Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!ria!csd.uwo.ca!zebulon
From: zebulon@csd.uwo.ca (Scott Feeney)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.x
Subject: X applications in disk wait??
Keywords: X11R4, SunOS4.0.3, disk wait, reboot
Message-ID: <218@ria.ccs.uwo.ca>
Date: 10 Apr 90 14:41:42 GMT
Sender: news@ria.ccs.uwo.ca
Reply-To: zebulon@csd.uwo.ca (Scott Feeney)
Organization: Computer Science Department - Univ. of Western Ontario
Lines: 44

I really wouldn't wish this problem on anyone, but... I hope someone _has_
experienced this and solved it.

Setting: network of Sun 3/50s and 3/60s connected to 2 - 3/180 and 1 - 3/280
servers; X11R4 (fixes 1-3,6-9; fixes 4 & 5 being non-Sun specific); 
SunOS4.0.3 (with one notable exception)

Symptoms: At seemingly random times, seemingly random X11 applications will
go into a disk wait state. This has even occurred when bringing X11 up
(via xinit -- :0 -a 4 -bs -su -t 5 -co /usr2/lib/X11R4/rgb). Remote logging
in to the affected station (this state invariably freezes the screen) and
running ps -aux shows a random sampling of X11 applications in disk wait
states. This has happened to xterms, twm, the X server, xload, etc., and
any combination of the afore mentioned. I have waited as long as my
patience has allowed (which is admittedly getting extremely short) but the
disk wait states persist. I have tried to delete the offending processes
but they won't go away. (The local Unix/Sun guru has confirmed that it
is impossible to delete processes which are in a disk wait state. sigh...)
There is nothing left to do but reboot the work-station. 8^(

Diagnosis: ??????

Cure: ??????

Is there anyone who has seen this problem and fixed it.

Oh yes. The notable exception.... It just so happens that _my_ 3/60 has yet
to have its kernel upgraded to SunOS4.0.3. I'm still at 4.0.1.... and I have
yet to experience any of the above symptoms 8^>. I know there is a connection,
but for the life of me I haven't been able to decipher it.

Help.

- scott

P.S. - An office-mate has pointed out that occasionally, non-X11 processes
will go into disk-wait states as well. Most notably cc and latex. (?!?!)
And, I have yet to hear of any problems reported from local Sunview users.

---
Scott Feeney,  Research Associate,  Department of Computer Science
The University of Western Ontario,  London Canada, N6A 5B7
zebulon@csd.uwo.ca, zebulon@uwocsd.UUCP
---