access the overview mode.  The Actvities button and hot corner don't work in this case.  The current workaround is the same.

Is this a problem just for me?  I've tried to use GDB to debug this failure, but have had no success.  What should I do?  How do I move forward with this issue?

Thanks,
Ken

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#2 2014-04-05 01:46:35

Pse
Member
Registered: 2008-03-15
Posts: 413

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

Sounds odd. Both 3.8 and 3.10 seemed to work fine in my case. Might be a graphics driver issue. What's your GPU?

Is it easy to reproduce? Would it be possible for you to try on a new installation (either Arch or some other distro)?

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#3 2014-04-05 01:56:41

kenny3794
Member
Registered: 2013-05-04
Posts: 20

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

As mentioned, I did a fresh install with 3.10 and setup everything for my users, and it re-occurred after having happened on 3.8.  GPU is AMD Radeon 6770 running Open Source graphics stack.    I have considered a Fedora (running 3.12 from copr) or Mageia (3.12 from Cauldron) install.  I'm just not too excited about going back to a non-rolling release.  This is my "fun" PC which also happens to be a shared family PC.

If I'm patient - yes it is easy to reproduce.  I can, in general, let the PC sit under typical family use for 1 to 2 days and be guaranteed a gnome-shell freeze will occur.  As such, what would I need to do to get a gdb trace that's usable?  I have an instance frozen right now and I've attached an instance of gdb to it, but I can't seem to get a trace.

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#4 2014-04-06 17:28:50

kenny3794
Member
Registered: 2013-05-04
Posts: 20

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

So, I had this event happen the last night.  I had opened gnome-shell once again via GDB.  However, when this happens, there is no crash, so I have to manually break GDB (CTRL + C).  In so doing, I find that every process appears to be in a poll or wait state.  What more should I be do to get a valuable set of debug info?

(gdb) t a a bt

Thread 9 (Thread 0x7fffcfaa2700 (LWP 4342)):
#0  0x00007ffff4d2c35d in poll () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6
#1  0x00007ffff525cd64 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#2  0x00007ffff525ce6c in g_main_context_iteration () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#3  0x00007ffff525cea9 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#4  0x00007ffff5281c95 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#5  0x00007ffff4fff0a2 in start_thread () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#6  0x00007ffff4d34d1d in clone () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6

Thread 7 (Thread 0x7fffd940b700 (LWP 4339)):
#0  0x00007ffff500304f in pthread_cond_wait@@GLIBC_2.3.2 () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#1  0x00007fffe8e03460 in PR_WaitCondVar () from /usr/lib/libnspr4.so
#2  0x00007ffff09e66ae in ?? () from /usr/lib/libmozjs-24.so
#3  0x00007fffe8e0881c in ?? () from /usr/lib/libnspr4.so
#4  0x00007ffff4fff0a2 in start_thread () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#5  0x00007ffff4d34d1d in clone () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6

Thread 6 (Thread 0x7fffd9c0c700 (LWP 4338)):
#0  0x00007ffff500304f in pthread_cond_wait@@GLIBC_2.3.2 () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#1  0x00007fffe8e03460 in PR_WaitCondVar () from /usr/lib/libnspr4.so
#2  0x00007ffff0973324 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libmozjs-24.so
#3  0x00007fffe8e0881c in ?? () from /usr/lib/libnspr4.so
#4  0x00007ffff4fff0a2 in start_thread () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#5  0x00007ffff4d34d1d in clone () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6

Thread 5 (Thread 0x7fffda40d700 (LWP 4337)):
#0  0x00007ffff4d2c35d in poll () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6
#1  0x00007ffff0f3bf81 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libpulse.so.0
#2  0x00007ffff0f2d82c in pa_mainloop_poll () from /usr/lib/libpulse.so.0
#3  0x00007ffff0f2de9e in pa_mainloop_iterate () from /usr/lib/libpulse.so.0
#4  0x00007ffff0f2df50 in pa_mainloop_run () from /usr/lib/libpulse.so.0
#5  0x00007ffff0f3bf33 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libpulse.so.0
#6  0x00007fffe74c7708 in ?? () from /usr/lib/pulseaudio/libpulsecommon-5.0.so
#7  0x00007ffff4fff0a2 in start_thread () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#8  0x00007ffff4d34d1d in clone () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6

Thread 4 (Thread 0x7fffe0bb5700 (LWP 4336)):
#0  0x00007ffff4d2c35d in poll () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6
#1  0x00007ffff525cd64 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#2  0x00007ffff525ce6c in g_main_context_iteration () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#3  0x00007fffe0bbd17d in ?? () from /usr/lib/gio/modules/libdconfsettings.so
#4  0x00007ffff5281c95 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#5  0x00007ffff4fff0a2 in start_thread () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#6  0x00007ffff4d34d1d in clone () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6

Thread 3 (Thread 0x7fffe17c7700 (LWP 4335)):
#0  0x00007ffff500304f in pthread_cond_wait@@GLIBC_2.3.2 () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#1  0x00007fffe1fc5423 in ?? () from /usr/lib/xorg/modules/dri/r600_dri.so
#2  0x00007fffe1fc4d47 in ?? () from /usr/lib/xorg/modules/dri/r600_dri.so
#3  0x00007ffff4fff0a2 in start_thread () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#4  0x00007ffff4d34d1d in clone () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6

