I see this with Ubuntu saucy (Kernel 3.11.0-12-generic 64 bit.), on a Thinkpad T520 as well. This seems to happen when the system is under heavy workload and I experience system freezes at the same time (So it does seem to have a usability impact for me).
[23391.818508] ata4: exception Emask 0x10 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x4040000 action 0xe frozen [23391.818513] ata4: irq_stat 0x00000040, connection status changed [23391.818516] ata4: SError: { CommWake DevExch } [23391.818523] ata4: limiting SATA link speed to 1.5 Gbps [23391.818525] ata4: hard resetting link [23392.538993] ata4: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 310) [23392.554893] ata4: EH complete Possibly related: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/539467 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Kernel Packages, which is subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/888764 Title: SATA link frequently resetting Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu: Invalid Bug description: I installed Ubuntu 11.10 on a brand-new Lenovo Thinkpad T520. I can use the system without notable problem (though I have not run any performance tests yet), however the kernel frequently (every few seconds) writes the following error messages to /var/log/syslog: ..... kernel: [ 1814.181384] ata4: exception Emask 0x10 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x4040000 action 0xe frozen kernel: [ 1814.181395] ata4: irq_stat 0x00000040, connection status changed kernel: [ 1814.181402] ata4: SError: { CommWake DevExch } kernel: [ 1814.181416] ata4: hard resetting link kernel: [ 1814.903561] ata4: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) kernel: [ 1814.919517] ata4: EH complete kernel: [ 1819.682620] ata4: exception Emask 0x10 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x4040000 action 0xe frozen kernel: [ 1819.682631] ata4: irq_stat 0x00000040, connection status changed kernel: [ 1819.682637] ata4: SError: { CommWake DevExch } kernel: [ 1819.682651] ata4: hard resetting link kernel: [ 1820.403106] ata4: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300) kernel: [ 1820.419060] ata4: EH complete kernel: [ 1825.277218] ata4: exception Emask 0x10 SAct 0x0 SErr 0x4000000 action 0xe frozen kernel: [ 1825.277228] ata4: irq_stat 0x00000040, connection status changed kernel: [ 1825.277234] ata4: SError: { DevExch } kernel: [ 1825.277246] ata4: limiting SATA link speed to 1.5 Gbps kernel: [ 1825.277253] ata4: hard resetting link kernel: [ 1825.998398] ata4: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 310) kernel: [ 1826.014355] ata4: EH complete .... Again, the system is brand-new and hence I guess that this is no hardware problem. Searching the web I found that someone else with a T520 has a similar problem: http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/1207661 Thank you very much in advance! ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10 Package: linux-image-3.0.0-12-generic 3.0.0-12.20 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.20-generic 3.0.4 Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64 AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24. AplayDevices: **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices **** card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0 ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4 Architecture: amd64 ArecordDevices: **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices **** card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/controlC0: matthias 1566 F.... pulseaudio CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory Card0.Amixer.info: Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0xf3a20000 irq 46' Mixer name : 'Conexant CX20590' Components : 'HDA:14f1506e,17aa21cf,00100002 HDA:14f12c06,17aa2122,00100000' Controls : 8 Simple ctrls : 5 Card29.Amixer.info: Card hw:29 'ThinkPadEC'/'ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30, fw unknown' Mixer name : 'ThinkPad EC (unknown)' Components : '' Controls : 1 Simple ctrls : 1 Card29.Amixer.values: Simple mixer control 'Console',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [on] Date: Thu Nov 10 22:13:05 2011 HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=31e78c61-0d88-4374-8362-12e69b42dfa3 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012) MachineType: LENOVO 4242PT2 ProcEnviron: PATH=(custom, no user) LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.0.0-12-generic root=UUID=b0a2add5-ac89-412c-ae05-b0550b8acc9d ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 RelatedPackageVersions: linux-restricted-modules-3.0.0-12-generic N/A linux-backports-modules-3.0.0-12-generic N/A linux-firmware 1.60 SourcePackage: linux StagingDrivers: mei UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 08/08/2011 dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO dmi.bios.version: 8AET51WW (1.31 ) dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available dmi.board.name: 4242PT2 dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO dmi.board.version: Not Available dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information dmi.chassis.type: 10 dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO dmi.chassis.version: Not Available dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr8AET51WW(1.31):bd08/08/2011:svnLENOVO:pn4242PT2:pvrThinkPadT520:rvnLENOVO:rn4242PT2:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable: dmi.product.name: 4242PT2 dmi.product.version: ThinkPad T520 dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/888764/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages Post to : kernel-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~kernel-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp