From Bugzilla Helper: User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.8.0.4) Gecko/20060614 Fedora/1.5.0.4-1.2.fc5 Firefox/1.5.0.4 pango-text Description of problem: After a couple of hours of normal operation the OS refuses to start new processes or starts them after a long delay (10-30min). Reboot hangs while in this state and hard reset is required. The problem has two symptoms: 1. All new processes do not start 2. Console processes do not start or delay to start. I.e. Gnome terminal opens its window, but bash prompt may show after 30 min. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): How reproducible: Sometimes Steps to Reproduce: Work as usual for several hours Actual Results: Expected Results: Additional info:
Hm, that either sounds like a kernel problem and/or memory running out. If this happens, could you run a: free in a gnome-terminal and post the info here? Also the output of ps -awux and a vmstat -n 1 would be interesting. Thanks, Read ya, Phil
This happened again today with symptom 2. Expecting this I was keeping three terminal windows opened and was able to execute "free" command immediately, however "ps" and "vmstat" were hanging for about 10 min. After the delay the OS returned to normal state and both commands produced their output. ----------------------------------------------------------------- $ free total used free shared buffers cached Mem: 507512 483116 24396 0 32656 290044 -/+ buffers/cache: 160416 347096 Swap: 1052216 0 1052216 ----------------------------------------------------------------- $ps -awux USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TTY STAT START TIME COMMAND root 1 0.0 0.1 1992 672 ? Ss 15:32 0:00 init [5] root 2 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? SN 15:32 0:00 [ksoftirqd/0] root 3 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 15:32 0:00 [watchdog/0] root 4 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [events/0] root 5 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [khelper] root 6 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kthread] root 8 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kblockd/0] root 9 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kacpid] root 81 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [khubd] root 83 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kseriod] root 138 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 15:32 0:00 [pdflush] root 139 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 15:32 0:00 [pdflush] root 140 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 15:32 0:00 [kswapd0] root 141 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [aio/0] root 289 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S 15:32 0:00 [pccardd] root 301 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kpsmoused] root 315 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kjournald] root 362 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kauditd] root 386 0.0 0.1 2208 672 ? S<s 15:32 0:00 /sbin/udevd -d root 538 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:32 0:00 [kgameportd] root 1150 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:33 0:00 [kmirrord] root 1260 0.0 0.0 1584 280 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 cpuspeed -d -n -i 2 -p 25 50 root 1477 0.0 0.1 1652 548 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 syslogd -m 0 root 1480 0.0 0.0 1604 392 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 klogd -x rpc 1499 0.0 0.1 1736 548 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 portmap rpcuser 1518 0.0 0.1 1848 804 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 rpc.statd root 1547 0.0 0.1 4740 588 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 rpc.idmapd dbus 1561 0.0 0.2 13448 1316 ? Ssl 15:33 0:01 