Reporting a Bug / Regression in Linux Kernel 6.2 caused by Intel atomisp camera driver

[Lumipyry]

Hi,

This message is adressed to both Intel engineers working with Linux Kernels and all the people having trouble installing Linux OS to Intel Atom CPU computers with Kernel 6.2 (Including new Ubuntu 23.04 and Kubuntu 23.04) and especially for people in Kernel.org who are working with atomisp.

I'd like You to know that computers with Intel Atom (and possibly other Intel) CPUs CAN NOT BOOT in to a Linux OS which has Linux Kernel 6.2 or higher.

The last (stable) Linux Kernel that Intel Atom CPU computer boots with is 6.1.25.

The latest (stable) Kernel 6.2.12 still has this issue (donwloaded from Ubuntu repositories - not compiled from the source).

The bug is caused by atomisp camera driver - which is used by computers with Intel Atom CPU. ( " https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/issues/1095 ").

It seems, that in transition from Kernel 6.1 to 6.2 some firmware of atomisp went missing.

At March 15th it was reported that even a Microsoft Surface 3 laptop can not boot with Kernel 6.2 ( " https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/issues/1095 ").

At March 1st this kind of behaviour has been reported by Arch Linux users as well: (" https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=283920 ").

Therefore WE CAN ASSUME THAT THIS BUG / REGRESSION AFFECTS ALL LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS  using / planning to use Linux Kernel 6.2 or higher in computers WITH Intel Atom CPU. 

This bug has been reported in Ubuntu bugtracking system (" https://www.mail-archive.com/kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net/msg501664.html ") for Ubuntu 23.04 Beta.

In Manjaro Linux Kernel and their special Surface sub-Kernel the problem was solved by disabling atomisp and related modules in their Kernels. ( " https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/issues/1095 ").

I Just filed this Bug in Ubuntu bug tracking system: (" https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/2017444 ").

What I was doing:

I was updating Kubuntu 22.10 (with Kernel 5.19) to Kubuntu 23.04 (with Kernel 6.2.0-20) and the boot stopped with following error - errors:

watchdog: BUG: soft lockup - cpu# (a number which varied between boots from 2 to 4) stuck for for 22 s [systemd-udevd:302]

atomisp-isp2: 0000:00:03:0: atomisp: Error-2 while requesting firmware shisp_2401a0_v21.bin

atomisp-isp2: Failed to switch off isp

As an attachment a picture and a video of how boot of Kernel 6.2.0-20 is stopped in a HP x2 210 G2 computer with an Intel Atom CPU.

This bug / regression probably has nothing to do with Intel, but could you please pass the word forward to Kernel.org.

[Carlos_L_Intel]

Hi @Lumipyry,

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities. I'm sorry for the inconvenience this might have caused you. I will check this information internally and post back soon with more details.

Best regards, 

Carlos L.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Carlos_L_Intel]

Hi @Lumipyry,

 Thank you for your time. In this case, please refer to Linux support in order to report this. We appreciate your time and information. 

 Please keep in mind that this thread will no longer be monitored by Intel. I appreciate your understanding.

Best regards, 

Carlos L.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Lumipyry]

Thank You Carlos.

I'm not sure that you at Intel have understood severity of this problem ,

but it doesn't matter, because Intel Kernel developers probably work at Tampere, Finland and it's only 100 km from my home. I can just walk into The Intel office and talk to them personally.  I also have a personal email-address to a Intel atomisp Linux engineer whom I will contact  personally.

I have come to know, that Intel has discontinued development of atomisp modules for Linux in 2017.

Still these unfunctional modules are present in Linux kernel and furthermore file shisp_2401a0_v21.bin is missing  - and this means that starting with kernel 6.2 none of Linux distributions will boot in none of the computers with Intel Atom CPU in the whole World  - is this the way Intel wants things to be?

Now you at Intel can answer with citation from  Mandalorian TV-series: This is the way.

Since Intel has stopped developing atomisp modules, maybe it's best for everyone that these modules are removed from the kernel. After all - atomisp is only a web-camera module - it's not worth all this trouble.

For those having trouble installing Linux with kernel 6.2 to a Intel Atom CPU computer,  solution is provided here https://askubuntu.com/questions/1464926/not-able-to-boot-kubuntu-23-04-with-kernel-6-2-and-intel-atom-cpu .

[Lumipyry]

Solution found.

A fix in Ubuntu kernel is under work.  Atomisp modules will be disabled in kernel.

Can't speak on behalf of other distributions, but Manjaro kernel - or Manjaro Surface kernel works also.

Meanwhile,

a temporary solution here:

 https://askubuntu.com/questions/1464926/not-able-to-boot-kubuntu-23-04-with-kernel-6-2-and-intel-atom-cpu .

Intel Atom owners using Linux:

Don't file bug reports of web-camera not working. I won't be working until atomisp is ready. Instead follow news  of atomisp development.