I've been having some strange, but fairly predictable, problems with the disks in my system. If disk activity is very heavy for a long time---say, I'm downloading a lot of stuff---then, at some point, I start to get disk errors and the system will all but freeze up. The first sign is often an error from syslogd, saying it can't write to the log, but I can also get similar errors from (e.g.) akregator, saying it can't write to some file under $HOME. Other operations may continue to function at this time: E.g., the download will continue, and I can even start another one. But attempts to run commands can abort with "Input/Output error"---though not all commands may show this problem.
This looks to me like some kind of hardware issue, but I'm not experienced here. Any advice welcome, especially concerning what I might do, other than replace the (expensive WD Raptor) disk.
Richard
On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 12:15:04 -0500, RGH rgheck@comcast.net wrote:
I've been having some strange, but fairly predictable, problems with the disks in my system. If disk activity is very heavy for a long time---say, I'm downloading a lot of stuff---then, at some point, I start to get disk errors and the system will all but freeze up. The first sign is often an error from syslogd, saying it can't write to the log, but I can also get similar errors from (e.g.) akregator, saying it can't write to some file under $HOME. Other operations may continue to function at this time: E.g., the download will continue, and I can even start another one. But attempts to run commands can abort with "Input/Output error"---though not all commands may show this problem.
This looks to me like some kind of hardware issue, but I'm not experienced here. Any advice welcome, especially concerning what I might do, other than replace the (expensive WD Raptor) disk.
Install smartmontools if it isn't already and run surface scans using smartctl. If you are getting errors on writes, it doesn't sound good. You can also try reseating your cables in case it is just a bad connection for one of the disk cables.
RGH wrote:
I've been having some strange, but fairly predictable, problems with the disks in my system. If disk activity is very heavy for a long time---say, I'm downloading a lot of stuff---then, at some point, I start to get disk errors and the system will all but freeze up. The first sign is often an error from syslogd, saying it can't write to the log, but I can also get similar errors from (e.g.) akregator, saying it can't write to some file under $HOME. Other operations may continue to function at this time: E.g., the download will continue, and I can even start another one. But attempts to run commands can abort with "Input/Output error"---though not all commands may show this problem.
This looks to me like some kind of hardware issue, but I'm not experienced here. Any advice welcome, especially concerning what I might do, other than replace the (expensive WD Raptor) disk.
Richard
You should check ventilation around the drive - is the drive getting electronics getting hot? If the drive has a temperature sensor, try monitoring it. (hddtemp) If possible, also monitor the power supply output. You may be loading it down too much with heavy disk activity. (A meter on the drive power cable, if you can.)
Mikkel