dbus-daemon --system root 1571 0.0 0.1 2288 880 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 hcid: processing events root 1574 0.0 0.0 1664 476 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 sdpd root 1586 0.0 0.0 0 0 ? S< 15:33 0:00 [krfcommd] root 1623 0.0 0.0 1820 464 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 /usr/bin/hidd --server root 1706 0.0 0.1 1876 720 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/automount --timeout=60 /net program /etc/auto.net root 1720 0.0 0.0 1916 500 ? S 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/smartd -q never root 1729 0.0 0.0 1600 456 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/acpid root 1738 0.0 0.1 5004 960 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 ./hpiod root 1743 0.0 0.9 12504 4784 ? S 15:33 0:00 python ./hpssd.py root 1754 0.0 0.4 9232 2212 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 cupsd root 1762 0.0 0.2 4980 1080 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/sshd ntp 1774 0.0 0.8 4248 4248 ? SLs 15:33 0:00 ntpd -u ntp:ntp -p /var/run/ntpd.pid -g root 1792 0.0 0.4 8308 2084 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 sendmail: accepting connections smmsp 1801 0.0 0.3 7368 1712 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 sendmail: Queue runner@01:00:00 for /var/spool/clientmqueue root 1811 0.0 0.0 1824 348 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 gpm -m /dev/input/mice -t exps2 root 1820 0.0 0.2 5176 1184 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 crond root 1846 0.0 0.2 5696 1364 ? S 15:33 0:00 crond maxim 1847 0.0 0.2 5692 1352 ? S 15:33 0:00 crond maxim 1857 0.0 0.1 3560 748 ? Ds 15:33 0:03 /home/maxim/temp0/keeper/a.out root 1858 0.0 0.7 3728 3744 ? SLs 15:33 0:00 /home/maxim/temp0/slmodem-2.9.11-20051101/modem/slmodemd --alsa --country=RUSSIA xfs 1861 0.0 0.3 4044 1988 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 xfs -droppriv -daemon root 1870 0.0 0.1 1636 740 ? SNs 15:33 0:00 anacron -s root 1878 0.0 0.0 2168 452 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/atd smmsp 1940 0.0 0.5 7360 2784 ? S 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/sendmail -FCronDaemon -i -odi -oem -oi -t avahi 1943 0.0 0.2 2800 1444 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 avahi-daemon: running [internal.local] avahi 1944 0.0 0.0 2800 308 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 avahi-daemon: chroot helper process root 1975 0.0 0.2 3132 1148 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 cups-config-daemon 68 1985 0.0 0.6 4976 3332 ? Ss 15:33 0:02 hald root 1986 0.0 0.2 3136 1124 ? S 15:33 0:00 hald-runner 68 1992 0.0 0.1 2232 880 ? S 15:33 0:00 /usr/libexec/hald-addon-acpi 68 1997 0.0 0.1 2232 872 ? S 15:33 0:00 /usr/libexec/hald-addon-keyboard root 2008 0.0 0.1 2196 744 ? S 15:33 0:03 /usr/libexec/hald-addon-storage root 2021 0.0 0.0 1588 408 tty1 Ss+ 15:33 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty1 root 2024 0.0 0.0 1588 408 tty2 Ss+ 15:33 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty2 root 2027 0.0 0.0 1584 404 tty3 Ss+ 15:33 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty3 root 2030 0.0 0.0 1588 404 tty4 Ss+ 15:33 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty4 root 2050 0.0 0.0 1584 404 tty5 Ss+ 15:33 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty5 root 2063 0.0 0.0 1588 408 tty6 Ss+ 15:33 0:00 /sbin/mingetty tty6 root 2064 0.0 0.2 4444 1220 ? Ss 15:33 0:00 /bin/sh /etc/X11/prefdm -nodaemon root 2069 0.0 0.5 12728 2596 ? S 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/gdm-binary -nodaemon root 2117 0.0 0.5 13452 2876 ? S 15:33 0:00 /usr/sbin/gdm-binary -nodaemon root 2120 4.6 5.7 36468 29292 tty7 Ss+ 15:33 5:22 /usr/bin/Xorg :0 -audit 0 -auth /var/gdm/:0.Xauth -nolisten tcp vt7 