kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Discussions about using Linux guests in VirtualBox.
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CoreyW
Posts: 18
Joined: 2. Mar 2012, 18:17
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: CentOS 6.2

kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by CoreyW »

Hi All,

I've been using VB for a few weeks now and lately all my CentOS 6.2 x86 guests (Windows7 hosts) stopped working. The kernel panics with divide_zero error in init_tsc_clocksource on startup. Sometimes if I reboot over and over again it makes it through, but not always.

I'm stumped what could be causing this. I tried to change the kernel clocksource to 'jiffies' and 'acpi_pm' in grub.conf, but that doesn't appear to make any difference. Is this something new to the latest kernel: Linux centos32-vm1 2.6.32-220.7.1.el6.i686

Thanks for ANY help!! I'm dead in the water until I can figure this out.

Thanks!
Corey.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by Perryg »

I would try the divider=10 in the boot line and see if that settles it down.
CoreyW
Posts: 18
Joined: 2. Mar 2012, 18:17
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: CentOS 6.2

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by CoreyW »

Didn't make any difference...
Perryg
Site Moderator
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VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
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Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by Perryg »

Does this only happen during a reboot (warm boot)? Does it happen/not happen on a shut down (cold boot)?
CoreyW
Posts: 18
Joined: 2. Mar 2012, 18:17
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: CentOS 6.2

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by CoreyW »

It appears to only happen on a cold boot. I attached a screenshot of the kernel panic, maybe there's something else that jumps out at you.
Screen cap of kernel panic
Screen cap of kernel panic
Capture.PNG (26.34 KiB) Viewed 10311 times
Corey.
Perryg
Site Moderator
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Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by Perryg »

I do see this but just the opposite. If I do a reboot it will hang, but if I do a shut down and start it works. I have reported a ticket about this Bugtracker ticket #10427 if you would like to add your information.
CoreyW
Posts: 18
Joined: 2. Mar 2012, 18:17
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: CentOS 6.2

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by CoreyW »

I added my info to the ticket. Good hunting.

Corey.
drogo
Posts: 2
Joined: 1. May 2012, 14:11

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by drogo »

This just hit me for several RH-based VMs. Some googling found the answer on the centos forums. (I'd post a link, but I just created my account, so the rules block it.If you google for "Kernel panic with cent os kernel 2.6.32-220.7.1.el6.i686 virtualbox", it's the 2nd hit. First is this thread. :) )

To fix it, I had to change the chipset from PIIX3 to ICH9 and turn on IO APIC. This worked for several VMs that were experiencing the issue;
Oracle Linux: 2.6.32-300.21.1.el6uek.x86_64
Oracle Linux: 2.6.32-300.21.1.el6uek.x86_64
CentOS:2.6.32-220.13.1.el6.x86_64

All VMs are 64-bit on a WinXP host.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
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Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by Perryg »

ICH9 is still experimental and has issues. Actually it has more issues than the annoyance of not being able to cold boot the machine.
drogo
Posts: 2
Joined: 1. May 2012, 14:11

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by drogo »

I wasn't aware of that. Thanks for the heads-up!

I went with it since my affected VMs wouldn't boot at all. Not cold boot or reboot.
jfmatth
Posts: 1
Joined: 5. May 2012, 01:55

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by jfmatth »

I was having the same issue when I would install 6.2 and then yum update to the .300 kernel.

Changing to the ICH9 Chipset seemed to do it.

Thanks

J
jackd2
Posts: 1
Joined: 3. Jul 2012, 19:30

Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by jackd2 »

jfmatth wrote:I was having the same issue when I would install 6.2 and then yum update to the .300 kernel.

Changing to the ICH9 Chipset seemed to do it.
J
I'll add the infamous "me too". This fix was necessary to boot centos 6.2 kernel 2.6.32-220.23.1.el6.i686. I didn't experience this with any earlier kernel.
frank
Oracle Corporation
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Re: kernel panic CentOS 6.2 guest - init_tsc_clocksource

Post by frank »

Could you also try if using the normal PIIX3 chipset with activating HPET (VBoxManage modifyvm VM_NAME --hpet on) works as well?
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