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Tinypliny's Journal

tinypliny
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12/04/2011 10:04 #55648

Making sense of /var/log/messages
Category: linux
If there is one thing that error messages in /var/log/messages are really good for it is for regular expressions practice. I think I am getting better at regex by using the regex tool in geany to sort out and condense the list of errors my system encounters almost daily. I don't know what most of these errors mean but I gather than anything that has "error|warning|failed" is a problem.

I am realizing that the error messages are organized and labeled pretty well. I was able to isolate all the problematic messages from different components of the system with some regexing, sorting, deletion of duplicate lines and numbers within brackets. I guess the numbers within brackets are IDs of sorts but I am just focusing on the unique errors for now. I whittled down the list of 933 lines to around 100. It would have been nice if I could get the count of how many times the error occurred right next to the error line, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. Some of these errors/failures/warnings occur numerous times; some as many as 100 times.

Kernel
  • pci0000:00: ACPI _OSC request failed (AE_ERROR), returned control mask: 0x1d
  • Marking TSC unstable due to check_tsc_sync_source failed
  • Not enabling x2apic, Intr-remapping init failed.
  • [drm:intel_dsm_platform_mux_info] *ERROR* MUX INFO call failed
  • [drm:ironlake_update_pch_refclk] *ERROR* enabling SSC on PCH
  • [drm] MTRR allocation failed.Graphics performance may suffer.
  • [drm:ironlake_update_pch_refclk] *ERROR* enabling SSC on PCH
  • Buffer I/O error on device sdb1, logical block 12
  • WARNING! power/level is deprecated; use power/control instead
  • vlc: segfault at 0 ip 00007effc1acba80 sp 00007eff9a8ec420 error 4 in libtag.so.1.7.0[7effc1a90000+91000]
  • [Hardware Error]: Machine check events logged
  • usb 2-1.3: clear tt 1 (0040) error -71
  • wacom: wacom_sys_irq - usb_submit_urb failed with result -19
  • nautilus: segfault at a8 ip 0000000000488444 sp 00007fffed693650 error 4 in nautilus[400000+159000]
  • [drm:pch_irq_handler] *ERROR* PCH poison interrupt
  • rhythmbox-metad: segfault at 9 ip 0000000000408255 sp 00007fff05453690 error 4 in rhythmbox-metadata[400000+12000]
  • rhythmbox-metad: segfault at 9 ip 0000000000408255 sp 00007fff3764fd10

NetworkManager
  • GLib-GIO-WARNING **: Missing callback called fullpath = /var/run/ConsoleKit/database
  • [nm-device-wifi.c:1815] nm_device_wifi_set_mode(): (wlan0): error setting mode 2
  • (wlan0): IP6 addrconf timed out or failed.
  • (wlan0): device state change: config -> failed (reason 'supplicant-timeout') [50 120 11]
  • (wlan0): device state change: failed -> disconnected (reason 'none') [120 30 0]
  • (wlan0): device state change: ip-config -> failed (reason 'ip-config-unavailable') [70 120 5]
  • Activation (wlan0) failed for access point (JetBlue Hotspot)
  • [nm-device-wifi.c:1815] nm_device_wifi_set_mode(): (wlan0): error setting mode 2
  • (wlan0): IP6 addrconf timed out or failed.
  • (wlan0): device state change: config -> failed (reason 'supplicant-timeout') [50 120 11]
  • (wlan0): device state change: failed -> disconnected (reason 'none') [120 30 0]
  • (wlan0): device state change: ip-config -> failed (reason 'ip-config-unavailable') [70 120 5]
  • Activation (wlan0) failed for access point (JetBlue Hotspot)
  • get_secret_flags: assertion `is_secret_prop (setting, secret_name, error)' failed
  • bluez error getting default adapter: Unit dbus-org.bluez.service failed to load: No such file or directory. See system logs and 'systemctl status dbus-org.bluez.service' for details.
  • Activation (wlan0) failed for access point (RPCIpublic)
  • GLib-GIO-WARNING **: Missing callback called fullpath = /var/run/ConsoleKit/database

Hmm.. so basically, everytime I want to connect to a wifi hotspot, the system has this error: Activation (wlan0) failed for access point (ESSID of hotspot) Googling for this error brings up an enormous number of threads, for eg. This is definitely a problem with the kernel module for my wireless card. I guess whoever made that module must not have tested it on multiple-point wireless access spots or where hotspot signals are weak. It does connect comfortably with a single access wireless spot at home. Kind of defeats the mobility of the laptop. Wish the people who made the kernel module would revisit the module in less than ideal wireless scenarios and do some bug-fixing because I am way in over my head trying to troubleshoot this. I tried (e:uncutsaniflush)'s suggestion of trying other kernels. Every kernel that I tried and that has a wireless module for my card pretty much has similar problems. So no luck there.