Thread 2 (Thread 0x7fffe33c5700 (LWP 4328)):
#0  0x00007ffff4d2c35d in poll () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6
#1  0x00007ffff525cd64 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#2  0x00007ffff525d08a in g_main_loop_run () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#3  0x00007ffff5842c16 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libgio-2.0.so.0
#4  0x00007ffff5281c95 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#5  0x00007ffff4fff0a2 in start_thread () from /usr/lib/libpthread.so.0
#6  0x00007ffff4d34d1d in clone () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6

Thread 1 (Thread 0x7ffff7f289c0 (LWP 4321)):
#0  0x00007ffff4d2c35d in poll () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6
---Type <return> to continue, or q <return> to quit---
#1  0x00007fffeb5ee99a in ?? () from /usr/lib/libxcb.so.1
#2  0x00007fffeb5f024f in ?? () from /usr/lib/libxcb.so.1
#3  0x00007fffeb5f0364 in xcb_wait_for_reply () from /usr/lib/libxcb.so.1
#4  0x00007fffe772d40e in ?? () from /usr/lib/libGL.so.1
#5  0x00007ffff29bd746 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libcogl.so.20
#6  0x00007ffff29bde66 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libcogl.so.20
#7  0x00007ffff29aea71 in cogl_onscreen_swap_region () from /usr/lib/libcogl.so.20
#8  0x00007ffff5f307fa in ?? () from /usr/lib/libclutter-1.0.so.0
#9  0x00007ffff5f98f07 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libclutter-1.0.so.0
#10 0x00007ffff5f7f3b8 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libclutter-1.0.so.0
#11 0x00007ffff525cb84 in g_main_context_dispatch () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#12 0x00007ffff525cdc8 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#13 0x00007ffff525d08a in g_main_loop_run () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
#14 0x00007ffff69c4b21 in meta_run () from /usr/lib/libmutter.so.0
#15 0x0000000000401d11 in ?? ()
#16 0x00007ffff4c70b05 in __libc_start_main () from /usr/lib/libc.so.6
#17 0x0000000000401e0e in ?? ()
(gdb) call gjs_dumpstack()
== Stack trace for context 0x9a8dd0 ==

$2 = 6337232

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#5 2014-04-24 13:44:42

luchano
Member
From: Mendoza, Argentina
Registered: 2012-05-25
Posts: 4
Website

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

I have exactly same issue. I can even use your own words

At times, the gnome-shell application appears to fail to respond while the PC is locked.  Typically, I end up with a frozen gnome-shell  that will show the lock screen, but no new notifications or animations.  The mouse works fine as do VTs.  I switch to another VT and back to the VT with the frozen gnome-shell, and now I have only the mouse on a black background.

It is very annoying and random about when to appear.

Did you find any solution?

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#6 2014-04-24 17:19:17

Pse
Member
Registered: 2008-03-15
Posts: 413

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

Switch momentarily to Catalyst and see if it happens.

Last edited by Pse (2014-04-24 17:19:57)

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#7 2014-04-25 15:44:34

luchano
Member
From: Mendoza, Argentina
Registered: 2012-05-25
Posts: 4
Website

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

Just for the record I also have an ATI/AMD video card (Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RS880 [Radeon HD 4250])

It seems there is no easy way to build catalyst drivers at the moment (AUR package is momentary broken because of xorg-xserver upgrade), but I understand that this an easy way to see if this is video driver related.

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#8 2014-04-28 21:08:46

kenny3794
Member
Registered: 2013-05-04
Posts: 20

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

luchano,

I have not yet resolved this issue.  I looked into catalyst as well as a re-install of arch.  I installed the arch-based antergos for evaluation, but haven't finished setting everything up to test it on.  I have little time in the evenings currently to work on this.  I see there are some ATI/AMD catalyst repo's that could be used, but I've not yet tried them.  You can find instructions here and information on the unofficial repo here.

Let me know if you have time to try this and if it works.  Personally, I suspect it will work and that the problem we are experiencing is a bug in either X or the Radeon drivers.  However, because Arch doesn't include debug information in the repos, it's very hard to provide any valuable information to either of these programs without recompiling the X and radeon (and possibly mesa, kernel or others) which would take much time on my PC.  The failure, based on my debugging attempts within gnome-shell, is a X server stuck in a wait cycle not responding.

Let me know what you find out...
Ken

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#9 2014-04-30 01:23:30

planykao
Member
Registered: 2009-07-05
Posts: 20

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

I have the same issue, but it only happened when i change iBus input method to Chinese(chewing),
and i also found the animation is not smooth when using hot corner to switch different application.

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#10 2014-05-01 20:16:26

jtts
Member
Registered: 2011-05-11
Posts: 19

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

I have also experienced this issue. My graphics card is a Radeon 4770 and it’s using the open source driver stack.

As a workaround I have disabled screensaver/screenlock completely. I now simply turn off the display when I don’t need it.

I hope this gets fixed soon.

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#11 2014-05-07 16:20:41

kapouer
Member
Registered: 2014-05-07
Posts: 1

Re: Gnome-shell freezes --- now what?

Hello, i'm having this issue as well. I'm seeing some
kernel: vgaarb: this pci device is not a vga device
messages around the very same moment of the screen waking up but staying black.
Having a radeon (untainted kernel 3.14) and i915 modules loaded.

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