maxim 2145 0.0 1.8 22440 9256 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 /usr/bin/gnome-session maxim 2186 0.0 0.1 4092 672 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 /usr/bin/ssh-agent /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients maxim 2189 0.0 0.0 2892 488 ? S 15:34 0:00 /usr/bin/dbus-launch --exit-with-session /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients maxim 2190 0.0 0.2 13316 1328 ? Ssl 15:34 0:00 dbus-daemon --fork --print-pid 8 --print-address 6 --session maxim 2197 0.0 0.6 7024 3496 ? S 15:34 0:01 /usr/libexec/gconfd-2 5 maxim 2201 0.0 0.1 2308 532 ? S 15:34 0:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon maxim 2203 0.0 0.5 7312 2716 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/bonobo-activation-server --ac-activate --ior-output-fd=17 maxim 2205 0.0 1.5 32184 7636 ? Sl 15:34 0:02 /usr/libexec/gnome-settings-daemon --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_SettingsDaemon --oaf-ior-fd=25 maxim 2210 1.1 2.1 23536 10808 ? Ss 15:34 1:18 /usr/bin/metacity --sm-client-id=default1 maxim 2217 0.0 2.9 40264 14956 ? Ssl 15:34 0:05 gnome-panel --sm-client-id default2 maxim 2225 0.4 5.2 81680 26404 ? Ssl 15:34 0:29 nautilus --no-default-window --sm-client-id default3 maxim 2228 0.0 1.2 22164 6324 ? Ss 15:34 0:01 gnome-power-manager maxim 2229 0.0 1.0 21116 5424 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 gnome-volume-manager --sm-client-id default5 maxim 2233 0.0 1.6 43304 8244 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 eggcups --sm-client-id default4 maxim 2235 0.0 0.7 14744 3808 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 bluez-pin --dbus maxim 2242 0.0 0.7 11384 3900 ? Sl 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/gnome-vfs-daemon --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_VFS_Daemon_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=31 maxim 2247 0.0 2.3 39080 12144 ? S 15:34 0:06 /usr/libexec/wnck-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_Wncklet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=33 maxim 2249 0.0 1.8 36356 9536 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 nm-applet --sm-disable maxim 2252 0.0 0.8 14028 4544 ? Ss 15:34 0:00 pam-panel-icon --sm-client-id default0 maxim 2257 0.0 2.7 40928 14168 ? S 15:34 0:01 /usr/libexec/gnome-keyboard-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_KeyboardApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=35 maxim 2260 0.0 1.4 21548 7516 ? S 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/notification-area-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_NotificationAreaApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=36 root 2261 0.0 0.1 1768 608 ? S 15:34 0:00 /sbin/pam_timestamp_check -d root maxim 2265 0.0 1.4 21308 7108 ? Sl 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/drivemount_applet2 --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_DriveMountApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=39 maxim 2267 0.0 0.1 2216 768 ? S 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/mapping-daemon maxim 2270 0.0 1.7 21724 8940 ? S 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/cpufreq-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_CPUFreqApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=41 maxim 2273 0.0 1.8 25484 9568 ? S 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/clock-applet --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_ClockApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=43 maxim 2275 0.0 2.8 44860 14708 ? S 15:34 0:01 /usr/libexec/mixer_applet2 --oaf-activate-iid=OAFIID:GNOME_MixerApplet_Factory --oaf-ior-fd=44 maxim 2279 0.0 0.1 2312 988 ? S 15:34 0:00 /usr/libexec/gam_server maxim 2282 0.0 3.2 55984 16688 ? Sl 15:34 0:06 gnome-terminal