4.4 kernel regression when installing Debian jessie

[tz.s...@gmail.com]

Hello,

When using Robert C Nelson's netinstall script to setup a BB xm (rev C), the following occurs at 73% of step "Installing the base system":

[  888.240295] NMI watchdog: BUG: soft lockup - CPU#0 stuck for 23s! [kswapd0:30]

[  916.240295] NMI watchdog: BUG: soft lockup - CPU#0 stuck for 23s! [kswapd0:30]

[  944.240295] NMI watchdog: BUG: soft lockup - CPU#0 stuck for 22s! [kswapd0:30]

This message keeps repeating. This bug can be reproduced every time, and the board remains stuck at this point.

This appears to be a kernel regression that happened sometime between 4.1 and 4.4 (the version with the bug

being linux-image-4.4.8-armv7-x6). When switching to linux-image-4.1.23-armv7-x7 with the --use-lts-4_1-kernel,

installation proceeds correctly. So until this bug is better understood and fixed, I recommend to other BB xm

users to avoid the latest 4.4 kernel and stick to 4.1 or older.

Best regards,

Tziang

[tz.s...@gmail.com]

I just tried with 4.6, using netinstall's --use-testing-kernel, and can confirm this particular issue is gone; my thanks to Robert C Nelson for the hint.