cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/34381286
I've been having issues with my homelab ever since I set it up a few months ago. For some reason the server becomes unresponsive as if it is online. However when accessing its CLI, it seems to spew out this message in continuity.
I've tried entering commands directly into the CLI, but it shows an 'input/output' error instead. I cannot even get it to shutdown through the CLI so I have to manually pull the plug.
Here's another screenshot of the logs in the CLI a few moments just after the error occurred.
The issue does not even get fixed after I try switching it off and on. Sometimes the homelab gets stuck indefinitely in the startup loading screen, fails to detect the system partition between the GRUB stage, results in a Linux kernel crash or refuses to boot altogether. It is only mitigated when I leave the homelab switched off for 5 minutes or so.
The weird thing about it is that there is no way to predict when this error could come up. The server would work completely unhindered for a few weeks straight on some occasions, and break down just a few minutes after startup. It doesn't depend on what type of services I am hosting, all of which are lightweight in nature.
Additionally, once it does start working again there seems to be no record of the encountered error to be seen in the logs, apart from the number of unsafe shutdowns. This makes it difficult to debug or even document the matter coupled with the fact that its occurence is random in nature. I'be tried running several diagnostic tools including smartctl but I am unable to deduce anything useful out of it.
Some specs and info about the homelab is as follows:
- Build: Pre built Compact Mini PC
- CPU: Intel i7-14700
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
- GPU: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 770
- Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
I would really appreciate if you could point out the cause of this issue. This experience makes the server reliable which is why I don't feel comfortable hosting anything valuable or sensitive on it yet. I can provide you additional details or logs if required.
Intermittent crashing and instability sounds like faulty RAM modules. Use memtest86 from a USB drive (NOT the version that is accessible from the grub boot menu) and see if you get errors. A general test using the defaults is fine. You'll know them when you see them.
as for I/O issues, that could be your storage being faulty or starting to fail. I'd swap out the 1TB ssd you mentioned for a different one, if you have any onsite. Also could just simply re-seat the existing SSD modules in case its not fully making contact (I personally doubt that's the case, but I have to suggest it anyways.)