X applications freeze the laptop

[srikanth_dhondi]

I have been trying to use Tecplot (a plotting graphical package) on a remote server through X. After using it for a while (10 - 20 mins) my laptop freezes. However I can still move my mouse but cant do anything else but force restart which is bad.

Any inputs will be greatly appreciated.

[D-cat]

You said the program is remote. Is this a wireless connection? I'm thinking even a quick network drop or glitch at the right moment could cause a program to hang in a state of waiting. It shouldn't take the rest of X down with it (unless the whole X session is remote), but I can come up with possible ways it might.

The fact that your mouse still works suggests that inturrupts are still functioning. I can think of a couple of ways to recover.
First is the standard local methods, if closing a program fails, try [Ctrl + Alt + F1], log into the text console, them manually kill the offending program.
[Alt+F7] should return you to the X console.
[Ctrl + Alt + Backspace] should reset the X terminal.

If the local terminal is hopelessly locked, then you still may be able to log in remote via ssh and try killing offending programs, or bring down (reset) X with sudo init 3 (wait for reached), sudo init 5 (restart X).

If this is indeed a wireless connection, I would test your program via a wired connection to see if you experience the same result.
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Finding the program to kill:
Assuming the program is actually executed on your local computer, run ps -A to list all processes. Find the name of the process you want to kill and take note of the pid number. Then to kill the process, type kill pid# . If is still refuses to go down, use kill -9 pid# .

If the program is executed on a remote computer and is simple being directed to your X display, you'll have to log into the computer the program is running on to forcibly kill it.

[srikanth_dhondi]

Hi D-Cat, I tried all the above options to kill the application when it hangs. None of them seem to work.

I am using a wired connection.

As you said I should be able to kill the program by logging onto the machine and killing it. But I don't have another computer to do that.

I cannot use ps -A as the whole system is paralyzed except for the mouse.

[D-cat]

So the remote computer you're running this program on is not in your own domicile? That's an issue. I don't really know how to regain control of a locked console without a remote connection (short of the reset button). Since you are using a wire and the KB totally stops responding, you might want to take a slightly different approach. Is this remote computer one that you own or have admin rights to? Is there a way to log in with NX or VNC instead of running it out your local X server? That would at least make net glitches less devastating... even if your connection was dropped, you can log back in and resume where you left off. I see it (Tecplot) requires GL though, so that may not work, I don't know. I suppose you wouldn't want to shell the $4000 for your own local copy (assuming it's a basic version)... don't blame you.

I'm sorry to say but all I can really suggest is to save often as needed. Maybe someone else has some ideas, but I'm gone for broke. Good luck.