lenny@icus.UUCP (Lenny Tropiano) (04/08/88)
Now that everyone who got and installed the 3.51a kernel that was one of the couple of fixes found on the Fixdisks available from the National Systems Support Hotline, bugs have been claimed to exist. I haven't personally experienced these yet, although I am not running the generic UUCP either, which seems to have some weird correlation. Here's a posting that a friend of mine (the actually person who "discovered" the problems, and reported it initially to the hotline [many times]). He asked me to post this for him, so I do.... |>From rjg@sialis.mn.org...(Robert J. Granvin): |> or rjg@nis.mn.org |>Subject: 3.51a kernel |> |>After a fair amount of phone calls and working with ATT phonetechs, |>they have finally determined that there is indeed a problem with the |>3.51a kernel that is being distributed on the current (and only) set |>of 3.51 fixdisks. |> |>This problem has not yet been currently resolved, but is being worked |>on in some sort of priority mode. They have actually offered to call |>me when a new version is available (I don't really believe them, so |>I'll keep nagging them :-) |> |>Anyways, the 3.51a kernel has a tendancy to panic your 3b1 on sporadic |>occasions with the message: |> |> panic: addr fault in kernel |> |>It seems to happen most when you are sending output to your console |>screen, and sometimes during uucico. Although, it can apparently |>happen for no specific reason at all. |> |>The problem is not damaging in any way, except for the inconvenience |>of having to reset your machine on occasion. Also, all the other fixes |>included in the fixdisk (such as the uucico patches) are all correct |>and work correctly. This is purely a problem with the kernel (I know. |>That's not really all that comforting :-). |> |>So, if you believe you've been having some instability since installing |>3.51a, 3.51a is to blame. If you have not currently installed 3.51a, |>you may want to consider waiting until the repair is available (no time |>frames were provided). However, please note that the other fixes |>provided for in 3.51a do improve other areas of stability (the uucico |>patches, for example, solve the uucico-crash-burn-and-hang problems) |>so there is definately value in installing them anyways. You'll have |>to weigh the pro's and con's in your particular situation. |> |>As mentioned previously, I have the full 3.51a fixdisk set available |>via UUCP. If you would like to obtain it, please drop me a note and |>we'll set up a link if neccesary. |> |>-- |>"Continental Life. Why do you ask?" Robert J. Granvin |> National Information Systems, Inc. |> |>rjg@nis.mn.org ...uunet!{amdahl,hpda,rosevax}!bungia!nis!rjg |> -- US MAIL : Lenny Tropiano, ICUS Computer Group IIIII CCC U U SSS PO Box 1 I C U U S Islip Terrace, New York 11752 I C U U SS PHONE : (516) 968-8576 [H] (516) 582-5525 [W] I C U U S TELEX : 154232428 [ICUS] IIIII CCC UUU SSS AT&T MAIL: ...attmail!icus!lenny UUCP : ...{mtune, ihnp4, boulder, talcott, sbcs, bc-cis}!icus!lenny
rjg@sialis.mn.org (Robert J. Granvin) (04/10/88)
In article <336@icus.UUCP> lenny@icus.UUCP (Lenny Tropiano) writes: >Now that everyone who got and installed the 3.51a kernel that was one >of the couple of fixes found on the Fixdisks available from the National >Systems Support Hotline, bugs have been claimed to exist. > >Here's a posting that a friend of mine [...] > >|>After a fair amount of phone calls and working with ATT phonetechs, >|>they have finally determined that there is indeed a problem with the >|>3.51a kernel that is being distributed on the current (and only) set >|>of 3.51 fixdisks. >|> >|>Anyways, the 3.51a kernel has a tendancy to panic your 3b1 on sporadic >|>occasions with the message: >|> >|> [...] >|> >|>As mentioned previously, I have the full 3.51a fixdisk set available >|>via UUCP. If you would like to obtain it, please drop me a note and >|>we'll set up a link if neccesary. I'm one of the first people who will complain about the AT&T Software Hotline for a wide variety of reasons. I will also complain alot about the tehnical support that is given to the 3b1. Although, there are many times that I have no reason to complain, and am pleased. This is definately one of those times. AT&T is taking a serious interest in this, and they have given it some real priority, even to the point where they will be making calls in the reverse direction (to me! neat! :-) Anyways... I do not know at this time what the plan is, and how the replacement kernel will be distributed. There are two basic ways it can be done... 1) it can be distributed as a second patch disk to the first set of disks. 2) the first two patch disks could be recinded entirely, the new kernel placed on it, and rereleased as Fixdisk set #1, version 1.1 If the latter, people who have already intalled the 3.51a fixdisk set would simply obtain a new one (when available! Do not call now!) and only install the kernel patch. (These disks were nice by asking you to confirm that you wanted to install each patch before it went ahead and did it). I do _not_ know any timeframe on this. But considering AT&T, the fact that the problem has not been located yet, and also the fact that they like to test things (relatively) thoroughly before throwing it out to us pack of wolves, there could be quite some time before it's available. So don't hold your breath. It would get ugly. :-) Continued investigation does seem to support (although not conclusively) that usage of the On Board Modem (OBM) does seem to be related to problem. If you don't use the OBM, you