linux-kernel - USB-related instability on 2.6.23-rc1

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Date:	Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:06:07 -0600
From:	"Grant Likely" <grant.likely@...retlab.ca>
To:	"Linux Kernel Mailing List" <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	"Stuart Hayes" <Stuart_Hayes@...l.com>, "Greg KH" <greg@...ah.com>,
	"David Brownell" <dbrownell@...rs.sourceforge.net>
Subject: USB-related instability on 2.6.23-rc1

I've observed instability on my Macbook c2d with the Linus' latest
tree.  Symptom is that USB devices start behaving badly and the kernel
seems to be registering incorrect HID events; (ie. moving the mouse
causes odd keyboard events).  If I continue to attempt to use the
mouse, it results in a system freeze (and I don't see any kind of
backtrace in /var/log/kern.log).  To reproduce the problem, I just
need to be using the keyboard/mouse.  If I leave the system idle, the
problem does not seem to occur.  If I actively use the keyboard/mouse,
the problem can occur at any time; usually within 5-10 minutes.

In my particular case, I've got both a USB key/mouse pair on the
laptop and an external key/mouse pair plugged in via a hub.
Typically, it's the external mouse that exhibits badness first.

USB HID devices are definitely affected.  I have not tested USB block
devices.  Isochronous transfers to a USB headset appear to be
unaffected, but that's under minimal testing.

I've bisected down to commit 196705c9bbc03540429b0f7cf9ee35c2f928a534,
"USB: EHCI cpufreq fix"

Reverting the patch at the head of the tree makes the kernel stable again.

I've attached my kernel config file and a dmesg output

Cheers,
g.

-- 
Grant Likely, B.Sc., P.Eng.
Secret Lab Technologies Ltd.
grant.likely@...retlab.ca
(403) 399-0195

View attachment "kern.log" of type "text/x-log" (34908 bytes)

Download attachment "2.6.23.config" of type "application/octet-stream" (48176 bytes)