RE: sata_mv port lockup on hotplug (kernel 2.6.38.2)

[Bruce Stenning]

Please accept my most humble apologies for the lack of line breaks in
my previous email.  Here it is again, this time in a more readable
format:

Hello,

We have a bespoke platform utilising a Marvell MV88SX6041 SATA controller
on which we have been running Linux 2.6.26 and using the sata_mv driver.

We have noticed problems with SATA ports occasionally locking up (on
hotplug events) and remaining unresponsive.  The normal kernel logging
that occurs on hotplug events is no longer emitted for the locked ports
(but will be emitted for the other sata ports that have not exhibited
the problem.)  The disks attached to the locked ports are completely
unresponsive.  The condition can be cleared by removing the sata_mv
kernel module from memory and reloading it, after which the kernel
logging becomes active (and the disks are usable) for all ports.

The following changeset was seen as a strong candidate for addressing
this problem:

http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commitdiff;h=933cb8e5fcdebd4b666165e3f039f814d62b0e52

We are now in the process of upgrading to the stable 2.6.38.2 kernel
release, but initial testing of this on our platform exhibits the same
hotplug behaviour.  Hotplug is possible, but occasionally the ports
will lock up and not be responsive until sata_mv is removed and
reinstalled.  Other than this, the new kernel and driver seem to be
operating normally.

Has this problem been observed elsewhere with kernels that include the
above patch?  Please CC me in replies.

Kind Regards,

Bruce Stenning,
IndigoVision,
b <dot> stenning <at> indigovision <dot> com


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