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authorLinus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>2009-06-23 13:41:17 -0400
committerLinus Torvalds <torvalds@linux-foundation.org>2009-06-23 13:41:17 -0400
commitcf9c1b92ae62ce71a8e861f02476724348defc6a (patch)
tree433d77497f909eea2c35b7afff24de9f86212221 /Documentation
parent135aae340d66c5e273af297bbd5178a5e5c458ee (diff)
parent9b901ee0cb007eb4e2ee056e5b1c5c2837d53bdb (diff)
Merge git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/wim/linux-2.6-watchdog
* git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/wim/linux-2.6-watchdog: [WATCHDOG] wdt_pci.c: remove #ifdef CONFIG_WDT_501_PCI [WATCHDOG] hpwdt: Add NMI priority option [WATCHDOG] OMAP fixes: enable clock in probe, trigger timer reload [WATCHDOG] add bcm47xx watchdog driver [WATCHDOG] Freescale STMP: watchdog driver [WATCHDOG] twl4030 watchdog driver [WATCHDOG] U300 COH 901 327 watchdog driver [WATCHDOG] Add pnx833x_wdt
Diffstat (limited to 'Documentation')
-rw-r--r--Documentation/watchdog/hpwdt.txt19
1 files changed, 15 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/watchdog/hpwdt.txt b/Documentation/watchdog/hpwdt.txt
index 127839e53043..9c24d5ffbb06 100644
--- a/Documentation/watchdog/hpwdt.txt
+++ b/Documentation/watchdog/hpwdt.txt
@@ -19,30 +19,41 @@ Last reviewed: 06/02/2009
19 not be updated in a timely fashion and a hardware system reset (also known as 19 not be updated in a timely fashion and a hardware system reset (also known as
20 an Automatic Server Recovery (ASR)) event will occur. 20 an Automatic Server Recovery (ASR)) event will occur.
21 21
22 The hpwdt driver also has three (3) module parameters. They are the following: 22 The hpwdt driver also has four (4) module parameters. They are the following:
23 23
24 soft_margin - allows the user to set the watchdog timer value 24 soft_margin - allows the user to set the watchdog timer value
25 allow_kdump - allows the user to save off a kernel dump image after an NMI 25 allow_kdump - allows the user to save off a kernel dump image after an NMI
26 nowayout - basic watchdog parameter that does not allow the timer to 26 nowayout - basic watchdog parameter that does not allow the timer to
27 be restarted or an impending ASR to be escaped. 27 be restarted or an impending ASR to be escaped.
28 priority - determines whether or not the hpwdt driver is first on the
29 die_notify list to handle NMIs or last. The default value
30 for this module parameter is 0 or LAST. If the user wants to
31 enable NMI sourcing then reload the hpwdt driver with
32 priority=1 (and boot with nmi_watchdog=0).
28 33
29 NOTE: More information about watchdog drivers in general, including the ioctl 34 NOTE: More information about watchdog drivers in general, including the ioctl
30 interface to /dev/watchdog can be found in 35 interface to /dev/watchdog can be found in
31 Documentation/watchdog/watchdog-api.txt and Documentation/IPMI.txt. 36 Documentation/watchdog/watchdog-api.txt and Documentation/IPMI.txt.
32 37
33 The NMI sourcing capability is disabled when the driver discovers that the 38 The priority parameter was introduced due to other kernel software that relied
34 nmi_watchdog is turned on (nmi_watchdog = 1). This is due to the inability to 39 on handling NMIs (like oprofile). Keeping hpwdt's priority at 0 (or LAST)
40 enables the users of NMIs for non critical events to be work as expected.
41
42 The NMI sourcing capability is disabled by default due to the inability to
35 distinguish between "NMI Watchdog Ticks" and "HW generated NMI events" in the 43 distinguish between "NMI Watchdog Ticks" and "HW generated NMI events" in the
36 Linux kernel. What this means is that the hpwdt nmi handler code is called 44 Linux kernel. What this means is that the hpwdt nmi handler code is called
37 each time the NMI signal fires off. This could amount to several thousands of 45 each time the NMI signal fires off. This could amount to several thousands of
38 NMIs in a matter of seconds. If a user sees the Linux kernel's "dazed and 46 NMIs in a matter of seconds. If a user sees the Linux kernel's "dazed and
39 confused" message in the logs or if the system gets into a hung state, then 47 confused" message in the logs or if the system gets into a hung state, then
40 the user should reboot with nmi_watchdog=0. 48 the hpwdt driver can be reloaded with the "priority" module parameter set
49 (priority=1).
41 50
42 1. If the kernel has not been booted with nmi_watchdog turned off then 51 1. If the kernel has not been booted with nmi_watchdog turned off then
43 edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and place the nmi_watchdog=0 at the end of the 52 edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and place the nmi_watchdog=0 at the end of the
44 currently booting kernel line. 53 currently booting kernel line.
45 2. reboot the sever 54 2. reboot the sever
55 3. Once the system comes up perform a rmmod hpwdt
56 4. insmod /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/char/watchdog/hpwdt.ko priority=1
46 57
47 Now, the hpwdt can successfully receive and source the NMI and provide a log 58 Now, the hpwdt can successfully receive and source the NMI and provide a log
48 message that details the reason for the NMI (as determined by the HP BIOS). 59 message that details the reason for the NMI (as determined by the HP BIOS).