Kernel Panic and Ethernet Cable

Question

Level 1

0 points

Kernel Panic and Ethernet Cable

This seems too weird to be true, but my ethernet cable seems to have been responsible a kernel panic.

At least this is what http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464 says...

....If an Ethernet cable is connected to your computer, temporarily disconnect it and restart. If you have enabled NetInfo, you may need to temporarily disable it in the Directory Setup application....

What can this mean?

Here is the Kernel Panic log info and what I have been doing...

Last night I installed SnapZ Pro 2 and registered it. I made it available to all users on the computer.

Other suspicious activity... a co-worker sent a file that I thought was a AppleWorks doc, but was gibberish instead.

This morning the iBook would not boot. Each attempt resulted in "kernel panic" screen. Ran TechTools. Found only minor errors in the Finder test.

From another computer, I found article 106464 at doc.info.apple.com

I tried safe boot (shift-boot). No kernel panic, but no boot either.

I removed the ethernet cable.

It booted.

Unresolved kernel trap(cpu 0): 0x400 - Inst access DAR=0x000000000280402C PC=0x0000000000000000
Latest crash info for cpu 0:
Exception state (sv=0x213CD000)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x40009030; DAR=0x0280402C; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x21BC8FA0; R1=0x0CCAB820; XCP=0x00000010 (0x400 - Inst access)
Backtrace:
0x0010916C 0x1CFDAE40 0x1CFDABEC 0x1CFD2918 0x002BDAC8 0x002BFEC0
0x002BFCBC 0x212E1968 0x1CFDAA78 0x1CFE8DB8 0x1CFE8C4C 0x1CFEC4DC 0x1CFEC49C 0x002D1C84
0x002EBA98 0x0008C4C0 0x0002921C 0x000233F8 0x000ABCAC 0x01A80F00
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.baltaks.driver.DoubleCommand(1.6.2)@0x21bc7000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily(1.4.10)@0x1cfc9000
com.apple.driver.AppleADBKeyboard(2.3.9)@0x212e0000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily(1.4.10)@0x1cfc9000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOADBFamily(8.0.0)@0x21209000
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily(1.4.10)@0x1cfc9000
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x213CD000)
previously dumped as "Latest" state. skipping...
Exception state (sv=0x20B86000)
PC=0x9000B4C8; MSR=0x0200F030; DAR=0x0280402C; DSISR=0x42000000; LR=0x9000B41C; R1=0xBFFFF290; XCP=0x00000030 (0xC00 - System call)

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 8.9.0: Thu Feb 22 20:54:07 PST 2007; root:xnu-792.17.14~1/RELEASE_PPC
panic(cpu 0 caller 0xFFFF0004): 0x400 - Inst access
Latest stack backtrace for cpu 0:
Backtrace:
0x000952D8 0x000957F0 0x00026898 0x000A8004 0x000AB980
Proceeding back via exception chain:
Exception state (sv=0x213CD000)
PC=0x00000000; MSR=0x40009030; DAR=0x0280402C; DSISR=0x40000000; LR=0x21BC8FA0; R1=0x0CCAB820; XCP=0x00000010 (0x400 - Inst access)
Backtrace:
0x0010916C 0x1CFDAE40 0x1CFDABEC 0x1CFD2918 0x002BDAC8 0x002BFEC0
0x002BFCBC 0x212E1968 0x1CFDAA78 0x1CFE8DB8 0x1CFE8C4C 0x1CFEC4DC 0x1CFEC49C 0x002D1C84
0x002EBA98 0x0008C4C0 0x0002921C 0x000233F8 0x000ABCAC 0x01A80F00
Kernel loadable modules in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.baltaks.driver.DoubleCommand(1.6.2)@0x21bc7000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily(1.4.10)@0x1cfc9000
com.apple.driver.AppleADBKeyboard(2.3.9)@0x212e0000
depende`Model: PowerBook6,7, BootROM 4.9.3f0, 1 processors, PowerPC G4 (1.2), 1.33 GHz, 512 MB
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon 9550, ATY,M12, AGP, 32 MB
Memory Module: DIMM0/BUILT-IN, 512 MB, built-in, built-in
AirPort: AirPort Extreme, 405.1 (3.90.34.0.p18)
Modem: Jump, V.92, Version 1.0
Bluetooth: Version 1.7.14f14, 2 service, 0 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
PCI Card: pci106b,4318, sppci_othernetwork, SLOT-B
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITACD-RW CW-8124, 743.43 MB
Parallel ATA Device: FUJITSU MHV2040AT, 37.26 GB
USB Device: Bluetooth HCI, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Apple Internal Trackpad, Apple Computer, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA

ibook g4, Mac OS X (10.4.9), one of several

Posted on Mar 28, 2007 4:09 PM

Reply

Answer 1

alanzucker Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 29, 2007 8:12 AM in response to alanzucker

Can anyone explain why an ethernet cable connected to the computer might cause kernel panics per the article mentioned above?

Reply

Answer 2

Mar 29, 2007 8:43 AM in response to alanzucker

I think the cause is not the Ethernet cablei you questioned. Try testing the Ethernet cable for the reproducibility with another computer that does not install "Baltaks DoubleCommand" kernel extension file. I am sure the Kernel Panic called the ISI Exception (0x00400) panic type will not occur. Although a configuration set for your Ethernet device with Baltaks DoubleCommand could impact on the Instruction Storage Interrupt exception.

Typically, this type of the panic exceptions is caused by an attempt to execute an instruction at an invalid memory address, jumping to location zero-- in your case, it is "PC=0x0000000000000000" value on the program counter register in the microprocessor.

You will now please focus on the exception state value 0x213CD000. The closest values to this exception are indicated with the following kernel extension files (.kext).

- com.baltaks.driver.DoubleCommand(1.6.2)@0x21bc7000
- com.apple.driver.AppleADBKeyboard(2.3.9)@0x212e0000
- dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOADBFamily(8.0.0)@0x21209000

Those loaded kernel extensions at the panic phase are a family that belongs to the same region of a source inside Mac OS X operating system. Thus, the first culprit is com.baltaks.driver.DoubleCommand. However, a preconfigured insufficient setting for/on the utility could face a mapping address collision to lead up to the panic.

If you can still start up the computer in a safe-mode without the Ethernet cable, try removing the questioned file and other related files (if you install).

Method 1: Using command lines should be the best way; I am afraid I do not know for the syntax. Find Michael Conniff for this help.

"sudo touch /System/Library/Extensions" could be necessary before restarting the computer.

Method 2: Manually remove the files onto the Desktop. Then, restart the computer.

Method 3: "Archive and Install" or "Erase and Install" solution.

Reply