Bug 32880 – alsasound on 2.6.0 does not work unless soundcard module preloaded

• Status: RESOLVED UPSTREAM
• Product: Gentoo Linux

[Description Collins Richey 2003-11-06 07:50:45 UTC]

I am using kernel 2.6.0-test8, soundcard ens1371 (SoundBlaster PCI 64), but
forum users report same problem with other cards.  I have done 'rc-update add
alsasound boot'.  Unless I add ens1371 to /etc/modules.autoload, alsasound fails
to enable sound (symptom: /dev/dsp ... not created by devfsd).  A workaround is
to issue '/etc/init.d alsasound stop' then '... start' after system is up.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Compile all sound functions as modules.
2. rc-update add alsasound boot.
3.

Actual Results:  
Sound modules not enabled unless ens1371 preloaded.

Expected Results:  
Sound should have been enabled without the workaround

Gentoo Base System version 1.4.3.10p1
Portage 2.0.49-r15 (default-x86-1.4, gcc-3.2.3, glibc-2.3.2-r1, 2.6.0-test8)
=================================================================
System uname: 2.6.0-test8 i686 AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1800+
ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="x86"
AUTOCLEAN="yes"
CFLAGS="-mcpu=athlon-xp -O3 -pipe"
CHOST="i686-pc-linux-gnu"
COMPILER="gcc3"
CONFIG_PROTECT="/etc /var/qmail/control /usr/kde/2/share/config
/usr/kde/3/share/config /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xkb /usr/kde/3.1/share/config
/usr/share/texmf/tex/generic/config/ /usr/share/texmf/tex/platex/config/
/usr/share/config"
CONFIG_PROTECT_MASK="/etc/gconf /etc/env.d"
CXXFLAGS="-mcpu=athlon-xp -O3 -pipe"
DISTDIR="/usr/portage/distfiles"
FEATURES="sandbox ccache autoaddcvs"
GENTOO_MIRRORS="http://gentoo.oregonstate.edu
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/distributions/gentoo"
MAKEOPTS="-j2"
PKGDIR="/usr/portage/packages"
PORTAGE_TMPDIR="/var/tmp"
PORTDIR="/usr/portage"
PORTDIR_OVERLAY=""
SYNC="rsync://rsync.gentoo.org/gentoo-portage"
USE="x86 oss apm avi crypt cups encode foomaticdb gif jpeg libg++ mad mikmod
mpeg ncurses nls pdflib png quicktime spell truetype xml2 xmms xv zlib gtkhtml
gdbm berkdb slang readline arts tetex bonobo svga tcltk java guile mysql X sdl
gpm tcpd pam libwww ssl perl python esd imlib oggvorbis gnome gtk qt kde motif
opengl mozilla gphoto2 cdr scanner gtk2 -alsa"

[Comment 1 SpanKY 2003-11-06 11:06:02 UTC]

devfs doesnt create dsp unless the soundcard is detected ... and the card
isnt detected unless you load the module ...

[Comment 2 Collins Richey 2003-11-06 13:05:48 UTC]

This is not invalid.  The find + loop in alsasound is supposed to locate
the required sound module alias then issue /sbin/modprobe modulename, i.e.
load it and any others.  On the first attempt all the modules are loaded
(lsmod proves it), but no /dev/dsp is generated.  Only if the sound module
is preloaded or alsasound is stopped (modules deleted) and started (modules
loaded again), the sound card works (/dev/dsp is generated, lmod looks the
same as before). Why is it necessary to load the module twice!!!

[Comment 3 SpanKY 2003-11-06 19:24:16 UTC]

let the sound ppl sort it out

[Comment 4 Collins Richey 2003-11-06 20:03:49 UTC]

I have a feeling this may be an alsa problem or a devfsd problem with ens1371
(and perhaps a few other cards).  If I leave alsasound out of the picture,
I get the same results with modprobe.

1. modprobe snd-ens1371 (sound card clicks, all modules loaded properly)
2. /dev/dsp etc. do not exist
3. rmmod snd-ens1371
4. modprobe snd-ens1371
5. /dev/dsp etc. now exist, soundcard is now usable

[Comment 5 Jeremy Huddleston (RETIRED) 2004-02-06 21:19:48 UTC]

out of curiosity, is this working with newer kernels?