All this drama makes me conclude that the biggest thing that linux has going against it is hardware support. There is no dearth of software genius in the community.


dbus-daemon
  • UPower-Linux-WARNING **: energy_full (4.676000) is greater than energy_full_design (4.500000)
  • UPower-WARNING **: saving directly to disk as low power
  • dbus-daemon: Job failed. See system logs and 'systemctl status' for details.
  • dbus-daemon: dbus: [system] Activation via systemd failed for unit 'dbus-org.bluez.service': Unit dbus-org.bluez.service failed to load: No such file or directory. See system logs and 'systemctl status dbus-org.bluez.service' for details.
  • dbus-daemon: Exception TypeError: "'NoneType' object is not callable" in ignored
  • dbus: [system] Activation via systemd failed for unit 'dbus-org.bluez.service': Unit dbus-org.bluez.service failed to load: No such file or directory. See system logs and 'systemctl status dbus-org.bluez.service' for details.


"firstboot"
  • Window manager* 0 stored in GConf key /desktop/gnome/peripherals/mouse/cursor_size is out of range 1 to 128
  • Window manager* Buggy client sent a _NET_ACTIVE_WINDOW message with a timestamp of 0 for 0x400031 (firstboot)
  • Window manager* CurrentTime used to choose focus window; focus window may not be correct.
  • Window manager* Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on display ':9'.
  • Window manager* Got a request to focus the no_focus_window with a timestamp of 0. This shouldn't happen!
  • Window manager* meta_window_activate called by a pager with a 0 timestamp; the pager needs to be fixed.
  • error reading information on service* No such file or directory
  • firstboot: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :9.

gdm-simple-slave
  • gdm-simple-slave: WARNING: Child process 1240 was already dead.

Erm, what? I often wonder who makes up linux jargon... Do they play a ton of dungeons and dragons? Daemons, slaves, you name it. All the weirdness of game terminology can be seen in the /var/log/messages file.

gnome-session
  • DEBUG(+): GsmXsmpServer: sms_error_handler (0x1714a90, FALSE, 3, 9, 32771, 0)
  • Gtk-WARNING: Theme parsing error: gtk-widgets.css:58:14: Themeing engine 'unico' not found
  • Gdk-WARNING:* Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0.#012
  • WARNING: Application 'gnome-shell.desktop' killed by signal

Others:
  • mcelog: HARDWARE ERROR. This is *NOT* a software problem!
  • mcelog: mcelog: Unsupported new Family 6 Model 2a CPU: only decoding architectural errors
  • nm-dispatcher.action: Script '/etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/11-dhclient' exited with error status 1.
  • pulseaudio: bluetooth-util.c: Error from ListAdapters reply: org.freedesktop.systemd1.LoadFailed
  • systemctl: Failed to issue method call: No such file or directory
  • systemd: Failed to read PID file /run/sendmail.pid after start. The service might be broken.
  • systemd: Failed to read PID file /run/sm-client.pid after start. The service might be broken.
  • systemd: Unit sendmail.service entered failed state.
  • udev-configure-printer: Failed to get parent


Text Processing Tools:
Apart from regexing, I found TextOpus online I wish I could write perl programs that replicate the functionality of this tool. Or just download an offline version of the tool.

Actually I just want to be as skilled as Tomasz Klekot at text processing.

12/02/2011 23:50 #55643

Whole Wheat Flax Seed Fig Loaf
Category: eating in
I think I have the magic ratio, finally.

1: Water
+ 2.00 ~2.25: Whole Wheat Flour
≥ 0.25: Ground Flax Seed {I think this is where you can add "whatever"}
+ 1 Tbsp: Fig butter
+ 2 Tbsp: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
+ generous salt
+ ~1/2 packet yeast

image

Let the yeast feast on
1:Water
1:Flour,
1tbsp olive oil
generous salt and the fig butter. (they like fig butter! It's basically food for the yeast. I couldn't taste it in the bread probably because the yeast ate it all.)