maxim 2283 0.0 0.1 2228 616 ? S 15:34 0:00 gnome-pty-helper maxim 2284 0.0 0.2 4580 1512 pts/2 Ss 15:34 0:00 bash maxim 2303 0.0 0.4 13668 2252 ? Ss 15:34 0:03 gnome-screensaver maxim 2304 0.0 0.2 4580 1508 pts/3 Ss 15:34 0:00 bash maxim 2321 0.0 0.2 4584 1500 pts/4 Ss+ 15:34 0:00 bash maxim 2670 0.0 0.2 4396 1064 ? S 15:59 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.4/firefox -UILocale en-US maxim 2692 0.0 0.2 4396 1076 ? S 15:59 0:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.4/run-mozilla.sh /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.4/firefox-bin -UILocale en-US maxim 2697 3.5 10.3 140304 52416 ? Sl 15:59 3:12 /usr/lib/firefox-1.5.0.4/firefox-bin -UILocale en-US root 2891 0.0 0.2 4396 1060 ? SN 16:38 0:00 /bin/bash /usr/bin/run-parts /etc/cron.daily root 3341 0.0 0.2 4396 1056 ? SN 16:38 0:00 /bin/sh /etc/cron.daily/beagle-crawl-system root 3342 0.0 0.1 4136 724 ? SN 16:38 0:00 awk -v progname=/etc/cron.daily/beagle-crawl-system progname {????? print progname ":\n"????? progname="";???? }???? { print; } root 3352 0.0 0.2 4748 1192 ? SN 16:38 0:00 su -s /bin/bash beagleindex -c MONO_SHARED_DIR=/tmp/.beagleindexwapi.IWkUbA3343 /usr/sbin/beagle-build-index --target /var/cache/beagle/indexes/applications --recursive /usr/share/applications /usr/local/share/applications maxim 3630 0.9 3.7 47996 19244 ? S 17:17 0:06 gedit file:///home/maxim/temp1/tips.txt maxim 3755 0.0 0.1 2576 620 ? D 17:21 0:00 /usr/bin/pup 58 3797 0.0 0.1 4396 964 ? DNs 17:28 0:00 bash -c MONO_SHARED_DIR=/tmp/.beagleindexwapi.IWkUbA3343 /usr/sbin/beagle-build-index --target /var/cache/beagle/indexes/applications --recursive /usr/share/applications /usr/local/share/applications maxim 3798 0.0 0.0 544 148 ? D 17:28 0:00 svn copy svn+ssh://localhost/home/maxim/work/projects/gideon/trunk/gideon svn+ssh://localhost/home/maxim/work/projects/gideon/tags/gideon/2.7.1 -m maxim 3799 0.0 0.0 548 148 ? D 17:28 0:00 svn maxim 3800 0.0 0.0 544 148 ? D 17:28 0:00 svn copy svn+ssh://localhost/home/maxim/work/projects/gideon/trunk/gideon svn+ssh://localhost/home/maxim/work/projects/gideon/tags/gideon/2.7.1 -m maxim 3802 0.0 0.1 4180 952 pts/2 R+ 17:28 0:00 ps -awux maxim 3803 0.0 0.1 4580 516 pts/3 D+ 17:28 0:00 bash ----------------------------------------------------------------- $ vmstat -n 1 procs -----------memory---------- ---swap-- -----io---- --system-- -----cpu------ r b swpd free buff cache si so bi bo in cs us sy id wa st 2 6 0 21240 33348 291064 0 0 54 18 354 636 11 2 36 52 0 4 2 0 17636 33392 292192 0 0 985 0 554 2092 46 10 0 45 0 3 2 0 14360 33436 293348 0 0 1189 672 450 978 19 7 0 74 0 0 2 0 10860 33448 293372 0 0 46 0 526 3135 54 12 0 34 0 0 2 0 10792 33448 293372 0 0 10 0 305 1011 14 3 0 83 0 0 1 0 10860 33448 293372 0 0 11 0 489 940 8 0 0 92 0 0 2 0 10860 33448 293372 0 0 12 0 362 705 0 0 0 100 0 1 2 0 10700 33456 293456 0 0 14 500 407 1308 21 4 0 75 0 0 1 0 10268 33456 293760 0 0 11 0 296 3175 38 6 0 56 0 0 1 0 10268 33456 293760 0 0 11 0 423 1493 29 2 0 69 0 0 2 0 10272 33456 293760 0 0 11 0 372 612 11 1 0 88 0 0 1 0 10252 33456 293760 0 0 11 0 296 569 11 1 0 88 0 0 1 0 10252 33464 293760 0 0 11 60 287 565 2 1 0 97 0 0 2 0 10252 33464 293760 0 0 11 0 295 535 11 1 0 88 0 0 2 0 10256 33464 293760 0 0 11 0 273 417 0 0 0 100 0 0 2 0 10256 33464 293760 0 0 11 0 291 490 11 1 0 88 0 2 1 0 7476 33512 293988 0 0 161 248 300 1647 45 11 0 44 0 0 3 0 5908 33020 291244 0 0 923 0 338 724 33 5 0 62 0 0 2 0 5644 32924 289968 0 0 849 0 362 688 17 7 0 76 0 4 1 0 6736 32784 287312 0 0 269 0 573 2881 62 5 0 33 0 0 3 0 5944 30944 289888 0 0 4892 4 635 1634 6 3 0 91 0 0 3 0 5980 30880 289136 0 0 4604 772 636 1337 6 6 0 88 0 2 3 0 6884 30856 288848 0 0 1873 36 476 2005 40 7 0 53 0 0 3 0 6240 30784 289056 0 0 4245 0 561 2552 18 2 0 80 0 0 3 0 5944 30788 289364 0 0 316 0 499 1003 0 1 