From 4f08d7ab90b53335e63c00b6c2c3000084540184 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Thorsten Leemhuis Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 20:27:47 +0100 Subject: docs: reporting-issues.rst: reorder some steps Reorder some steps where the order in which the readers perform them is not crucial. This is a preparation for a later change that would make the text much more complex otherwise. Content just moved, not changed at all in the process. Signed-off-by: Thorsten Leemhuis Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/8dfc58efde25a05ccf9bf85929826c4b1b9e09c5.1616181657.git.linux@leemhuis.info Signed-off-by: Jonathan Corbet --- Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst | 222 ++++++++++++------------- 1 file changed, 111 insertions(+), 111 deletions(-) (limited to 'Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst') diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst index 3c9bf24ebf66..6234741caca8 100644 --- a/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst +++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst @@ -104,19 +104,8 @@ process won't feel wasted in the end: issue, or a really severe problem: those are 'issues of high priority' that need special handling in some steps that are about to follow. - * Check if your kernel was 'tainted' when the issue occurred, as the event - that made the kernel set this flag might be causing the issue you face. - - * Locate the driver or kernel subsystem that seems to be causing the issue. - Find out how and where its developers expect reports. Note: most of the - time this won't be bugzilla.kernel.org, as issues typically need to be sent - by mail to a maintainer and a public mailing list. - - * Search the archives of the bug tracker or mailing list in question - thoroughly for reports that might match your issue. Also check if you find - something with your favorite internet search engine or in the Linux Kernel - Mailing List (LKML) archives. If you find anything, join the discussion - instead of sending a new report. + * Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue + you face. * Create a fresh backup and put system repair and restore tools at hand. @@ -124,8 +113,8 @@ process won't feel wasted in the end: kernel modules on-the-fly, which solutions like DKMS might be doing locally without your knowledge. - * Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue - you face. + * Check if your kernel was 'tainted' when the issue occurred, as the event + that made the kernel set this flag might be causing the issue you face. * Write down coarsely how to reproduce the issue. If you deal with multiple issues at once, create separate notes for each of them and make sure they @@ -133,6 +122,17 @@ process won't feel wasted in the end: needs to get reported to the kernel developers separately, unless they are strongly entangled. + * Locate the driver or kernel subsystem that seems to be causing the issue. + Find out how and where its developers expect reports. Note: most of the + time this won't be bugzilla.kernel.org, as issues typically need to be sent + by mail to a maintainer and a public mailing list. + + * Search the archives of the bug tracker or mailing list in question + thoroughly for reports that might match your issue. Also check if you find + something with your favorite internet search engine or in the Linux Kernel + Mailing List (LKML) archives. If you find anything, join the discussion + instead of sending a new report. + After these preparations you'll now enter the main part: * Unless you are already running the latest 'mainline' Linux kernel, better @@ -367,6 +367,75 @@ fatal error where the kernel stop itself) with a 'Oops' (a recoverable error), as the kernel remains running after the latter. +Ensure a healthy environment +---------------------------- + + *Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue + you face.* + +Problems that look a lot like a kernel issue are sometimes caused by build or +runtime environment. It's hard to rule out that problem completely, but you +should minimize it: + + * Use proven tools when building your kernel, as bugs in the compiler or the + binutils can cause the resulting kernel to misbehave. + + * Ensure your computer components run within their design specifications; + that's especially important for the main processor, the main memory, and the + motherboard. Therefore, stop undervolting or overclocking when facing a + potential kernel issue. + + * Try to make sure it's not faulty hardware that is causing your issue. Bad + main memory for example can result in a multitude of issues that will + manifest itself in problems looking like kernel issues. + + * If you're dealing with a filesystem issue, you might want to check the file + system in question with ``fsck``, as it might be damaged in a way that leads + to unexpected kernel behavior. + + * When dealing with a regression, make sure it's not something else that + changed in parallel to updating the kernel. The problem for example might be + caused by other software that was updated at the same time. It can also + happen that a hardware component coincidentally just broke when you rebooted + into a new kernel for the first time. Updating the systems BIOS or changing + something in the BIOS Setup can also lead to problems that on look a lot + like a kernel regression. + + +Prepare for emergencies +----------------------- + + *Create a fresh backup and put system repair and restore tools at hand.* + +Reminder, you are dealing with computers, which sometimes do unexpected things, +especially if you fiddle with crucial parts like the kernel of its operating +system. That's what you are about to do in this process. Thus, make sure to +create a fresh backup; also ensure you have all tools at hand to repair or +reinstall the operating system as well as everything you need to restore the +backup. + + +Make sure your kernel doesn't get enhanced +------------------------------------------ + + *Ensure your system does not enhance its kernels by building additional + kernel modules on-the-fly, which solutions like DKMS might be doing locally + without your knowledge.