SageClient Freeze, Max CPU Utilization

[sshapiro63]

Okay Folks,

I know I'm not the only person having problems with SageClient locking up and grabbing almost 100% CPU!

So, how about responding to this to see just how many people have run into this problem.

Anybody got a permananet fix? Anybody know how to troubleshoot these lock ups?

[bodgadle]

if you're using a 250 or 350 do a search on the forum for "easy performance increase for hauppauge users".

I had it at 100% until Jeff pointed out that thread, now on my epia m9000 cpu is at about 60% all the time. And once we get an option to disable localPlay it'll hang at about 20% like winTV does.

[sshapiro63]

The problem I have is that sometimes the entire video within SageClient locks up and utilzation goes through the roof.

When SageClient is working properly my utilization is about 10%.

I have this problem with systems running Intel and AMD CPU's. My "Low End" system is running at 2GHz, my high end is 2.4GHz. I can duplicate this with several decoders; Elecard, Cyberlink, Cyberlink/ATI, Hauppauge/WinDVD, and Sonic.

The utilization goes to 98% because the SageClient application has a problem. The question is what is causing the behaviour and can it be fixed. The CPU utilization is a result of the problem occuring.

[insomniac]

Are you running multiple cards by chance? I did the performance hack on my epia and it did reduce cpu. But when I change channels from the client, sage freezes up.

Do you have the card in the client or server?

Originally posted by bodgadle
if you're using a 250 or 350 do a search on the forum for "easy performance increase for hauppauge users".

I had it at 100% until Jeff pointed out that thread, now on my epia m9000 cpu is at about 60% all the time. And once we get an option to disable localPlay it'll hang at about 20% like winTV does.

[sshapiro63]

I am using SageClient to access a PVR 250 installed in a remote system running the SageTV application. I have the lock ups when the SageTV has 1 or more (tested with 4 max) PVR 250's installed. The SageTV app on the remote system can either be tuned to a channel, or sleeping in the task bar; the problem will eventually happen on the client in either case.

I never have the problem when viewing TV on the SageTV system, it only happens when running SageClient.

[jimbobuk]

again.. check your logs... unless its a multi tuner setup (which i have no experience of) Sage should be like mine in the 10-15% range when decoding... if its using up more something may be wrong... I mostly record when i get this problem... it varies... its all about whats causing the CPU usage... most of the time it must be a bug of some sort.. i dont think Sage ever requires THAT much CPU.. and certainly if it does it shouldn't do for more than a few seconds (tops of say 30 seconds?!? i dunno)

[insomniac]

Very similar problems here too.. Completely running out of ideas on how to approach it.

My lockups happen (same configuration as yours) when I change the channel.

Ill let you know if I get anywhere with it...

I.

Originally posted by sshapiro63
I am using SageClient to access a PVR 250 installed in a remote system running the SageTV application. I have the lock ups when the SageTV has 1 or more (tested with 4 max) PVR 250's installed. The SageTV app on the remote system can either be tuned to a channel, or sleeping in the task bar; the problem will eventually happen on the client in either case.

I never have the problem when viewing TV on the SageTV system, it only happens when running SageClient.

[kberg31974]

I'm having the CPU utilization problem with the normal SageTV (server disabled). It'll just be sleeping and suddenly suck up 97-99% of my CPU for a few minutes (just started as I typed "minutes"). Funny thing is that it started doing this with 1.3.8, but earlier versions were fine.

[sshapiro63]

I emailed support (Jeff) about this problem a week or two ago. He told me that SageClient does not have any kind of error handling if network problems arise.

I don't know if my network is the problem, but I never have trouble with file copies over my network, Internet access, network backups; only SageClient has problems. Either my network has a problem that SageClient can't deal with or SageClient has some inherent flaws.

[Narflex]

I spent about 2 weeks with a user tracking this problem down about a month ago. It ended up being a faulty switch on their network.

SageClient's networking does have extensive error handling provided by TCP, which is sufficient for LAN use (assuming no misbehaving network hardware).

