Linux distros are about to get killer Windows feature: The Blue Screen of Death (opens in new tab)

(arstechnica.com)

45 pointsdddavid2y ago23 comments

23 comments

I've seen a few articles on this systemd BSOD feature, but none have had screenshots. Google doesn't come up with anything.

SushiHippie2y ago

I've found an image of it online: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38563062

scohesc2y ago

For someone who isn't experienced in how Linux crashes - what currently happens when there's an error that can't be recovered from? Does the device just restart?

nine_k2y ago

A kernel panic handler writes down a piece of stack, a piece of code, contents of registers, and some minimal message. Normally the machine does not reboot, so that you could photograph the console maybe.

(The screen normally remains white on black. The console can as well be a COM port.)

You can configure it to auto-reboot by putting a timeout value to /proc/sys/kernel/panic.

treadmill2y ago

This is actually useful and portable (e.g. also works serial console). QR Codes are not.

I actually scrolled up to check this was not an April fools article.

1 more reply

SushiHippie2y ago

Anyone know how I could try this out? (I have systemd 255)

ElijahLynn2y ago

From https://github.com/systemd/systemd/releases/tag/v255

"A new component "systemd-bsod" has been added, which can show logged error messages full screen, if they have a log level of LOG_EMERG log level. This component is experimental and its public interface is subject to change."

First step is to log something with LOG_EMERG level. Then maybe make the system crash?

SushiHippie2y ago

I just tried the repro steps for this issue [0]. Which seem to be the same as the test suite does it [1]. But nothing happens :/

[0] https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/29478 [1] https://github.com/systemd/systemd/blob/main/test/units/test...

EDIT: just found an image, of how it looks https://0x0.st/H3qM.png

3 more replies

hulitu2y ago

> New systemd update will bring Windows’ infamous Blue Screen of Death to Linux

Another feature worth porting is systemd spawning around 100 processes, just like svchost.exe. /s

dddavidOP2y ago

Fantastic idea IMO

herewulf2y ago

This is such a pointless feature. I have several daily driver Linux systems. They run for months at a time, sometimes years. The only time I see a kernel panic is if the hardware is bad or I did something wrong (misconfiguration).

Years ago I had a dual boot system with bad RAM and on Windows it would regularly blue screen, on Linux it was fine. Took a long time to figure out what the actual problem was because Linux is just so rock solid.

And no, I don't use any systemd based distros on my daily drivers.

PrayagBhakar2y ago

Not everyone runs Linux systems like a Sys Admin. Some folks use it to play games on their steamdeck or to give live to older hardware that can’t run windows/osx anymore. Others don’t even care what they’re running as long as it can open chrome.

BSOD is very clearly an end user feature for folks who don’t have experience debugging kernel panics. If the QR code can generate a copy passable stack trace of the error the it could help make linux more mainstream and easier to debug for non technical folks.

eternityforest2y ago

Bad hardware exists though. And if hardware goes bad you're already in a stressful situation and probably don't want any extra work to fix it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

23 comments

theandrewbailey2y ago

I've seen a few articles on this systemd BSOD feature, but none have had screenshots. Google doesn't come up with anything.

SushiHippie2y ago

I've found an image of it online: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38563062

scohesc2y ago

For someone who isn't experienced in how Linux crashes - what currently happens when there's an error that can't be recovered from? Does the device just restart?

nine_k2y ago

(The screen normally remains white on black. The console can as well be a COM port.)

You can configure it to auto-reboot by putting a timeout value to /proc/sys/kernel/panic.

treadmill2y ago

This is actually useful and portable (e.g. also works serial console). QR Codes are not.

I actually scrolled up to check this was not an April fools article.

1 more reply

SushiHippie2y ago

Anyone know how I could try this out? (I have systemd 255)

ElijahLynn2y ago

From https://github.com/systemd/systemd/releases/tag/v255

First step is to log something with LOG_EMERG level. Then maybe make the system crash?

SushiHippie2y ago

I just tried the repro steps for this issue [0]. Which seem to be the same as the test suite does it [1]. But nothing happens :/

[0] https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/29478 [1] https://github.com/systemd/systemd/blob/main/test/units/test...

EDIT: just found an image, of how it looks https://0x0.st/H3qM.png

3 more replies

hulitu2y ago

> New systemd update will bring Windows’ infamous Blue Screen of Death to Linux

Another feature worth porting is systemd spawning around 100 processes, just like svchost.exe. /s

dddavidOP2y ago

Fantastic idea IMO

herewulf2y ago

And no, I don't use any systemd based distros on my daily drivers.

PrayagBhakar2y ago

eternityforest2y ago

Bad hardware exists though. And if hardware goes bad you're already in a stressful situation and probably don't want any extra work to fix it.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse