From f2605e928136f88032ef9b4977a076d5c535987b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Julia Kreger Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2023 07:34:29 -0700 Subject: Remove use of nomodeset by default The troubleshooting kernel command line option nomodeset unfortunately changes the way framebuffer interactions work with graphics devices which in some cases can result in kernel memory to be used for graphics updates. When this happens on some specific hardware common in rack mount servers with baseboard management controllers, this can cause the memory bus to become locked for a brief time while the graphics update is occuring. This locked memory bus means disk IO can become blocked, and network cards can overflow their buffers resulting in packet loss on top of the latency incurred by the graphics update executing. As such, we've removed the nomodeset option from default usage and added a note describing its removal to the documentation along with a release note. Change-Id: I9084d88c3ec6f13bd64b8707892758fa87dd7f86 --- .../notes/remove-nomodset-7a352a9519c1045b.yaml | 22 ++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 22 insertions(+) create mode 100644 releasenotes/notes/remove-nomodset-7a352a9519c1045b.yaml (limited to 'releasenotes') diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/remove-nomodset-7a352a9519c1045b.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/remove-nomodset-7a352a9519c1045b.yaml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..26d10c262 --- /dev/null +++ b/releasenotes/notes/remove-nomodset-7a352a9519c1045b.yaml @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +upgrade: + - | + The defaults for ``kernel_append_params`` have had the Linux kernel + command line parameter ``nomodeset`` removed from the defaults for the + ``kernel_append_params`` settings. The ``nomodeset`` option is for + troubleshooting and changes the behavior of the graphics interface + such that memory can be locked upon graphical updates on physical + servers with BMC graphical interfaces, which results in spikes in + latency and packet loss whenever graphics updates occur. Operators + may add the option to their local configuration, but should be aware + that large image transfers or other high IO operations can be impacted. +fixes: + - | + Agents deploying on physical servers with default kernel arguments were + suspetible to packet loss if a Matrox VGA/Aspeed BMC Graphics interface + is present on the machine. The defaults have been changed to remove + the use of the ``nomodeset`` kernel command line parameter which + should only be used for troubleshooting as it has been determined + that the memory updates can lock all of the kernel memory upon any + console graphics update which can negatively impact IO for Networking + or Disk interactions. -- cgit v1.2.1