Try using the SageClient on the same machine as the SageTV server, just use localhost for the address. That'll allow you to test it without any interference from your network so we can see if the problem is in the software or in your network/client machine. Also, what are you doing with the client when the CPU is at 100% (what menu are you in)?

Every now and then the server will spike to 100% cpu for a little bit (<30 seconds) to rebuild the database, and sometimes it'll stick at mid-high usage for awhile when its reevaluating the profiling information. SageTV does a lot of background processing, so even though you're not doing anything, sometimes one of the various engines inside the system has work it needs to do.

[pawn]

Originally posted by insomniac
Very similar problems here too.. Completely running out of ideas on how to approach it.

My lockups happen (same configuration as yours) when I change the channel.

Ill let you know if I get anywhere with it...

I.

It's happened a few time to me as well, most recently last night.

I can think of nothing that causes it.

[pawn]

Originally posted by pawn
It's happened a few time to me as well, most recently last night.

I can think of nothing that causes it.

Sorry: I meant the standard SageTV app, not the client.

And it just happened again, while fast forwarding.

[sshapiro63]

I seem to have the most trouble when I have an AMD based system running SageClient. My systems that use Intel chips don't usually have lock up problems.

I have tried AMD chips in two different boards; an ECS K7S5A that runs an SIS 735 chipset and an FIC AU13 that uses the NFORCE2 chipset. Both boards had lock ups.

My Intel systems running with 865PE chipsets don't appear to have any problems.

[insomniac]

The DVCR used to lock up on me with other applications on an AMD machine. It ended up being a PCI Latency issue. Try to download powerstrip and adjust the latency on the particular card that is locking up to 256.

You can find numerous posts on this issue on x-epg.net

Long shot, but you never know. I can say it did fix my issues with the dvcr on AMD. Of course im still locking up with the client on an amd, but I had disabled powerstrip. :)

I.

Originally posted by sshapiro63
I seem to have the most trouble when I have an AMD based system running SageClient. My systems that use Intel chips don't usually have lock up problems.

I have tried AMD chips in two different boards; an ECS K7S5A that runs an SIS 735 chipset and an FIC AU13 that uses the NFORCE2 chipset. Both boards had lock ups.

My Intel systems running with 865PE chipsets don't appear to have any problems.

[Narflex]

One known source of lockups (in SageTV or SageTVClient) is if you're using the Ravisent video decoders. The lockup is in the Ravisent decoders themselves; so if you're using those I'd suggest trying a different one.

[pawn]

Originally posted by Narflex
One known source of lockups (in SageTV or SageTVClient) is if you're using the Ravisent video decoders. The lockup is in the Ravisent decoders themselves; so if you're using those I'd suggest trying a different one.


Do you mean all Ravisent? Cineplayer 4? Sonic 1.5?

I've never once experienced a lockup with the latter and ZoomPlayer.

[grot]

I hate to say it, but I've started having this issue as well. I was going fine with about 2 days of uptime, and then I came home and just found it locked up with 100% CPU. Had to reboot. Then, a few hours later, same thing happened. Wasn't during a channel change, was just hanging out watching TV.

My setup is pretty "standard" I think: PVR250, very fresh XP install, latest Haupauge drivers, onboard audio, P42.8/1gig ram.

Not sure how to even start troubleshooting it. The only other SW running is Girder, but I can taskswitch over and see that it's Sage taking 100% cpu.

[sshapiro63]

I have found that by using the video decoder installed by NVDVD, and by using only Intel CPU's (Intel 845/865 and SIS 645DX chipsets) I have eliminated almost all my lockups.

I don't know why, but using AMD CPU's with Nforce2 or SIS 735 chipsets resulted in numerous lockups.

If you are using an Intel CPU already, then try removing all your a/v filters such as those from Cyberlink PowerDVD, Hauppauge/WinDVD, Sonic, etc. Then install the trail version of NVDVD, found at the NVIDIA website, and try running SageTV/SageClient again.