may never see it. Also, if you do use the OBM, you may also never see it. Re: the final paragraph included above, the UUCP transfer offer was in support primarily for a local group. While I'm willing to help, I'm a little leery right now of any non-local distribution until I know what the AT&T plans are for future fixdisks. Anyways, if you really do want to get the current set (It does solve a lot of problems like the uucico-crash-and-die-really-well bugs) the best procedure is to contact AT&T directly for them. They do have some policies regarding distribution that I'm not sure about. Anyways, you'll end up being able to get it faster from AT&T than from me. AT&T will mail the disks the day or the day after you call. They should show up within a week or two. The technician can probably tell you better. - Call the AT&T Software Hotline at 1-800-922-0364 (this number is in your Owners Manual in an insert). - Tell them you want the 3.51a fixdisk set. - They will ask you for your serial number, name and phone number. They require this information for their records. If you haven't mailed in your warranty registration (in which case they wouldn't have you on file), I don't know how they will react. _This_is_one of_those_perfect_examples_why_you_should_have_registered_your_ machine_! AT&T _does_ offer some free updates or fixes, but only to registered owners. - If you are out of warranty, explain to the clerk that you are not asking for technical support, but only to be mailed the 3.51a fixdisks which (as I understand it) are available free of charge to all registered owners. (Some clerks find it necessary to be generally unwilling to help anyone who is out of warranty, but fortunately those are relatively few and they usually (though not always! :-) listen to reason. Thank you for your support. :-) -- "Cursed Eraser Causes People Robert J. Granvin to Vanish Forever." National Information Systems, Inc. rjg@sialis.mn.org ...uunet!{amdahl,hpda,rosevax}!bungia!sialis!rjg
tien@speedy.cs.wisc.edu (PB Schechter) (04/11/88)
In article <336@icus.UUCP> lenny@icus.UUCP (Lenny Tropiano) writes: >Now that everyone who got and installed the 3.51a kernel that was one Can anyone tell me how to get the 3.51a fixdisks, or any other (future) ones, for that matter? Do I just wait (as I've been patiently waiting for my calendar) until AT&T gets around to sending them? Do I have to call and ask for them (if so, who do I call)? Do the get sent only to people who have purchased service contracts? Any help will be apprecieted. PB Schechter pb@cs.wisc.edu
pjh@mccc.UUCP (Peter J. Holsberg) (04/11/88)
In article <347@sialis.mn.org> rjg@sialis.mn.org (Robert J. Granvin) writes:
== - They will ask you for your serial number, name and phone number.
== They require this information for their records. If you haven't
== mailed in your warranty registration (in which case they wouldn't
== have you on file), I don't know how they will react. _This_is_one
== of_those_perfect_examples_why_you_should_have_registered_your_
== machine_! AT&T _does_ offer some free updates or fixes, but only
== to registered owners.
Hrmph! I have 24 3b1s, some registered, some not. I have NEVER
received anything -- calendar, fixes, etc. -- from AT&T.
--
Peter Holsberg UUCP: {rutgers!}princeton!mccc!pjh
Technology Division CompuServe: 70240,334
Mercer College GEnie: PJHOLSBERG
Trenton, NJ 08690 Voice: 1-609-586-4800rusty@hodge.UUCP (Rusty Hodge) (04/13/88)
In article <561@mccc.UUCP>, pjh@mccc.UUCP (Peter J. Holsberg) writes: > Hrmph! I have 24 3b1s, some registered, some not. I have NEVER > received anything -- calendar, fixes, etc. -- from AT&T. AT&T is shy. It is up to you to make the first move. Send in those old registration cards now. Or heck, you can usually "register" the machine over the phone. Be prepared to be on the phone a while. -- Rusty Hodge, HCR Inc, 1588 N. Batavia St. Orange, CA 92667 (714) 974-6300 rusty@hodge.cts.com [uunet vdelta crash]!hodge!rusty FAX (714) 921-8038 uucp: (714) 921-1090 (login: nuucp) Dial-A-Joke (714) 966-0976
rjg@sialis.mn.org (Robert J. Granvin) (04/13/88)
In article <5554@spool.cs.wisc.edu> tien@speedy.cs.wisc.edu (PB Schechter) writes: >Can anyone tell me how to get the 3.51a fixdisks, or any other (future) >ones, for that matter? Do I just wait (as I've been patiently waiting >for my calendar) until AT&T gets around to sending them? Do I have to >call and ask for them (if so, who do I call)? Do the get sent only to >people who have purchased service contracts? Any help will be >apprecieted. This will expand a bit on part of an immediately previous posting. ATT does not announce fixdisks. You have to call and check, or wait for someone to post that they exist (these are usually people who call and check). To obtain them, just call the hotline number in your Owners Manual. Have your serial number ready. Fixdisks are available free of charge to all registered owners. If they give you any beef about being out of warranty, just point this out, and that's all you're looking for. Having service contracts doesn't make any difference in this case. (But please note... ATT has the option to release fixdisks for a charge. I've never heard it done on this class of machine, but if they did, I imagine those with service contracts wouldn't pay the fee. I doubt they'll ever charge for a 3b1/7300 fixdisk. Sounds kinda silly.) Personal Calendar: Check out /etc/fixes. -- "Cursed Eraser Causes People Robert J. Granvin to Vanish Forever." National Information Systems, Inc. rjg@sialis.mn.org ...uunet!{amdahl,hpda,rosevax}!bungia!sialis!rjg