OpenSuSE 11.1 No sound after recent updates

I'm not sure if this should be posted here or over in help.hardware. If
that would be more appropriate, let me know.


I had working sound before applying updates on Monday. Sadly I was stupid
enough not to keep track of exactly what was being updated, so I can't
provide all of the information I would like to.

I'm using OpenSuSE 11.1 here, with Gnome. The kernel is 2.6.27.37-0.1-pae.

Having searched for solutions, and tried SDB:AudioTroubleshooting, I'm
now stumped, so here's the info I found and hopefully somebody can tell
me where to look next.

linux:/home/dgersic # cat /proc/asound/version
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.17.

linux:/home/dgersic # cat /proc/asound/modules
0 snd_intel8x0
1 snd_mpu401

linux:/home/dgersic # cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [ICH5 ]: ICH4 - Intel ICH5
Intel ICH5 with ALC650F at irq 17
1 [UART ]: MPU-401 UART - MPU-401 UART
MPU-401 UART at 0x330, irq 10

The output from alsa-info.sh is at URL:
http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=91...1fbb7b87adea4e


The speaker-test runs:

speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twav

speaker-test 1.0.18

Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels
WAV file(s)
Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)
Buffer size range from 96 to 1048576
Period size range from 32 to 349526
Using max buffer size 1048576
Periods = 4
was set period_size = 262144
was set buffer_size = 1048576
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 4.188426
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 4.443227
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 4.437844
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 4.440142
0 - Front Left
1 - Front Right
Time per period = 4.431944

but no sound actually comes from the speakers during the test.

The only thing so far that has made any noise at all is running
alsaconfig. This produces a speaker "pop" when it stops and starts the
card.

Other testing involves the upper layer applications. I can use Banshee to
play a *.wav or *.mp3 file. I can see in PulseAudio that Banshee is
playing it. No audio at the speakers. But if I'm understanding the setup
correctly, Pulse is using ALSA, and ALSA is what isn't working.

Any help or suggestions for troubleshooting would be appreciated.


--
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David Gersic dgersic_@_niu.edu
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[caf4926]

Update History at

/var/log/zypp/history

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by David Gersic

I had working sound before applying updates on Monday. Sadly I was stupid enough not to keep track of exactly what was being updated, so I can't provide all of the information I would like to.

I'm using OpenSuSE 11.1 here, with Gnome. The kernel is 2.6.27.37-0.1-pae.

Hi David,

Good hearing from you. I note the master and PCM volumes are very low (in the diagnostic script output you provided) so please check that that is not the cause of not hearing anything now.

But also, there was an update to the openSUSE kernel this week to 2.6.27.37, and that might break the audio on some users sound devices. Its possible that is what happened to you.

To address this risk of breaking users sound with openSUSE kernel updates, one of the SuSE-GmbH packagers (I think it is Takashi Iwai, who is also an alsa developer) packages a number of alsa rpms for every new kernel update.

I maintain a wiki here for guidance on how to update your alsa for the new kernel using those packaged rpms: Alsa-update - openSUSE

Note you need to send six zypper commands as documented in that guide. I'm not always the best at writing such guides, and if its not clear then let me know and I can give you the precise six zypper commands. However for the second command (which updates alsa, alsa-docs, libasound2) you could also update any other alsa apps you have at the time on your pc. You can tell what alsa apps you have by typing:

rpm -qa '*alsa*'

... in case you did not know, a way to find out what has been recently installed is:

rpm -qa --last

or pipe it to a text file:

rpm -qa --last > myrpms.txt

and open the text file with an editor.

A word of caution about openSUSE repositories for multimedia software. The repository maintained by the videolan packagers is not very compatible with the repository maintained by the packman packagers. Packages will install, pass dependency checks, but simply not work because codecs are in a different location than expected by a package from another packager. Hence IMHO its best not to use videolan packaged applications (except libdvdcss) if one is going to use Packman packaged applications. I like using Packman packaged apps, and that is the guideline I follow.

On a different note, I have some good pix of you in Hawaii, that I need to pass on to you sometime. I've been very delinquent in answering Kim's request for us to forward images. As always I've got lots (too much) going on, but that doesn't really excuse my delinquency.

Good luck in your sound efforts, and please post if we can help some more.

Lee

[hendersj]

Hey, Dave -

I had a similar problem with recent updates - I ended up yanking
pulseaudio from my system and that resolved it.

Jim

--
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Moderator

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:52:56 +0000, Jim Henderson wrote:

> I had a similar problem with recent updates - I ended up yanking
> pulseaudio from my system and that resolved it.

Not that it's progress, but reinstalling Pulse got me back to where I
was. speaker-test now runs, but doesn't produce any output.


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David Gersic dgersic_@_niu.edu
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Please post questions in the newsgroups. No support provided via email.

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:52:56 +0000, Jim Henderson wrote:

> I had a similar problem with recent updates - I ended up yanking
> pulseaudio from my system and that resolved it.

I'm trying that next.


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On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:46:01 +0000, oldcpu wrote:

> Good hearing from you. I note the master and PCM volumes are very low
> (in the diagnostic script output you provided) so please check that that
> is not the cause of not hearing anything now.

I've tried adjusting every volume control I can find, none of which seem
to do anything useful. But I think Pulse may be getting in the way of any
attempt to adjust ALSA's stuff.


> I maintain a wiki here for guidance on how to update your alsa for the
> new kernel using those packaged rpms: 'Alsa-update - openSUSE'
> (http://en.opensuse.org/Alsa-update)
>
> Note you need to send six zypper commands as documented in that guide.

