From: Thorsten Leemhuis <linux@leemhuis.info>
To: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>
Cc: workflows@vger.kernel.org, linux-doc@vger.kernel.org,
regressions@lists.linux.dev, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org
Subject: [PATCH v1 12/30] docs: reporting-issues: move 'check environment' upwards
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:42:03 +0100 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <2fc7c4a2c721826bc01d6616fe54ed6136362a31.1761481839.git.linux@leemhuis.info> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <cover.1761481839.git.linux@leemhuis.info>
Move text around to improve diffability of an follow-up patch.
Signed-off-by: Thorsten Leemhuis <linux@leemhuis.info>
---
.../admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst | 76 +++++++++----------
1 file changed, 38 insertions(+), 38 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst b/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst
index 452733669debf5..861237aaf94126 100644
--- a/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst
+++ b/Documentation/admin-guide/reporting-issues.rst
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ following the others is usually in your own interest.
[:ref:`details <taintone_repiref>`]
+ * Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue
+ you face.
+
* Perform a rough search for existing reports with your favorite internet
search engine; additionally, check the archives of the `Linux Kernel Mailing
List (LKML) <https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/>`_. If you find matching reports,
@@ -102,9 +105,6 @@ following the others is usually in your own interest.
issue, or a really severe problem: those are 'issues of high priority' that
need special handling in some steps that are about to follow.
- * Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue
- you face.
-
* Create a fresh backup and put system repair and restore tools at hand.
* Ensure your system does not enhance its kernels by building additional
@@ -481,6 +481,41 @@ These are the most frequent reasons why the kernel set the flag:
[:ref:`back to step-by-step guide <taintone_repisbs>`]
+Ensure a healthy environment
+----------------------------
+
+ *Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue
+ you face.*
+
+Problems that look a lot like a kernel issue are sometimes caused by build or
+runtime environment. It's hard to rule out that problem completely, but you
+should minimize it:
+
+ * Use proven tools when building your kernel, as bugs in the compiler or the
+ binutils can cause the resulting kernel to misbehave.
+
+ * Ensure your computer components run within their design specifications;
+ that's especially important for the main processor, the main memory, and the
+ motherboard. Therefore, stop undervolting or overclocking when facing a
+ potential kernel issue.
+
+ * Try to make sure it's not faulty hardware that is causing your issue. Bad
+ main memory for example can result in a multitude of issues that will
+ manifest itself in problems looking like kernel issues.
+
+ * If you're dealing with a filesystem issue, you might want to check the file
+ system in question with ``fsck``, as it might be damaged in a way that leads
+ to unexpected kernel behavior.
+
+ * When dealing with a regression, make sure it's not something else that
+ changed in parallel to updating the kernel. The problem for example might be
+ caused by other software that was updated at the same time. It can also
+ happen that a hardware component coincidentally just broke when you rebooted
+ into a new kernel for the first time. Updating the systems BIOS or changing
+ something in the BIOS Setup can also lead to problems that on look a lot
+ like a kernel regression.
+
+
Search for existing reports, first run
--------------------------------------
@@ -563,41 +598,6 @@ fatal error where the kernel stop itself) with a 'Oops' (a recoverable error),
as the kernel remains running after the latter.
-Ensure a healthy environment
-----------------------------
-
- *Make sure it's not the kernel's surroundings that are causing the issue
- you face.*
-
-Problems that look a lot like a kernel issue are sometimes caused by build or
-runtime environment. It's hard to rule out that problem completely, but you
-should minimize it:
-
- * Use proven tools when building your kernel, as bugs in the compiler or the
- binutils can cause the resulting kernel to misbehave.
-
- * Ensure your computer components run within their design specifications;
- that's especially important for the main processor, the main memory, and the
- motherboard. Therefore, stop undervolting or overclocking when facing a
- potential kernel issue.
-
- * Try to make sure it's not faulty hardware that is causing your issue. Bad
- main memory for example can result in a multitude of issues that will
- manifest itself in problems looking like kernel issues.
-
- * If you're dealing with a filesystem issue, you might want to check the file
- system in question with ``fsck``, as it might be damaged in a way that leads
- to unexpected kernel behavior.
-
- * When dealing with a regression, make sure it's not something else that
- changed in parallel to updating the kernel. The problem for example might be
- caused by other software that was updated at the same time. It can also
- happen that a hardware component coincidentally just broke when you rebooted
- into a new kernel for the first time. Updating the systems BIOS or changing
- something in the BIOS Setup can also lead to problems that on look a lot
- like a kernel regression.
-
-
Prepare for emergencies
-----------------------
--
2.51.0
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2025-10-26 12:42 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 43+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2025-10-26 12:41 [PATCH v1 00/30] docs: reporting-issues: rework Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 01/30] docs: reporting-issues: mention text is best viewed rendered Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-27 17:18 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-27 21:19 ` Randy Dunlap
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 02/30] docs: reporting-issues: tweak the reference section intro Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-27 17:27 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 03/30] docs: reporting-issues: add conclusion to the step-by-step guide Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-27 17:29 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 04/30] docs: reporting-issues: add proper appendix Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-27 17:38 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 05/30] docs: reporting-issues: outline why reporting is complicated Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-27 17:44 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 06/30] docs: reporting-issues: replace TLDR guide with more of an into Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-28 21:32 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 07/30] docs: reporting-issues: explain need for fresh vanilla kernel Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-28 21:40 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:41 ` [PATCH v1 08/30] docs: reporting-issues: add step about processing issues separately Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-28 21:42 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 09/30] docs: reporting-issues: tell users to check the kernel log Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-28 21:43 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 10/30] docs: reporting-issues: move 'check tainted flag' upwards Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-28 21:47 ` Jonathan Corbet
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 11/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve first tainted check Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` Thorsten Leemhuis [this message]
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 13/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve environment check Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 14/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text about checking for existing issues Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 15/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on classifying the bug Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 16/30] docs: reporting-issues: add fast-track for regressions Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 17/30] docs: reporting-issues: move text on 'check MAINTAINERS file' upwards Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 18/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on looking up place to report Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 19/30] docs: reporting-issues: move text on 'check other places' upwards Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 20/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on check other places Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 21/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on backup et. al Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 22/30] docs: reporting-issues: move text on 'initial write-up' upwards Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 23/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on initial write-up Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 24/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on bug verification Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 25/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on non-regressions in stable Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 26/30] docs: reporting-issues: improve text on second search Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 27/30] docs: reporting-issues: make collecting files a separate step Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 28/30] docs: reporting-issues: separate steps for optimizing and submitting reports Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 29/30] docs: reporting-issues: separate steps for follow-up tasks Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-26 12:42 ` [PATCH v1 30/30] docs: reporting-issues: fix a few line breaks Thorsten Leemhuis
2025-10-27 17:16 ` [PATCH v1 00/30] docs: reporting-issues: rework Jonathan Corbet
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