I'm about at wit's end and hope someone out there might have a suggestion.
I retrofitted a Varnamo (Swedish) knee mill-beautiful new old stock (NOS)
with a complete AJAX/Centroid system. DC-310 servo controller. Worked perfect for about a year but a very limited use. It has a dual operating computer running it. Boot up in Windows XP and I use Bob-Cad-then copy g-code to floppy or flash drive. Turn computer off-then power up freq. drive, controller, push ajax flash drive in and it boots up as Ajax/Linux and works great. Lately though after going through maybe 400 lines of code on a job, the screen goes black with a bunch of error messages-it varies-maybe after 3000 lines of code-not consistant. Ajax suggested the easist solution-replace the memory card (512mb) didn't work after that the pc motherboard and processor (about to). In windows it will on occasion shut down and boot itself up and it varies as well. Ajax has been real helpful but of course it is hard to diagnose a system 2000 miles away. The error codes include:
expected keysym, got XF86_Switch_VT_9:line 83 of pc/pc
There are 4 more lines of similar error messages then it goes
Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the x server
(EE) xf860penserial: cannot open device /devmouse no such file or directory
(WW) Mouse1: cannot open input device
Fatal server error:
Caught signel 11. Server aborting
xinit: connection to x server lost.
X connection to :0.0) broken (explicit kill or server shutdown)'
/cncroot/c/cnc10>

Should I just replace the motherboard an processor and see if that does it?
Would post a digital photo of screen but don't now how to do that.

Thanks,

Tom

Tom, if it were my system I'd consider reinstalling the software AND having a dedicated PC to run the control. I don't have any experience running in dual-boot, but Win seems to sometimes have enough trouble running in single boot that I'm not about to get adventuresome. :)

I have a spare flash drive that has the Centroid OS/software installed on it for "just in case". I've had too many instances of my regular Win XP PC coming up with "warning Will Robinson, we are losing all your dataaaaaaaaaaa . . . ." to trust that things won't just go sour.

Perhaps your Win installation is dieing and is doing its best to take the Linux install down with it. It certainly sounds like the Linux OS is having trouble recognizing system components.

The Centroid/Ajax control doesn't need a super hi-zoot computer with kewl graphics card etc to run on, and if you look around it seems like you could find someone upgrading a 4 year old system that would let you have their old P5 system for a song. Giving your mill a dedicated computer would seem to be an easy way to go, just to reduce the possibility of inter-system conflicts.

It may well be that you do have hardware issues. A dedicated PC for the machine could help to pinpoint them if that is the case.

cheers,
Michael

Pretty sure from utahnorton's description this isn't really "dual boot". Instead he has Windows on one flash card, Linux/CNC10 on the other, and is swapping cards. Comparable to swapping hard drives, but cleaner and easier.

This might be a temperature issue. Check your CPU fan, system fans, filter covers, etc. to make sure the PC is not overheating.

Then try a different PC as Michael M suggests. Or, if you have a spare memory DIMM around, try swapping that first.

Tom,

The error code you write is not enough to tell what is happening, it could be a corrupt configuration file for X and it could be the motherboard. If it's possible try to run a diagnose on your disks and see if there are bad areas.
Unfortunately the error code is one of those hard to solve without testing.
If it's possible, try to catch all error lines and ask at a Linux forum.

Best regards,
Sven

The computer would normally run on Windows XP. If the AJAX flash card is pushed into the slot (external) before start up-the computer boots up as Linux/Ajax CNC. I was able to download a photo to my memory stick and then attach it for full error codes. What is confusing is that there are references to a mouse. My understanding was that Ajax/Linux didn't suppport a mouse but then found another thread that showed a sequence to "addmouse" which I did just in case it was the mouse in the usb port was causing the problem. Did that-an arrow appeared on the screen but the mouse wouldn't move it.
The thread referenced a ps2 mouse-I'm using a roller ball mouse which is great on a mill because you don't have to move it around-tough to do on a the bed, those pesky slots get in the way-it can actually sit it on the bed or my leg and works great. I'm wondering if there are specific drivers to load with this type of mouse for linux. Of course this may not have anything to do with what is causing it to shut down. Anyway we pulled out the motherboard processor, and ram last night and put in a new one but computer wasn't happy at all-had a very experienced tech help out but he is not familar with Linux. We have may try to find a more similar mother board or bag it all and just buy another computer....So on to plan C-whatever that is. :confused:

Thanks,

Tom

utahnorton wrote:
The computer would normally run on Windows XP. If the AJAX flash card is pushed into the slot (external) before start up-the computer boots up as Linux/Ajax CNC.

