kern/74182: FreeBSD 5.3: PCI VGA graphics crashes SMP and Single User Kernel

[O. Hartmann]

>Number:         74182
>Category:       kern
>Synopsis:       FreeBSD 5.3: PCI VGA graphics crashes SMP and Single User Kernel
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       critical
>Priority:       high
>Responsible:    freebsd-bugs
>State:          open
>Quarter:        
>Keywords:       
>Date-Required:
>Class:          sw-bug
>Submitter-Id:   current-users
>Arrival-Date:   Sun Nov 21 02:00:48 GMT 2004
>Closed-Date:
>Last-Modified:
>Originator:     O. Hartmann
>Release:        FreeBSD 5.3-RELEASE-p1/FreeBSD 5.3-STABLE
>Organization:
Department of Geophysic Johannes Gutenberg-Universitaet Mainz
>Environment:
FreeBSD edda.geo.uni-mainz.de 5.3-RELEASE-p1 FreeBSD 5.3-RELEASE-p1 #76: Sun Nov 21 02:09:38 CET 2004     root@:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/EDDA  i386

>Description:
Investigating in an wierd error behavior of a FreeBSD 5.3 box with SMP I found out that PCI VGA graphics cards seem to trigger those problems I reported.
I use a ASUS CUR-DLS mobo with two P3 at 1GHz, 1GBytes RAM, U160 SCSI equipment and built in 4MB ATI Rage XL PCI graphics. Problem was: Machine freezes spontanously in SMP mode, especially doing a lot of graphics output or simply using Mozilla/FireFox intensively. 
In single user mode (for update and upgrade purposes) the console freezes after doing a lot of output (while showing what' getting compiled or installed).
This 'freezing' does not occur using a Matrox Millenium II PCI! Single user mode works great and stable - but I can not boot machine in multi user mode anymore, the console get stuck with a blinking cursor. That is really weird and seems to be a software problem. Disabling SMP keeps the system running for days with the built in ATI Rage XL PCI graphics, but it still breaks single user mode! I ran into harsh situations while trying to do a buildworld and getting stuck due a dying system when libs got installed!
SMP brings down the machine very rapid when doing a lot of graphics!
Changing to a Matrox Millenium II, 4MB PCI graphics card keeps single user mode working but freezes the box when coming up into multi user mode! Machine get stuck with a blinking green carret but is still responsive via network.
 
>How-To-Repeat:
      Use FreeBSD 5.3-RELEASE  with PCI graphics and SMP!
>Fix:
      
>Release-Note:
>Audit-Trail:
>Unformatted: