The Kernel Sends Annoying Messages

Support knowledgebase (bk_silentkernel)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: All versions

Situation:

You get messages from the kernel and you want to know what they are exactly about and, if necessary, switch them off.

Example:

- I keep on receiving (once in a minute) the message

kernel: eth0: No link beat on the MII interface, status then 7809 now 7809.

in /var/log/messages. How can I suppress it? I have currently no network on the networkcard; the dummy driver is installed.

Procedure:

(The kernel sources must be installed: package lx_suse, series d.)

Go to /usr/src/linux and search for the error message:

/usr/src/linux# find . -name '*.[ch]' | xargs grep "part of the message text"
You get an output similar to:
./drivers/net/tulip.c: printk(KERN_DEBUG "%s: No link beat on media %s,"
./drivers/net/tulip.c: printk(KERN_INFO "%s: No link beat on the MII interface,"
Then you can examine the source code more closely to detect under what circumstances the message is sent.

You can deactivate the driver (not loading the module) e.g. by disabling your networkcard in /etc/modules.conf (making a backup first). To do this, change

     alias eth0 tulip

to:
    #alias eth0 tulip
The tulip card is now no longer detected and you will just get some error messages while booting.

In order to activate the card again, bring /etc/modules.conf back to its original state and reboot your system.

Another possibility would be simply to disable the message in the kernel source, recompile the kernel or the module, and then use the new kernel/module. Please note that this procedure exceeds the scope of our free of charge installation support (this matter requires C programming knowledge!).


Keywords: KERNEL, BOOT, MESSAGES

Categories: Kernel

SDB-bk_silentkernel, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 21. Mai 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 28. Mai 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)