28 days then reboot & now unreadable jibberish on COM port

[JustaGuy]

All was fine a minute ago until I issued the reboot command to my eSATA Sheeva Multi. Now on the serial port instead of the usual sequence of output I have spurts of what ends up like this:

Code:

vÒg·ÏþÿþþþîÒCÔÒCÔÒCÔÒÃÒÒÃÒìã&ÛzwgÒgÒgfgÒ''gÒgÒ'gÒgÒfgf''gÒgÒ'gÒgÒgÒgÒgÒgfgÒ'gÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚfgÚ'gÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÒgÒgÒgÒgÒ'Ò£S&&
                                                  îRÒÒæwÿKÙ
gövBkökSgÛ&3cc
              +gWgknk/3Ú'oóÒR{ûóâÒk#ZGóBVÆ&þJâfkïcWßãßG'Ú:ókgwßÛ_ë«cãO^Kwwgwg'wÇ'kï/ï3úzjï
          CâK#OâKCOâ
                    C/âKCObËCOâ##Ûïÿwk3â^çóJVc#ZGócj÷w_wswswËsgJãëkãWûw?wZöãçVfwÏOoªozîîçÓçÓÇssÓ2G/Ócó*ûfjgÇgÇGgGkkçê;ÂnçBÒg2ÃçÇëBë×/Â[GoÂkgR[ïGÂoûÇ+wcoo>GköVggscãV7[gÇcÆï+ï/û7o[/ÓVïC×gfj+ÂwëÛ7g÷÷ûwgïwg?wgwwgçwg'ãOï_ç_âÛëÛëïÇcggÃÃc¹×÷ëg{k{ûk{[#þ#ûkïãg{S"ËÛ[CÃ+#þ;ÃwgÛwgÃ3'ëwçwßÏcû_ËSÒÒg{G>#JgjbÃãrÓs#/s{ÂCkksïsïsïsïsïsï3ïsï3ïsï3ïsïsïsïßjÛ_RCþc_
                        Û2Cþc_ßjÛ_RCþ#_ßjÛ_RCþc_oRÆSÂÒRgæïçç×RrÆSÂÒkÒkkÛïÛÒR'æogçRrÆSÂ;ÒkOkkÛïÛÒ'ïÒRgæïÒg{+22ÆS"kÏÒkkÛo+RRgæ¯çç×û÷ÒkÏÒkk[/ÛÒ'ïÒçïû÷ÒgïoïkGb÷Ç'ÓâëGÓêçbúï×wÃÇïk{#îÎ7nsc~Wúÿïòëâÿïf{òÿïfoòÿf{òÿï~gâÿï~gâÿï~gâÿïîKþÿïòËâÿï2Ëâÿïê+òÿÞïî÷âÿïîëâÿïîãâÿïn?âÿï~ïcâÿïòkâÿ÷òkâÿrÇß÷òG[âÿ÷òçKÿÿ÷öókó

...And I can't ssh in after 5 minutes either.

So I remove the SD card & boot again. Now it looks like this:

Code:

ûgúÏþ   ãÿþþúÒCÒCÒCÒCÒCÒCÒÔÔCÒÔCÒÒCÒÒÖÒÒÒÒîÒÃÒÒÃÒÒcÔgÒgÒgÒgÒfgÒ'ÒgÒgÒgÒgÒgÒgÒgÒfgÚ'gÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚgÚ'gÚgÚgÚ'gÚgÚgÚgÚgÒgÒgÒ'gÒgÒgÒgÒgÖcÇRRæ*ËÎFRÒfÿÇogööÂkökSgÛæÓccËkg×g+nkïsZç/óÒR{û3âÒ+cZGóBVFæþJâfkïcW?#ßGg:ÚókgwßÛ_ë+cãÏ^w7gwg'7Ç'kï/ï3úzjïKOâKCOâKCâK#OâKCOâ
                       Câcc+ïÿw_kóâ^çóJVcãZÇócj÷wwswswËsgJãëkãWûw/7Zöã'VæÏÏoª/zîçÓçÓÇssÓRG×ïÓcój{f*'ÇçGgÇkkçBj[Âî'ÒgrÃçÇëBëBïÂ[GÖ/ÂkgR[o[oGÂoûÇ[wã/o>GköVgg3cãV÷ÛgÇÃcïk/ï{wo[ïSVï3×gfjÂëwëÛwg÷÷ûwgoww'ww'çwgçãOï_ç_âÛëïÇcggÃÃ#9×÷kgûk{{k{[Cþ[CÓ[Cþ[CÃwgÛwgsçëwçw?Ïcû?ËSÚÒg{GÞ#Jg{'>ãJgjbÃãrÓsãïsûBCkksï3ïsï3ïsïsïsï3ïsï3ïsï3ïsïsïßj[_RCþc_ßjÛ_RCþc_ßjÛ_RCþc_ßjÛ_R#þcoRrÆSÂRgæïçç×RrÆSÂRkÏÒ++ÛïÛÒRgæ¯ç'×Rr6SÂ{Òk2kkÛïÛÒ'ïÒRgæïÒg{rÆSÂÒkÏÒ++ÛïÛÒRgæïçç×û