This sounds a little fishy. Are you sure the flash drive and the XP hard drive can't conflict with each other (e.g. aren't both master drive on the same IDE controller)?

Even if the XP hard drive is set as the slave drive on the controller, you might have trouble. Just for curiosity, try unplugging the XP hard drive from the IDE cable altogether.

Also, if you are using an 80-conductor EIDE cable, try switching to an old 40-conductor one. See http://www.acscontrol.com/knowledgebase/article.asp?CatID=2&ID=2

While the Ajax CF-IDE adapter is not the one from ACS, as I understand it the issue is in the flash cards and motherboards, not the adapter.

this isn't as common as it used to be for some reason. Could well be that you are having problem with a hard drive, memory, or your system is getting hotter than it used to get. If the operation has worked in the past, it is most likely to be hardware. If anything has changed, or you are doing something that hasn't been tested before, it could be a software problem.

If XP also has problems, as you wrote, I would guess for a hardware problem.

Once working at a customer with secured data we had a computer that hardware failed. But we could run it long enough to drain it on files by putting it into a fridge... :)
You could go for a test, does it run for a longer time when there is better cooling? You have to really cool it down if there's a hardware fault.

Have replaced the motherboard with new one recommended by Ajax along with the processor and ram. Using same powersupply, hardrive, (linux) flash card reader, CD/DVD, and floppy drive. Windows comes up fine but when the flashcard is inserted and then booted up in Linux I get (with other stuff):
VFS: Cannot open root device "301" or 03:01
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernal panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:01

I'm wondering if somehow the flash drive got corrupted-maybe should send it to Ajax for testing? Meanwhile my only mill in my one man shop has been down for almost two weeks-yikes.....Help!!! :confused:

Thanks,

Tom

This is caused by configuration and your new hardware.
You may check these threads:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=269230
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=126953
and
http://linuxfromscratch.org/pipermail/lfs-support/2003-November/020609.html

Hope you get it working, good luck!
Sven

Make sure you have the flash card reader plugged in as the IDE primary master (not secondary master, not a slave drive). I just ran into this in a case where the customer plugged the CDROM drive into the primary IDE, and the hard drive into the secondary. The hard drive (or CF reader) then becomes /dev/hdc instead of /dev/hda, and it won't work.

Also check your CMOS Setup screen and verify that any on-chip SATA controller is Disabled.

During the boot process, Linux tells you what IDE devices it detects, and what device assignments they got. You want to see "hda:" displayed, followed by something you might recognize as your compact flash card (e.g. Sandisk this or Lexar that...). You should probably also see "hdc:" followed by the make/model of your CDROM drive.

:drowning: :drowning: Reconfigured the set-up with the new motherboard going through the process with Drew at Ajax CNC. I have to tell you, the support I have recieved from Ajax has been fantastic and wouldn't hesitate a minute in buying their system again. The system still had a kernal panic error so we are looking at the possiblity that either the flash card hard drive (Toshiba) or reader somehow failed or got corrupted. Overnited the card and reader to Ajax and they will look at it today. They will also attempt to salvage any CNC mill programs that are still on it. Will post their results as soon as I hear back.

Thanks,

Tom

Sounds like you get great help from 'em. It would be great if you post the result!

BTW, the original error was because of a change in hardware, it looks like a mouse was changed and the configuration file was not.

Just as a quick point. The reason why Windows survives all of these hardware swaps is that Windows has almost every single driver for every single piece of generic hardware built into it. The upside of this is that it can tolerate random hardware swaps. The downside is that it takes up huge amounts of space and can easily result in conflicts that are hard to diagnose.

Linux, on the other hand, typically installs only the hardware drivers you need. If you change the hardware, particularly if it's a quasi embedded system, then you need to update both the config files and install drivers for the new hardware. The errors you were seeing were related to missing hardware for either the keyboard or the mouse, or perhaps a change in the mouse hardware (keyboards are pretty much all the same). It looks like there might have been a serial mouse attached at one point, which is no longer attached...

Another thing to keep in mind is that some hardware is tied to specific ports on the PC (like specific serial or even USB ports) and if you move stuff around, it can break the configuration. This is esp. true with embedded systems that you are not supposed to change. Also, change the BIOS can also affect the 'locations' of hardware on the computer, resulting in issues.

HTH,

Chris.