The feasting period ends with a warmish bubbly looking liquidy flour. Add the rest of the flour and extras and knead till your arms fall off the dough is not sticky but slightly tacky. Use the rest of the oil while kneading the dough.

Let the dough rest for 2-3 hours. (Up to 12 hours if you want to intensify the sour taste. I didn't have any patience today and allowed just 2 hours before I harvested the dough for the next phase.)

Punch it down, knead, shape and put in loaf pans.
Cover the loaf pan with an aluminium foil tent as a lid.
Put it in the oven. Let it sit for 30 more minutes.
Turn on the oven and set the temperature to 350-375 deg F.
Bake the loaf covered for around 30 minutes
Uncover, spray the bread with water and bake for 20~30 more minutes.

Let the bread cool (gluttons will be tempted to slice whiles it's still hot. I did! The result is super delicious but the bread is kind of wet and doughy with the water vapour and not like what you would expect from bread).

Slice after cooling. Spread speculoos paste or butter generously on slices and Enjoy!

Mission 5 accomplished! *
===
\*Ref: (e:tinypliny,55637)


PS: The pizza I made alongside this bread was an unmitigated disaster. The less said about it the better.

12/02/2011 10:27 #55641

I don't want to like you!
Category: whine
Why does every corner shop and big retailer want me to "like" them on facebook?? It's so annoying especially when they link offers and discounts to this asinine practice.

I want those offers, dammit. But I don't want facebook. I won't get those offers and discounts if I don't submit to the lameness and sheep-herding on facebook.

Hmm...

I guess my resistance against facebook trumps my attraction to those offers.

I am glad it took so little time to get this quandary sorted.


PS: Where did the drawing gadget on (e:strip) go?
tinypliny - 12/03/11 19:02
yes, what you say is probably why they are doing that. Facebook does act like a sort of general aggregator. I remember my advisor saying she gets some cancer related news from facebook.
tinypliny - 12/03/11 19:00
hehe, nice idea about the portal. You can actually do that now all by yourself. Just grab the RSS feeds off the sites you are interested in and feed them into your Google Reader. Or set up a google alert and have it emailed to you enmasse everyday. :)
metalpeter - 12/03/11 18:49
Wonder how many have them on G+..... Liking them on Facebook for them is a great idea.... See this way (they are being green if you think about it since they aren't giving you say mailing every week?) When something new or news or some deal or they are going to be on say TV (Zillycakes) they can let everyone know... Or the other thing it is also good for is Promotion.... As an example again of Zillycakes there is this holiday something out in Niagara Falls I think and Zilly is there selling stuff well anyone who follows them knows about that market (I'm not busing it to the falls just for that hence why I don't know all the details)..... See what Facebook I think may become in some time is what they call a Portal (sure you know about what portal sites are what I think they are is this) Site.... Where instead of knowing what is going on by having to go to say 30 sites (well less but just a number) you can just go to one site and follow them all.... As an example.... I know you like the Chocolate place and Price rite and lets say you where still going to dance classes at a certain studio.... Well to find out what was going on before that is 3 different sites now at facebook you could find out what is going on at one site.... Imagine if you shopped everywhere on the strip......

12/01/2011 18:28 #55637

I wish I could learn...
Category: goals
0. R completely and thoroughly
1. Perl well
2. Unix commands well (so commandline becomes second nature)
3. to churn out papers like a maniac (aka postdoc)
4. how to make perfect stovetop popcorn
5. how to make a perfect sourdough bread every single time
6. how to make perfect pancakes or waffles
7. how to make pizza base without a recipe and well.

I intend to get a head start on those resolutions.

libertad - 12/01/11 21:14
I got number 5. I actually prefer my waffles from scratch but my pancakes from Bisquick.
tinypliny - 12/01/11 18:34
I am so jealous! How do you do it? Can you post a step-by-step for novices??? PLEASE???
kookcity2000 - 12/01/11 18:31
I got 4 down perfect

12/01/2011 17:26 #55635

America loves McDs
Category: the odes
image
181,456 X $13 (out of which McD's get $6.50) and counting.

I am tempted to get those 5 large fries.
---
EDIT
Whoa. They extended the deal by a day. And 20K more people have been caught in the fly fry trap. That is almost approaching the size of the whole population of Buffalo.
image

And damn, I totally missed out the $10 Whole Foods deal! I need to check my spam folder more often. :)


tinypliny - 12/01/11 17:51
thanks very much.

;-)
YesThatCasey - 12/01/11 17:46
They're made in meat juice