Memory Leak in Windows Embedded Compact 2013 (OS or drivers)

martinmoe · Nov 23rd 2015

Hello,

I am investigating a decrease of the "Available Physical Memory" returned by GlobalMemoryStatus() of about 200 KB/day in Windows Embedded Compact 2013 (efusA9 V1.60 - Firmware, Build: Oct 16 2015/20:01:55, EFUSA9 V3 Solo; LVDS attached Display)

Although 200 KB/day sound not that much it is too much for a system that has to be available 24/7.

I have hunt down the problem to an Operating System Issue: When I open Control Panel/System/Memory and observe the "Program Memory in Use" for several hours, it shows the same leak rate of about 200 KB/day (12 KB in 90 minutes). This test is done without our custom application running, with no network connection and no USB devices.

I therefore suspect something in the OS or one of the drivers.

Is there any chance to find out the leakee?

fs-support_ZU · Nov 23rd 2015

Hello,

thanks for your Information.
Think we have a good chance to find or workaroud the issue if there is any. I don't think so.

Note, Windows CE allocates memory in blocks, is any application requests some blocks and release them later you want see this in the "memory in use". Only if you close the application or memory is in sufficent the (system calls HeapCompact), then you will see "memory in use" decreases.

Test: Run an application with serveral sub windows-> open an additonal windows "memory in use" increase -> close the dialog "memory in use" does not decrease! Open another window -> ... .

I will do some test and keep you informed.

martinmoe · Nov 24th 2015

Hello,

I think there is an issue because the decrease in available physical memory can be observed with no application running, with no user interaction and no network cable connected.

Just boot up the board, open the Memory tab in the Control Panel/System and wait. The number of Program Memory in Use will increase by about 12 kB per hour.

fs-support_ZU · Nov 24th 2015

Hello,

Quote

I think there is an issue because the decrease in available physical memory can be observed with no application running, with no user interaction and no network cable connected.

There are always some services running - but you are right after some hours i did not expect any increase.

I run a ASA9 over night (19h) with kernel V1.60 and detect no incrasing memory. This morning i got EFUSA9 solo and repeat a more detailed test (runtime < 2h). Think tommorw we have a result and can check what to do. Details (versions/code) see below.

Quote

Microsoft Windows CE Bootloader Common Library Version 1.2 Built Oct 9 2015 17:44:45
Microsoft Windows CE Bootloader for efusA9 Built Oct 9 2015
Portions copyright (c) 2012 F&S Elektronik Systeme GmbH
Boot Loader, Version 1.20
NBoot, Version VN25
HW rev. 1.20

HW-Watchdog: ON
System ready!
Preparing for download...
Press >S< to step into monitor...
AUTO BOOT enabled
+ReadKernelRegionFromNandFlash
Image Signature in Flash Memory found (dwSig=0x43454345)
TOC pointer=0x80491A48

ROMHDR (cTOC = 0x00271a48) ---------------------
DLL First : 0x4001efd7
DLL Last : 0x4013f000
Physical First : 0x80220000
Physical Last : 0x804fa518
Num Modules : 32
RAM Start : 0x80620000
RAM Free : 0x8066b000
RAM End : 0x90620000
Num Copy Entries : 2
Copy Entries Offset : 0x802bdfe0
Prof Symbol Length : 0x00000000
Prof Symbol Offset : 0x00000000
Num Files : 8
Kernel Flags : 0x00000001
FileSys RAM Percent : 0x20202020
Driver Glob Start : 0x00000000
Driver Glob Length : 0x00000000
CPU : 0x01c4
MiscFlags : 0x0002
Extensions : 0x80221f00
Tracking Mem Start : 0x00000000
Tracking Mem Length : 0x00000000
Kernel (2921kB) read from flash disk started finished in 1000 milliseconds
Kernel read from NAND
INFO: OEMLaunch: Jumping to Physical Address 0x10220000h (Virtual Address 0x10220000h)...

Jumping to Kernel @ 0x10220000
INFO:OALLogSetZones: dpCurSettings.ulZoneMask: 0xb
Windows CE Kernel for ARM (Thumb Enabled)
Enabling L2 cache
OEMInit: silicon rev = 0x12
SMP support disabled