0 99 0 0 2 0 6104 30788 289184 0 0 1976 0 572 1210 5 3 0 92 0 0 2 0 6360 30764 288764 0 0 2630 532 460 844 5 2 0 93 0 0 3 0 6188 30772 289140 0 0 1532 416 611 1319 14 4 0 82 0 0 2 0 5980 30764 288864 0 0 3944 0 502 1072 14 4 0 82 0 3 2 0 7200 30780 288288 0 0 2694 164 439 2721 43 13 0 44 0 0 3 0 9360 30804 288556 0 0 2453 420 448 1556 17 6 0 77 0 1 3 0 9180 30804 288748 0 0 195 492 406 672 1 0 0 99 0 1 2 0 7004 30804 290932 0 0 2187 0 391 796 9 5 0 86 0 2 3 0 5672 30804 292120 0 0 3240 0 504 969 20 3 0 77 0 0 1 0 6368 30804 291448 0 0 488 0 435 1489 34 5 0 61 0 0 1 0 6196 30812 291448 0 0 11 60 409 913 17 1 0 82 0 0 1 0 6204 30820 291448 0 0 19 0 468 842 7 2 0 91 0 0 1 0 6144 30820 291528 0 0 87 0 511 1104 10 2 0 88 0 0 2 0 6136 30824 291528 0 0 15 0 512 1069 23 4 0 73 0 0 1 0 6076 30840 291576 0 0 70 0 499 1128 13 5 0 82 0 0 2 0 6076 30840 291576 0 0 11 12 545 1010 6 4 0 90 0 0 2 0 6076 30848 291576 0 0 11 72 435 1645 26 5 0 69 0 0 2 0 6308 30856 291576 0 0 11 48 386 2957 46 5 0 48 0 0 2 0 6208 30864 291708 0 0 147 0 383 764 4 1 0 95 0 0 1 0 6300 30876 286940 0 0 1765 468 353 2255 71 10 0 19 0 0 1 0 9760 30904 286384 0 0 10 496 306 1336 17 4 0 79 0 0 2 0 9768 30904 286392 0 0 11 0 377 655 9 4 0 87 0 1 1 0 9768 30904 286400 0 0 11 0 337 856 6 2 0 92 0 0 1 0 9776 30904 286412 0 0 11 0 360 1234 16 1 0 83 0 0 2 0 9776 30904 286412 0 0 12 0 492 799 2 0 0 98 0 4 1 0 9804 30912 286412 0 0 11 72 402 1395 15 3 0 82 0 0 2 0 9556 30912 286512 0 0 11 372 309 812 56 4 0 40 0 0 2 0 9432 30912 286528 0 0 11 0 497 1395 31 3 0 66 0 1 2 0 9556 30912 286528 0 0 11 0 323 885 20 6 0 75 0 0 2 0 9072 30912 286528 0 0 11 0 502 1331 37 2 0 61 0 0 1 0 9072 30924 286544 0 0 11 92 414 1579 59 4 0 37 0 0 2 0 9568 30924 286552 0 0 11 0 375 739 0 1 0 99 0 1 2 0 9568 30924 286560 0 0 12 0 466 893 9 1 0 90 0 0 1 0 9568 30924 286560 0 0 11 0 415 1240 19 3 0 78 0 0 1 0 9568 30924 286560 0 0 11 0 411 788 1 0 0 99 0 0 1 0 9584 30932 286568 0 0 10 88 461 820 3 0 0 97 0 0 1 0 9584 30932 286576 0 0 11 0 324 615 1 0 0 99 0 0 2 0 9584 30932 286592 0 0 11 0 465 790 3 9 0 88 0 1 1 0 9584 30932 286600 0 0 11 0 493 1079 40 5 0 55 0 0 1 0 9616 30932 286600 0 0 11 0 353 714 7 2 0 91 0 0 3 0 9616 30932 286608 0 0 11 524 309 654 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9616 30940 286608 0 0 5 40 377 643 2 1 0 97 0 0 1 0 9616 30940 286608 0 0 11 0 304 587 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9648 30940 286632 0 0 11 0 292 678 2 0 0 98 0 1 1 0 9648 30940 286640 0 0 11 0 301 552 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9648 30948 286640 0 0 11 92 285 537 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9648 30948 286648 0 0 11 0 300 573 0 1 0 99 0 0 1 0 9680 30948 286656 0 0 11 0 282 537 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9680 30948 286664 0 0 11 0 300 554 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9680 30948 286672 0 0 12 0 283 537 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9680 30956 286672 0 0 11 72 411 773 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9680 30956 286680 0 0 11 0 284 570 1 1 0 98 0 0 1 0 9424 30956 286688 0 0 11 0 379 718 3 0 0 97 0 0 1 0 9408 30956 286696 0 0 11 0 287 656 28 5 0 67 0 0 1 0 9408 30956 286696 0 0 11 0 405 757 0 0 0 100 0 0 1 0 9408 30964 286696 0 0 11 64 586 1156 6 20 0 74 0 2 2 0 9344 30964 286696 0 0 11 0 438 1124 46 8 0 47 0 1 1 0 9344 30964 286720 0 0 11 0 460 1039 32 4 0 64 0 0 1 0 9344 30964 286728 0 0 10 0 355 799 19 3 0 78 0 0 1 0 9344 30964 286736 0 0 11 0 280 517 1 0 0 99 0 0 1 0 9344 30972 286744 0 0 11 88 304 567 0 0 0 100 0
Looks like it was beagle-crawl-system script from /etc/cron.daily that was causing problems. Now the OS is running with that script removed for two days without any delays or hangs. I suppose this entry may be closed...
Closing, and i agree. Read ya, Phil