On Tue, 29 Jan 2013, Paul Smith wrote:
On Tue, Jan 29, 2013 at 4:24 AM, David G. Miller dave@davenjudy.org wrote:
When the systems freezes, is it safe to hold down the power button to power off the machine? If not, what alternatives do you suggest?
Simple test: if CapsLock and/or NumLock and/or ScrollLock still work (keyboard light reflects change in state), you have a shot at the Alt-SysReq-<key> stuff. The keyboard lights are actually controlled by the O/S (keyboard driver specifically). If the O/S is dead, the lights won't change state when you push whatever.
I've had fairly good luck with this test. Lights work --> be patient and see if you can get an alternate console, shell in, etc. Lights don't work --> power key time.
Thanks, David and all other respondents. In case lights works, how can one get a console?
Ok, I'll play.
<humor> It all depends on how much room you have in the living room; sometimes all you can fit there is a spinet. But if the space is there, go for a grand. </humor>
If you're running a LAN/home network and you have other machines on the network, and provided those machines have some ssh/telnet client software, and the (blanket-wrapped) frozen machine is running a telnet/ssh daemon and set to receive requests, you try accessing the (supposedly) frozen machine by ssh/telnet client.
If can login successfully, then you can try doing some forensics (looking for log files, and other evidence/detris), and in the end, if necessary, reboot the box (usually, su to root, type "reboot," and politely tap <enter>).
Paul
fyi,
Max PYziur pyz@brama.com