* + +The risk your issue report gets ignored or rejected dramatically increases if +your kernel gets enhanced in any way. That's why you should remove or disable +mechanisms like akmods and DKMS: those build add-on kernel modules +automatically, for example when you install a new Linux kernel or boot it for +the first time. Also remove any modules they might have installed. Then reboot +before proceeding. + +Note, you might not be aware that your system is using one of these solutions: +they often get set up silently when you install Nvidia's proprietary graphics +driver, VirtualBox, or other software that requires a some support from a +module not part of the Linux kernel. That why your might need to uninstall the +packages with such software to get rid of any 3rd party kernel module. + + Check 'taint' flag ------------------ @@ -435,6 +504,33 @@ three things: the name of the module in question). +Document how to reproduce issue +------------------------------- + + *Write down coarsely how to reproduce the issue. If you deal with multiple + issues at once, create separate notes for each of them and make sure they + work independently on a freshly booted system. That's needed, as each issue + needs to get reported to the kernel developers separately, unless they are + strongly entangled.* + +If you deal with multiple issues at once, you'll have to report each of them +separately, as they might be handled by different developers. Describing +various issues in one report also makes it quite difficult for others to tear +it apart. Hence, only combine issues in one report if they are very strongly +entangled. + +Additionally, during the reporting process you will have to test if the issue +happens with other kernel versions. Therefore, it will make your work easier if +you know exactly how to reproduce an issue quickly on a freshly booted system. + +Note: it's often fruitless to report issues that only happened once, as they +might be caused by a bit flip due to cosmic radiation. That's why you should +try to rule that out by reproducing the issue before going further. Feel free +to ignore this advice if you are experienced enough to tell a one-time error +due to faulty hardware apart from a kernel issue that rarely happens and thus +is hard to reproduce. + + Locate kernel area that causes the issue ---------------------------------------- @@ -672,102 +768,6 @@ test a proposed fix. Jump to the section 'Duties after the report went out' for details on how to get properly involved. -Prepare for emergencies ------------------------ - - *Create a fresh backup and put system repair and restore tools at hand.* - -Reminder, you are dealing with computers, which sometimes do unexpected things, -especially if you fiddle with crucial parts like the kernel of its operating -system. That's what you are about to do in this process. Thus, make sure to -create a fresh backup; also ensure you have all tools at hand to repair or -reinstall the operating system as well as everything you need to restore the -backup. - - -Make sure your kernel doesn't get enhanced ------------------------------------------- - - *Ensure your system does not enhance its kernels by building additional - kernel modules on-the-fly, which solutions like DKMS might be doing locally - without your knowledge.* - -The risk your issue report gets ignored or rejected dramatically increases if -your kernel gets enhanced in any way. That's why you should remove or disable -mechanisms like akmods and DKMS: those build add-on kernel modules -automatically, for example when you install a new Linux kernel or boot it for -the first time. Also remove any modules they might have installed. Then reboot -before proceeding. - -Note, you might not be aware that your system is using one of these solutions: -they often get set up silently when you install Nvidia's proprietary graphics -driver, VirtualBox, or other software that requires a some support from a -module not part of the Linux kernel. That why your might need to uninstall the -packages with such software to get rid of any 3rd party kernel module. - - -Ensure a healthy environment ----------------------------- - - *Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue - you face.* - -Problems that look a lot like a kernel issue are sometimes caused by build or -runtime environment. It's hard to rule out that problem completely, but you -should minimize it: - - * Use proven tools when building your kernel, as bugs in the compiler or the - binutils can cause the resulting kernel to misbehave. - - * Ensure your computer components run within their design specifications; - that's especially important for the main processor, the main memory, and the - motherboard. Therefore, stop undervolting or overclocking when facing a - potential kernel issue. - - * Try to make sure it's not faulty hardware that is causing your issue. Bad - main memory for example can result in a multitude of issues that will - manifest itself in problems looking like kernel issues. - - * If you're dealing with a filesystem issue, you might want to check the file - system in question with ``fsck``, as it might be damaged in a way that leads - to unexpected kernel behavior. - - * When dealing with a regression, make sure it's not something else that - changed in parallel to updating the kernel. The problem for example might be - caused by other software that was updated at the same time. It can also - happen that a hardware component coincidentally just broke when you rebooted - into a new kernel for the first time. Updating the systems BIOS or changing - something in the BIOS Setup can also lead to problems that on look a lot - like a kernel regression. - - -Document how to reproduce issue -------------------------------- - - *Write down coarsely how to reproduce the issue. If you deal with multiple - issues at once, create separate notes for each of them and make sure they - work independently on a freshly booted system. That's needed, as each issue - needs to get reported to the kernel developers separately, unless they are - strongly entangled.* - -If you deal with multiple issues at once, you'll have to report each of them -separately, as they might be handled by different developers. Describing -various issues in one report also makes it quite difficult for others to tear -it apart. Hence, only combine issues in one report if they are very strongly -entangled. - -Additionally, during the reporting process you will have to test if the issue -happens with other kernel versions. Therefore, it will make your work easier if -you know exactly how to reproduce an issue quickly on a freshly booted system. - -Note: it's often fruitless to report issues that only happened once, as they -might be caused by a bit flip due to cosmic radiation. That's why you should -try to rule that out by reproducing the issue before going further. Feel free -to ignore this advice if you are experienced enough to tell a one-time error -due to faulty hardware apart from a kernel issue that rarely happens and thus -is hard to reproduce. - - Install a fresh kernel for testing ---------------------------------- -- cgit v1.2.3