The gdb module in crash attempts to manipulate floating point values via ldexp when printing backtraces. If the values in the fp registers contain denormals/NANs, the kernel logs a floating point software assist fault. The messages are low in volume and the concern is primarily cosmetic. Steps to reproduce: # rpm -ivh kernel-2.6.9-42.EL.ia64.rpm # crash /usr/lib/debug/lib/modules/2.6.9-42.EL/vmlinux crash> foreach bt # dmesg|grep "assist fault" kernel: crash(12028): floating-point assist fault at ip 20000000000d4382, isr 0000020000001001 The ip is always inside ldexp, being called from the gdb value_print function (see attached backtrace)
Created attachment 139001 [details] backtrace from the location triggering the fp assist fault
Interesting, although I can't reproduce it, at least with 2.4.21-47.EL. It looks like the messages can be turned off on a per-task basis with a prctl PR_SET_FPEMU in order to set the IA64_THREAD_FPEMU_NOPRINT bit in its current->thread.flags.
Created attachment 139012 [details] prctl(PR_SET_FPEMU, 1, 0, 0, 0); Bryn, If you get the chance, can you apply this patch to the ia64.c file in the crash utility sources, rebuild, and see if it clears up the log messages? The patch is against the 4.0-3.7 version of crash, but will probably apply to whatever you're using. But the easiest thing to do would be to go to http://people.redhat.com/anderson and download the crash-4.0-3.7.tar.gz file. Then: # tar xzf crash-4.0-3.7.tar.gz # cd crash-4.0-3.7 # patch -p0 < ia64_prctl.patch # make ... # ./crash and test it out.
Or, alternatively, this should accomplish the same thing with the crash utility unmodified: # prctl --fpemu=silent crash
Have tested both the prctl workaround and the patch (applied to the U4 crash sources - went in fine with a bit of offset) - both worked like a charm, thanks!
This should go into the RHEL4-5 crash utility errata.
This request was evaluated by Red Hat Product Management for inclusion in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux maintenance release. Product Management has requested further review of this request by Red Hat Engineering, for potential inclusion in a Red Hat Enterprise Linux Update release for currently deployed products. This request is not yet committed for inclusion in an Update release.
I am currently filing the RHEL4-U5 crash utility errata, and for inclusion this Bugzilla needs: rhel-4-5 + devel.ack + qa_ack + Thanks, Dave
crash version 4.0-3.9 checked into RHEL4 CVS. (still requires devel_ack+, qa_ack+ and rhel-4.5+)
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on the solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2007-0188.html