...And again, I can't ssh into it a few minutes after the jibberish stops.

So now what NewIT?

[NewIT_Marcus]

Sometimes the serial port doesn't get the connection right and you have to wait a while for the data to come right.

In this case, that doesn't seem to be the problem. You need to eliminate possible sources of the problem:

* Establish serial connection, then use the paperclip.
* Try to use a different host PC to connect via the serial connection.
* Use a different SD card. If you don't have a way or writing an image or otherwise preparing the SD card, you may not be able to perform this test.

If you can't eliminate theplug as the source of the problem, please e-mail jason@newit.co.uk describing the symptoms.

[JustaGuy]

* Establish serial connection, then use the paperclip.

Even when the port looks jumbled? I'll stay on pause with this one until it's confirmed.

* Try to use a different host PC to connect via the serial connection.

I don't have another PC to do this with at the moment, I'll add preparing one to the to-do list.

* Use a different SD card. If you don't have a way or writing an image or otherwise preparing the SD card, you may not be able to perform this test.

The backup SD card I had allows me to ssh after I wait for the symbols to stop on the serial.

This part doesn't make any sense to me.
SD Card 'B' was, but the NAND wasn't active- when the mystery event happened to trigger this.

SD Card 'A' = symbols + ssh
SD Card 'B' = symbols - ssh
NAND Card = symbols - ssh

Maybe this makes sense to you. I await further instructions.

[NewIT_Marcus]

* Establish serial connection, then use the paperclip.

Even when the port looks jumbled? I'll stay on pause with this one until it's confirmed.

Yes, that is the point of this test.

* Try to use a different host PC to connect via the serial connection.

I don't have another PC to do this with at the moment, I'll add preparing one to the to-do list.

* Use a different SD card. If you don't have a way or writing an image or otherwise preparing the SD card, you may not be able to perform this test.

The backup SD card I had allows me to ssh after I wait for the symbols to stop on the serial.

This part doesn't make any sense to me.
SD Card 'B' was, but the NAND wasn't active- when the mystery event happened to trigger this.

SD Card 'A' = symbols + ssh
SD Card 'B' = symbols - ssh
NAND Card = symbols - ssh

Maybe this makes sense to you. I await further instructions.

It's not looking good, but the common factors are both the Sheeva and the host PC. If you can use a different PC, you should be able to eliminate the host(s).

[JustaGuy]

Well, the paper clip reset did seem to yeild a new pattern of symbol printout, then the terminal reset & it was the same pattern as previously, and still no ssh.
--
Starting to build another PC now.

[DaveH]

I've had occasional incidences of junk on the COM port but it's always gone away with a reset. None of my plugs wants to oblige at the moment so I can't try to fix the problem, but it's usually either removing and replacing the USB lead (causing Linux to re-enumerate the serial port) or rebooting the plug that cures it for me. One of mine has an uptime of 29 days, I guess I could reboot it and see what happens.

<pause>

No, it's come up just fine.

[JustaGuy]

I started this forum post when my white Sheeva began with these symptoms, since then my black one has returned from NewIT, presumably with a clean bill of health- a 'known good' variant.