CKM-Thanks for the insight. I don't recall moving the mouse to a different USB port but it certainly is possible. :confused: Anyway-the saga continues-the good news is that Ajax checked out the sandisk hardrive and reader and they are both OK-the bad news is that the sandisk hardrive and reader are OK.... Was really hoping this would be the problem, replace them and "Bob's your Uncle"...so back to square one. I must admit that Drew at Ajax has been very patient and helpful in trying to get this mess all sorted out. The next step is again a process of elimination. Again-the computer boots up perfectly from the original hard drive in windows. I had then disconnected the hard drive (ribbon & power) and so the computer would be forced to boot automatically from the sandisk and would only get to the kernal panic stage. So then the sent the sandisk and reader to Ajax to be checked out. So what Ajax would like me to do is send them the new motherboard and they will see if they can get it to boot up with my sandisk and reader... At his point not sure what else to do.....:violin: Tom

Even embedded Linux distro's finds the mouse when it's changed (at least those I've worked with), unless it's an old or odd version. Usually Linux tries to get the mouse with a standard driver and if it has USB support the port itself shouldn't matter.

Anyway, something happened with your machine and it's a pain in the butt to analyze it without having access to the hardware.

BTW, why don't you make a new setup now when you're on it? For example a dual boot would be great.

Sven,

Actually at this stage we are just trying to get the computer to boot up in Linux-don't even have the fiber optics or servos hooked up to it right now. It was a dual boot system before but in about a year the Linux was crashing in the middle of a milling operation-(kernal panic....sounds like a "b" movie character) that's why we changed the motherboard, processor, and ram and checked out the sandisk and reader for file corruption or errors from that end.

Thanks,

Tom

Perhaps I can help you trouble shoot a bit. I've been using Linux for 12 years, so I know a little about it. Could you tell me what the kernel panic error message was?

Thx.

Chris.

Chris,

Drew just spent time trying to troubleshoot with me-I burned a new linux boot disc and disconnected all the drives except the CD/DVD. Tried re-booting and now get:

Searching for IDE CDTOM devices
Could not find insatallation CD!? Halting system
umount: /cdrom: not mounted
Warnin: could not determine runlevel-doing soft halt
(it's better to use shutdown instaed of halt from command lin)
shutdown: No such file or directoryIf I never hear from
Kernal panic: Attempted to kill init!

If you wouldn't mind e-mailing me your phone number-I'd give you a call so you don't burn up any of your minutes. I'm on MST and work out of my home shop. kullendesign@sisna.com

Thanks,

Tom

If you removed the disks you probable have the wrong cable config (master/slave issue), then it doesn't matter what you're trying to install. You need to get a working HW-setup.
I know it's not much help, but it's not a Linux issue.

Regards,
Sven

Hi Sven,

Ajax had me go in and run the master ribbon cable that was attached to the hardrive to the CD/DVD ROM. The hardrive is disconnected. In the BIOS
the "0 Master" is now the CD/DVD ROM. "0 Slave" is disabled along with the other master/slave components so that the computer is forced to boot up from the CD/DVD ROM that contains the linuxinstallcd151.iso which was converted over to readable files through the NERO program and re-copied on to a bootable cd. At this point not sure what else to do other than ship the motherboard over to AJAX or try installing another CD/DVD ROM drive but the BIOS recognizes it. :(

Thanks,

Tom

Tom,
Any news with your problems?

Hi Sven

Have been busy with a Norton Motorcycle Rally in Torrey, Utah that our local club organized and had to put my Linux issues aside for the past two weeks. I sent my motherboard, processor, ram, ribbon cable, and Ajax fiber optic/servo board, flash card, flash card reader, original old motherboard over to Drew at Ajax today at his suggestion. He should have it by Friday and will put it on their test bench to check it out to make sure that the board doesn't have some sort of incapatability issue-he said that even motherboards that have been used successfully in the past can have changes done to them mid-production that can cause problems. I still suspect a Linux issue and I contacted Chris on this board-that is his feeling as well. Hopefully Drew can figure it out-I can't tell you how pleased I am with the service and support I've received from AJAX for a problem that might not be even be AJAX related. I would do business with them again in a heartbeat. Will let everyone know the latest when I hear back. :confused:


Thanks,

Tom

Well good news hopefully! :cheers: I got this message from Drew from Ajax:

Tom,

Found the problem. There is a setting called PCI IDE Busmaster that has to be enabled. I will run it here over the weekend to be sure, however.

Best Regards,

Drew Gear
AjaxCNC
P.O. Box 9012
Milesburg, PA 16853
(814) 360-0279
sales@ajaxcnc.com
www.ajaxcnc.com

When we went through the Linux BIOS this is one that normally doesn't have to be changed and or somehow we missed the setting. Anyway, Drew will run it on his test bench directly to his servos to make sure everything works OK. Again, can't say enough about their service! :banana:

Will give an update when everything is reinstalled on my Varnamo mill.

Cheers,

Tom