efusA9 V1.60 - Firmware Init
Copyright (c) 2013 F&S Elektronik Systeme GmbH
Build: Oct 16 2015/20:01:55
[OAL] MACB: Disabled
[OAL] RestartReason: IPP
FSPART: FS partition driver loaded
BINFS: RegisterVolume - Mounted volume '\BINFS'
PM-NETDCU: STARTED
BE2: Version 1.4, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\01
BE2: Version 1.4, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\04
IPU: Version 1.3, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\10
HCD: Version 1.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\17
PP: Version 1.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\19
VDI: Version 1.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\20
ENET: Version 1.3, ActiveKey = Comm\ETHNETA
BE2: Version 1.4, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\35
NI2C: Version 0.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\36
NI2C: Version 0.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\37
NI2C: Version 0.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\38
Serial: Version 1.4, ActiveKey =
Serial: Version 1.4, ActiveKey =
Serial: Port disabled. Serial debug is on !
Serial: Version 1.4, ActiveKey =
TCH: Version 1.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\43
SHC: Version 1.2, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\44
SHC: Version 1.2, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\45
SHC: Version 1.2, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\46
CID: Version 2.5, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\47
CID: Version 2.5, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\48
NSPI: Version 3.7, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\49
NSPI: Version 3.7, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\50
PWM: Version 1.3, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\51
EXTRTC: Version 1.2, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\52
SHC: [USDHC3] SD card inserted
PPU: Version 1.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\54
BCS: Version 1.4, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\55
DIO: Version 1.4, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\56
FRW: Version 1.3, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\59
GALCORE 4.6.9(9754) (Aug 13 2014 10:51:18)
Major GPU: SysIntr=34 MemBases=0x130000 MMU Version=0
2D GPU: SysIntr=35 MemBases=0x134000 MMU Version=0
Video memory: BaseAddress=0x0 PhysBase=0x106cc000 size=0x7000000 physSize=0x0
LCD: Version 1.0, ActiveKey = Drivers\Display\LCD
LCD: Read registry settings from Drivers\Display\LCD
LCD: Read registry settings from Drivers\Display\LCD
LCD: ASTADPEDT1.dll - Init failed
LCD: Display-Mode 19, Name ET070080
TchProxy: touch driver cann't be loaded. Check touch driver registry settings.
NDCUCFG V 61 started. Platform: efusA9
NDCUCFG Open COM1: at 115200 Baud
CreateFile() failed -> ERROR COM1:
CheckAutoStart: Version 1.7, LaunchNum = 100
SoftRTC disabled
ENET: LinkState: FULL-DUP, 100Mbps
TCH: Could not enable touch panel
USBHost : Hub [address(1) / layer(0)] SUSPEND OK
UFN: Version 1.1, ActiveKey = Drivers\Active\76
Periodic check of memory load
Runtime 000h 00min: memory load 46 percent(154202112 bytes)
Runtime 000h 01min: memory load 46 percent(154206208 bytes)
ENET: LinkState: DISCONNECTED
Runtime 000h 02min: memory load 46 percent(154198016 bytes)
Runtime 000h 02min: memory load 46 percent(154165248 bytes)
Runtime 000h 02min: memory load 46 percent(154157056 bytes)
Runtime 000h 28min: memory load 46 percent(154161152 bytes)
Runtime 000h 30min: memory load 46 percent(154161152 bytes)
Runtime 001h 00min: memory load 46 percent(154161152 bytes)
Runtime 001h 16min: memory load 46 percent(154165248 bytes)
Runtime 001h 22min: memory load 46 percent(154169344 bytes)
Runtime 001h 30min: memory load 46 percent(154169344 bytes)
Runtime 001h 32min: memory load 46 percent(154173440 bytes)

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Quote

#include <winbase.h>
int wmain(int argc, wchar_t *argv[])
{
DWORD counter=0;
DWORD l=0;
MEMORYSTATUS m;

RETAILMSG(1,(L"Periodic check of memory load\r\n"));
while(true)
{
GlobalMemoryStatus(&m);
if(counter%1000 == 0||(l != m.dwAvailPhys))
{
DWORD t=GetTickCount();
DWORD h=t/3600000;
DWORD mn=(t/60000)%60;
DWORD mm = m.dwTotalPhys-m.dwAvailPhys;
RETAILMSG(1,(L"Runtime %03dh %02dmin: memory load %d percent(%d bytes)\r\n", h, mn, m.dwMemoryLoad, mm));
}
l = m.dwAvailPhys;
counter++;
Sleep(1800);
}
return 0;
}

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fs-support_ZU · Nov 27th 2015

Hello,

i think i cannot confirm a memory leak. You are right there are an inrcrease over 12kB/h. But sometimes there is also a release over several kB. Measured over 48h i saw no alarming increase.

Over the weekend i will run a final test. I also record the fluctuation and extremum.

PS. ok i rewatch my logs, i am not sure. Think on many we know it.

fs-support_ZU · Dec 2nd 2015

Hello,

ok i can confirm the leak. I test 68h under WEC2013/V1.60. The trend is clear now.
Will will resolve it aps.

martinmoe · Dec 2nd 2015

Hello,

I tested WEC2013 1.50 by just watching the System Properties / Memory Tab and also notice the approx. 12KB/h increase of Program Memory in use:

Time	Program Memory In Use
11:35	158624 KB
11:55	158632 KB
12:45	158636 KB
13:10	158640 KB
14:25	158652 KB
15:00	158656 KB

I will keep the system running without any external interaction and report my observations.

fs-support_ZU · Feb 22nd 2018

Hello,

this issue is resolved with Windows Embedded Compact 2013 updates up to 2016M10 (Kernel Version V2.20, refer changelog).

Memory Leak in Windows Embedded Compact 2013 (OS or drivers)

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