I tried both black & white plugs with both the original and the cloned SD cards, using both short & long USB cables that came with them from NewIT.
This time on a Dell Poweredge R210 running XP pro x64.

I have no serial on either plug, using either SD card, with either USB cable. Just symbols.

I have no SSH access except partially, one specific way.
When I use the backup SD card I cloned the original to, on the black plug, I can enter the login 'root', but the password is no longer valid.
Otherwise no connection.

[NewIT_Marcus]

If there is a plroblem with the SD card, then by cloning it and using both SD cards in 2 plugs, all you will prove that the SD card won't work.

It seems to me that you have used 2 different plugs, 2 SD cards (albeit effectively the same SD card, if one was cloned to the other), and SD card and NAND booting.

The one common factor is the corrupted characters and your host. Is that right?


Edit: I don't understand your mentions of ssh. Of course ssh uses a differnt connection method to the serial port, so that is a variation. But I don't understand your problem reports. You should explain:

Plug A - SD card A - serial
Plug A - SD card A - ssh
Plug A - NAND - serial
Plug A - NAND - ssh
Plug B - SD card A - serial
Plug B - SD card A - ssh
Plug B - NAND - serial
Plug B - NAND - ssh

(There's little value in reporting SD card B, since it is apparently a clone of B. If you do get differing results with card B, then that would be relevant).

[JustaGuy]

I didn't test NAND all the different ways.
There are 2 hosts involved.
There were different results between the SD cards.

It seems a good idea to plot a course of action regarding what to test.
Excluding USB cables from the testing matrix, it could look like this.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Plug A - SD card A - serial - Host A
Plug A - SD card A - serial - Host B
Plug A - SD card A - ssh - Host A
Plug A - SD card A - ssh - Host B
Plug A - SD card B - serial - Host A
Plug A - SD card B - serial - Host B
Plug A - SD card B - ssh - Host A
Plug A - SD card B - ssh - Host B
Plug A - NAND - serial - Host A
Plug A - NAND - serial - Host B
Plug A - NAND - ssh - Host A
Plug A - NAND - ssh - Host B

Plug B - SD card A - serial - Host A
Plug B - SD card A - serial - Host B
Plug B - SD card A - ssh - Host A
Plug B - SD card A - ssh - Host B
Plug B - SD card B - serial - Host A
Plug B - SD card B - serial - Host B
Plug B - SD card B - ssh - Host A
Plug B - SD card B - ssh - Host B
Plug B - NAND - serial - Host A
Plug B - NAND - serial - Host B
Plug B - NAND - ssh - Host A
Plug B - NAND - ssh - Host B

If you feel that going through all that is necessary, I'll give it a shot although I don't know when, it may be another week until there's time.

[NewIT_Marcus]

That is the correct matrix. It's unlikely that you will need to perform all tests, since the purpose is to identify which combinations work and which don't, and compare the differences between each scenario. If changing one element causes a change in symptoms (from working to non-working, or vice-versa), then you most likely have found the problem element.

If I could understand your reports, I could fill in the parts of the matrix and perhaps even diagnose the problem. You wrote "symbols - ssh" and "symbols + ssh" and I really don't know what you meant by that; those presumably represent different elements in the matrix, so you should be able to begin filling it in already.

There is one other factor - the USB cable. This only affects serial connections. We've read a number of reports where cables have been at fault.

[JustaGuy]

My intentions are to repeatedly edit this post until values are populated sufficiently that a conclusion may be drawn.
Thanks in advance for your help with this.

Plug A       = Black (Sheeva eSATA Multi)
Plug B       = White (Sheeva eSATA Multi)
SD Card A  = Integra, 8GB, class 6 (from NewIT, Pre-installed Debian Squeeze)
SD Card B  = Sandisk, 16GB, class 4 (from BestBuy, Cloned the Pre-installed Debian Squeeze)
Host A      = Windows 7 x64 on Dell XPS430 (*1)
Host B      = Windows XP Pro x64 on Dell Poweredge R210 (*1)
Short USB = From NewIT, included with White Sheeva
Long USB  = From NewIT, included with Black Sheeva

