ALSA: Sound server fatal error:

[GeeFN]

Hi there,

I am having a problem or two getting my Sound Blaster 5.1 to work with SUSE 8.2. The card is recognised and configured, but ALSA refuses to work with it. So no CDs and no streaming MP3s. Rather than explain, here is all the relevant information I can think of. Any help and/or pointers would be much appreciated. If this is an interrupt problem, would it be worth trying to swap the cards around and risking another IRQ-sharing clash???

Thanks, Gee

/sbin/lspci:

02:00.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs [SB Live! Value] EMU10k1X
02:00.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs [SB Live! Value] Input device con
troller

Interrupts:
enugu:~ # more /proc/interrupts
           CPU0
  0:   43171449          XT-PIC  timer
  1:      19009          XT-PIC  keyboard
  2:          0          XT-PIC  cascade
  3:    6081313          XT-PIC  eth0
  5:     572279          XT-PIC  ehci-hcd
  8:          2          XT-PIC  rtc
  9:          0          XT-PIC  acpi, usb-uhci
 10:     193201          XT-PIC  EMU10K1, usb-uhci
 11:          0          XT-PIC  usb-uhci, usb-uhci
 14:     192755          XT-PIC  ide0
 15:        663          XT-PIC  ide1
NMI:          0
LOC:          0
ERR:          0
MIS:          0

/proc/ioports:

/proc/ioports:

enugu:~ # more /proc/ioports
0000-001f : dma1
0020-003f : pic1
0040-005f : timer
0060-006f : keyboard
0070-007f : rtc
0080-008f : dma page reg
00a0-00bf : pic2
00c0-00df : dma2
00f0-00ff : fpu
0170-0177 : ide1
01f0-01f7 : ide0
0376-0376 : ide1
03c0-03df : vesafb
03f6-03f6 : ide0
03f8-03ff : serial(auto)
0cf8-0cff : PCI conf1
df18-df1f : PCI device 1102:7004 (Creative Labs)
df20-df3f : PCI device 1102:0006 (Creative Labs)
  df20-df3f : EMU10K1
df40-df7f : PCI device 8086:1050 (Intel Corp.)
  df40-df7f : e100
efe0-efff : PCI device 8086:24d3 (Intel Corp.)
fe00-fe07 : PCI device 8086:24d1 (Intel Corp.)
fe10-fe13 : PCI device 8086:24d1 (Intel Corp.)
fe20-fe27 : PCI device 8086:24d1 (Intel Corp.)
fe30-fe33 : PCI device 8086:24d1 (Intel Corp.)
fea0-feaf : PCI device 8086:24d1 (Intel Corp.)
ff20-ff3f : PCI device 8086:24de (Intel Corp.)
  ff20-ff3f : usb-uhci
ff40-ff5f : PCI device 8086:24d7 (Intel Corp.)
  ff40-ff5f : usb-uhci
ff60-ff7f : PCI device 8086:24d4 (Intel Corp.)
  ff60-ff7f : usb-uhci
ff80-ff9f : PCI device 8086:24d2 (Intel Corp.)
  ff80-ff9f : usb-uhci
ffa0-ffaf : PCI device 8086:24db (Intel Corp.)
  ffa0-ffa7 : ide0
  ffa8-ffaf : ide1
enugu:~ # more /proc/asound/version
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 0.9.0rc7.
Compiled on Jul 11 2003 for kernel 2.4.20-4GB.

/var/log/messages:

Jul 25 03:05:28 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:204: BUG: stream = 0, pos = 0xfffff
bd0, buffer size = 0x4000, period size = 0x1000
Jul 25 03:05:38 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:2151: playback write error (DMA or
IRQ trouble?)
Jul 25 03:05:38 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:204: BUG: stream = 0, pos = 0xfffff
bd0, buffer size = 0x4000, period size = 0x1000
Jul 25 03:05:48 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:204: BUG: stream = 0, pos = 0xfffff
bd0, buffer size = 0x4000, period size = 0x1000
Jul 25 03:05:49 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:204: BUG: stream = 0, pos = 0xffffb
bd0, buffer size = 0x4000, period size = 0x1000
Jul 25 03:05:49 linux last message repeated 19 times
Jul 25 03:05:58 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:2151: playback write error (DMA or
IRQ trouble?)
Jul 25 03:05:59 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_native.c:1154: playback drain error (DMA
or IRQ trouble?)
Jul 25 03:05:59 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:204: BUG: stream = 0, pos = 0xffffb
bd0, buffer size = 0x4000, period size = 0x1000
Jul 25 03:05:59 linux kernel: ALSA pcm_lib.c:204: BUG: stream = 0, pos = 0xfffff
bc8, buffer size = 0x4000, period size = 0x1000

And finally, with Sound trace=debug:

Sound server warning message:
unix_connect: can't connect to server (unix:/tmp/mcop-geoff/enugu_anambra-18fc-3f23cf1b)

Sound server fatal error:
cpu overload, aborting

[Dolda2000]

That isn't really a Creative SB Live. This is a Dell Dimension 4550, right? They are using a custom-built sound chip similar to but yet incomptable with the EMU10K1, called the EMU10K1X. The standard OSS and ALSA drivers will not work with it. The only known working Linux driver for it is part of the commercial OSS project by 4Front Tech, and a non-demo version costs about $39, while a real SB Live can easily cost around $29.
My little sister had the same problem, and I just replaced it with a spare SB Live that was lying around, which worked exemplary. I'm still trying to keep an email correspondence about it with Dell alive, but they don't seem to answer very often (I've only gotten one reply yet), and I hope to resolve it eventually, but I can't bet anything on it.

[GeeFN]

Yep, you got it! Not exactly the model you specifiy but near enough to make no difference - a Dimension 8300, I believe. I, too, might be able to rustle up a spare (real) SB Live! or perhaps I can go and buy one somewhere, they are common enough to be pretty cheap, though I guess I had better make sure it is the REAL thing, to avoid getting screwed again...

Thanks for the pointers and keep up the good work

Gee

[GeeFN]

Thought you might like to know that I sorted it out with, ironically, an SB Live! from an even older DELL Dimension, which apparently *did* have the correct chip. Now me and the ALSA sever make for a couple of happy bunnies.

Thanks again
Gee