Topic: Reboot doesn't work!

[kaajee]

Pretty new here and in Linux/SME Server, but trying it out as we speak. I did several succesfull (test) installations already.
I now wanted it to install it on a somewhat older Compaq Deskpro EN (P2, 300mhz, 128Mb, 3,2 gb hd).
Worked ok, but the system does not reboot when told (command line nor server-manager).
It kind of hangs, i hear the harddisk trying to boot but nothing happens....
I tried a DOS command line reboot utility and that worked ok.

I tried adding several parameter to grub.conf as found in this forum.
I tried them all separately and ended up with:
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.9-42.0.3.ELsmp ro nomce noacpi acpi=off noapic noapic=off root=/dev/main/root reboot=b

But all these 'switches' did not work.

Does anybody know what else i can try?

[mmccarn]

Does the system appear to hang while shutting down, while "down", or while coming back up?

If you're getting no messages at all I doubt it's something you can fix with grub.

I once had several P2's that would not perform a soft reboot -- but only if I had network drivers loaded.  I assumed at the time that the network hardware was not properly reset during a "soft" reboot.

The DOS reboot utility you tried would not test this theory as I doubt your DOS boot disk loads the network drivers...

So, I guess my suggestion is: take out the network card(s) or disable them in the BIOS and see if reboot works.  If so, figure out a way to do firmware updates on the NICs or use different NICs...

[kaajee]

It happens while coming back up.
And removing the NIC doesn't solve it.....

In grub, (pressing a key while booting) and going into command mode (pressing "c"), the command 'reboot' works fine. So it is only while 'returning' from SME.........

I think is has got something to do with the ACPI, APM settings. I also tried
adding "acpi=off apm=off" to the kernel parameters, no luck.

Putting this SME install into another (same Compaq) computer does the same, no warm reboot.
A cold reboot (power button) goes well........

[boss_hog]

Hi kaajee,
if my memory serves me, this is an issue with linux and  multi-processor P2's.
This was reported in the Bugtracker at the very beginning of SME7 developement.
Here is the link to the Bug:
http://bugs.contribs.org/show_bug.cgi?id=162

Sounds like this might be the issue.
Good luck
Joe

[byte]

Agree with boss_hog....take a look over here...

http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:FAQ#Hardware

   * older systems stop at reboot

This may be an issue from the older P2 and early P3 era BIOS'es but the problem may also occur on some newer chipsets, that don't follow the "specs" for power saving features. Also, this problem seems to be more prevalent in multi-CPU machines. Only a kernel change could provide a real fix to this issue. For some motherboards, there may be a workaround by adding appropriate text to the grub config. The addition of the noapic and acpi=off to etc/grub.conf might solve the problem of reboots failing.

[kaajee]

I think that this is my problem to, the older P2 motherboard. But the solutions mentioned don't work, i'm afraid.
I tried them, again, (see also my first post). Also tried different switches for the 'reboot=' parameter (c for cold, b for bios etc.)

So maybe the only conclusion can be: SME is nog going to work (properly) with these/my computers.......
Pitty, i had 5 left and wanted five of the same SME servers......

[mike_mattos]

I have a 2 year old P4 system that isn't rebooting either, I'm currently adjusting BIOS settings to see if I can find a setting that works.

FWIT, I don't think Windows works properly either ( won't restart after power loss )

[idp_qbn]

I use a Compaq EN, but a slightly less old one (p3, 1Ghz, 512 Mb). Originally a Win2k box but WinXP would not recognise the on-board NIC properly. I got the latest BIOS update from Compaq for it some time ago and now everything seems to work (has been an SME server for 18 months).

So, see if there is an update for the BIOS from Compaq. It may solve your problem.

Good luck.
Ian

[kaajee]

I use a Compaq EN, but a slightly less old one (p3, 1Ghz, 512 Mb). Originally a Win2k box but WinXP would not recognise the on-board NIC properly. I got the latest BIOS update from Compaq for it some time ago and now everything seems to work (has been an SME server for 18 months).

So, see if there is an update for the BIOS from Compaq. It may solve your problem.

Good luck.
Ian

joooo!!
That did the trick!! I looked for a BIOS update before, but couldn't find it so fast. Because of the age of the machine! There are quite a few deskpro's at the compaq support site  
But tried a few models/bioses and found one which worked. Now i am over one year newer in the BIOS!!!     (1999 instead of 1998) bit it is workjing and the PC reboots normally now!

Thanks for all your support.....