(*1):
Same drivers installed to both hosts, from zip file on the CD that shipped with plugs:
File name: SheevaPlug_Host_SWsupportPackageWindowsHost1.2.zip
MD5:   4600445052e3d57d79a04c3f4eec290b
SHA-1: 60e061d8067f9621f535d29ce395ded72b8c243e
CRC32: 61dd6190

Plug A - SD card A - serial - Host A - Short USB Cable  =
Plug A - SD card A - serial - Host B - Short USB Cable  = garbage patterned to suggest
Plug A - SD card A - ssh - Host A - Short USB Cable    =
Plug A - SD card A - ssh - Host B - Short USB Cable    = terminal unresponsive, only a flashing caret
Plug A - SD card B - serial - Host A - Short USB Cable  =
Plug A - SD card B - serial - Host B - Short USB Cable  = garbage patterned to suggest complete boot
Plug A - SD card B - ssh - Host A - Short USB Cable    =
Plug A - SD card B - ssh - Host B - Short USB Cable    = reaches login, rejects proper root password
Plug A - NAND - serial - Host A - Short USB Cable       =
Plug A - NAND - serial - Host B - Short USB Cable       =
Plug A - NAND - ssh - Host A - Short USB Cable         =
Plug A - NAND - ssh - Host B - Short USB Cable          =

Plug B - SD card A - serial - Host A - Short USB Cable  =
Plug B - SD card A - serial - Host B - Short USB Cable  = garbage patterned to suggest
Plug B - SD card A - ssh - Host A - Short USB Cable     =
Plug B - SD card A - ssh - Host B - Short USB Cable     = terminal unresponsive, only a flashing caret
Plug B - SD card B - serial - Host A - Short USB Cable   =
Plug B - SD card B - serial - Host B - Short USB Cable   = garbage patterned to suggest
Plug B - SD card B - ssh - Host A - Short USB Cable     =
Plug B - SD card B - ssh - Host B - Short USB Cable     = terminal unresponsive, only a flashing caret
Plug B - NAND - serial - Host A - Short USB Cable        =
Plug B - NAND - serial - Host B - Short USB Cable        =
Plug B - NAND - ssh - Host A - Short USB Cable          =
Plug B - NAND - ssh - Host B - Short USB Cable          =

Plug A - SD card A - serial - Host A - Long USB Cable  =
Plug A - SD card A - serial - Host B - Long USB Cable  = garbage patterned to suggest
Plug A - SD card A - ssh - Host A - Long USB Cable    =
Plug A - SD card A - ssh - Host B - Long USB Cable    = terminal unresponsive, only a flashing caret
Plug A - SD card B - serial - Host A - Long USB Cable  =
Plug A - SD card B - serial - Host B - Long USB Cable  = garbage patterned to suggest complete boot
Plug A - SD card B - ssh - Host A - Long USB Cable    =
Plug A - SD card B - ssh - Host B - Long USB Cable    = reaches login, rejects proper root password
Plug A - NAND - serial - Host A - Long USB Cable       =
Plug A - NAND - serial - Host B - Long USB Cable       =
Plug A - NAND - ssh - Host A - Long USB Cable          =
Plug A - NAND - ssh - Host B - Long USB Cable          =

Plug B - SD card A - serial - Host A - Long USB Cable  =
Plug B - SD card A - serial - Host B - Long USB Cable  = garbage patterned to suggest
Plug B - SD card A - ssh - Host A - Long USB Cable    =
Plug B - SD card A - ssh - Host B - Long USB Cable    = terminal unresponsive, only a flashing caret
Plug B - SD card B - serial - Host A - Long USB Cable  =
Plug B - SD card B - serial - Host B - Long USB Cable  = garbage patterned to suggest
Plug B - SD card B - ssh - Host A - Long USB Cable    =
Plug B - SD card B - ssh - Host B - Long USB Cable    = terminal unresponsive, only a flashing caret
Plug B - NAND - serial - Host A - Long USB Cable       =
Plug B - NAND - serial - Host B - Long USB Cable        =
Plug B - NAND - ssh - Host A - Long USB Cable          =
Plug B - NAND - ssh - Host B - Long USB Cable          =