Linux Mint: Watchdog configuration

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1. Find out watchdog kernel module name for your platform, possibly using using google

  • For all Compulab Intel products, it should be named - "iTCO_wdt"

2. Verify it can be loaded successfully information on the device appears in dmesg output

$ sudo modprobe iTCO_wdt

$ dmesg | tail

   iTCO_wdt: Intel TCO WatchDog Timer Driver v1.11
   iTCO_wdt: initialized. heartbeat=60 sec (nowayout=0)

3. Install watchdog program, it should run in the background automatically on each system start

$ sudo apt install watchdog

4. Modify the following configuration files:

   uncomment line:        watchdog-device  = /dev/watchdog

   change:                watchdog_module="none"
   to:                    watchdog_module="iTCO_wdt"

add "" line under [Install] header, as per below:

  • NOTE: this a bugfix that required for LinuxMint18.3.

5. Reboot

6. Verify the the driver is loaded automatically:

$ dmesg | grep wdt

7. Simulate kernel panic (as root user):

   $ su
   $ echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq 
   $ echo c > /proc/sysrq-trigger
  • As a result, the watchdog mechanism should reboot the system within 60 seconds.