The first one could be a little more clear. The way the wiki shows the
link, the "multimedia" on the end is cut off. I got past that ok. The
second one fails, though:


zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae
New repository or package signing key received:
Key ID: F54EB54C20F035D8
Key Name: multimedia:audio OBS Project
<multimedia:audio@build.opensuse.org>
Key Fingerprint: F293D117CA0C96D2BFF429B1F54EB54C20F035D8
Repository: multimedia

Do you want to reject the key, trust temporarily, or trust always? [R/t/
a/?]: y
Invalid answer 'y'. [R/t/a/?]: t
Building repository 'multimedia' cache [done]
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
Resolving package dependencies...

Problem: nothing provides kernel(pae:drivers_input_gameport) =
3f0fcbbdff46803e needed by alsa-driver-kmp-
pae-1.0.21.20091031_2.6.25.20_0.5-1.1.i586
Solution 1: do not ask to install a solvable providing alsa-driver-kmp-
pae

Choose the above solution using '1' or cancel using 'c' [1/C]: 1
Resolving dependencies...
Resolving package dependencies...
Nothing to do.



> On a different note, I have some good pix of you in Hawaii, that I need
> to pass on to you sometime.

Thanks. Send them when you get the chance.


--
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David Gersic dgersic_@_niu.edu
Novell Knowledge Partner http://forums.novell.com

Please post questions in the newsgroups. No support provided via email.

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:52:56 +0000, Jim Henderson wrote:

> I had a similar problem with recent updates - I ended up yanking
> pulseaudio from my system and that resolved it.

Well, I tried that, and the results are not so good:


speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twav

speaker-test 1.0.18

Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels
WAV file(s)
ALSA lib conf.c:3009snd_config_update_r) Cannot access file /etc/alsa-
pulse.conf
ALSA lib pcm.c:2205snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM default
Playback open error: -2,No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:3009snd_config_update_r) Cannot access file /etc/alsa-
pulse.conf
ALSA lib pcm.c:2205snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM default
Playback open error: -2,No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:3009snd_config_update_r) Cannot access file /etc/alsa-
pulse.conf
ALSA lib pcm.c:2205snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM default
Playback open error: -2,No such file or directory



--
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David Gersic dgersic_@_niu.edu
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Please post questions in the newsgroups. No support provided via email.

[hendersj]

On Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:59:29 +0000, David Gersic wrote:

> but reinstalling Pulse

I wouldn't even reinstall it, based on my own experience - many people
have reported having problems with pulseaudio, I'd remove that from the
picture and diagnose from there.

When you don't get any input, do you get a sort of clicking noise at all
(might have to listen with headphones)? That was the symptom I had.

Jim

--
Jim Henderson
openSUSE Forums Moderator

[oldcpu]

Originally Posted by David Gersic

The second one fails, though:

zypper install alsa-driver-kmp-pae
New repository or package signing key received:
Key ID: F54EB54C20F035D8
Key Name: multimedia:audio OBS Project
<multimedia:audio@build.opensuse.org>
Key Fingerprint: F293D117CA0C96D2BFF429B1F54EB54C20F035D8
Repository: multimedia

Do you want to reject the key, trust temporarily, or trust always? [R/t/
a/?]: y
Invalid answer 'y'. [R/t/a/?]: t
Building repository 'multimedia' cache [done]
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...
Resolving package dependencies...

Problem: nothing provides kernel(pae:drivers_input_gameport) =
3f0fcbbdff46803e needed by alsa-driver-kmp-
pae-1.0.21.20091031_2.6.25.20_0.5-1.1.i586
Solution 1: do not ask to install a solvable providing alsa-driver-kmp-
pae

Choose the above solution using '1' or cancel using 'c' [1/C]: 1
Resolving dependencies...
Resolving package dependencies...
Nothing to do.

Its looking for an alsa-driver-kmp-pae for the 2.6.25.20 kernel. I think you went and sent the zypper commands for openSUSE-11.0 instead of openSUSE-11.1.

Take a look at the index. I'm not sure how that the formatting will render on NNTP but here it is:

# 3.1.5 openSUSE-11.0

    * 3.1.5.1 kernel 2.6.25.5-1.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)
    * 3.1.5.2 kernel 2.6.25.5-1.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)
    * 3.1.5.3 kernel 2.6.25.20_0.5-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)
    * 3.1.5.4 kernel 2.6.25.20_0.5-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.0)

# 3.1.6 openSUSE-11.1

    * 3.1.6.1 kernel 2.6.27.7_9.1-1.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)
    * 3.1.6.2 kernel 2.6.27.7_9.1-1.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)
    * 3.1.6.3 kernel 2.6.27.37-0.1-default i386 or x86_64 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)
    * 3.1.6.4 kernel 2.6.27.37-0.1-pae i386 GNU/Linux (openSUSE-11.1)

# 3.1.7 openSUSE-11.2 zypper commands

Note there is a section for 11.0 and a different section for 11.1. Note the 2.6.25.20 is in the 11.0 section. You should be sending commands from the 11.1 section (1st 3 commands) and then send commands from the 11.1's kernel 2.6.27.37-0.1-pae section. NOT from the 11.0 section.

If you sent the 1st 3 commands from the 11.0 section, you will need to send them again from the 11.1 section, as it goes to a different software repository. You will then have to send the next 3 commands from the section specific to your kernel version, which is a 2.6.27.37.

Ensure you REMOVE the repository "multimedia" from the failed effort, before you try again.