From: Chris Newbold (newbie@hendrix.camb.inmet.com)
Date: 07/02/92


From: newbie@hendrix.camb.inmet.com (Chris Newbold)
Subject: Linux goes *BOOM* under heavy load. Help.
Date: 2 Jul 1992 21:45:49 GMT

I'm running Linux 0.96b (the new one) on a 486 with a SCSI controller
(Adaptec 1542 compatible). Last night I was using gcc 2.12c to compile
the kernel. While this was going, I logged in on another console
and started to read a manual page. Sometime during the flurry of
disk activity of man reformatting the page and gcc compiling at the same
time, gcc died with a protection fault and signal 11.

After this, I could not run *ANY* program without it crashing with
a protection fault or a core dump. Stuff like sync, ls and starting
a new shell for another login all crashed and burned.

This behavior is easily repeatable. Lots of disk access, higher system
load and *POW*. Any ideas? Could gcc just be buggy? I think not as
the whole system gets hosed pretty badly. Maybe a problem with the
disk drivers?

Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

-Chris

-- 
---- Chris Newbold ---- > "If you fool around with a thing for very long you <
   Intermetrics, Inc.   >                 will screw it up."                 <
  Opinions and statements expressed are MINE and do NOT represent my employer
                        newbie@inmet.camb.inmet.com