Enabling Watchdog in Linux on Bedrock V3000

This guide outlines the steps to configure and test the sp5100_tco watchdog on your system.

Step 1: Remove the Watchdog Module from Modprobe Blacklists

1. Search for the sp5100_tco entry in the modprobe configuration:

grep -r sp5100_tco /lib/modprobe.d/

1. For each returned result, open the file and comment out lines containing "blacklist sp5100_tco".

Step 2: Create a New Modprobe Entry

Enter the following command to add a new configuration for sp5100_tco:

echo "options sp5100_tco heartbeat=30 nowayout=1" > /etc/modprobe.d/sp5100_tco.conf

Step 3: Install the Watchdog Package

Use the package manager to install the watchdog package:

apt install -y watchdog

Step 4: Update the Watchdog Configuration

1. Open the watchdog configuration file:

nano /etc/watchdog.conf

1. Locate and uncomment the line:

#watchdog-device = /dev/watchdog

1. Find the line:

#watchdog-timeout = 60

Uncomment it and change its value to 30:

watchdog-timeout = 30

Step 5: Reboot the System

To apply the changes, reboot your system:

reboot

Testing the Configuration

To test if the watchdog is working correctly, you can intentionally trigger a kernel crash:

After executing the above command, the kernel will crash. If the watchdog is correctly configured, the system should reboot automatically within 30 seconds.

Warning: The test command will cause system instability and an immediate reboot. Ensure you've saved all your work before executing the test command.