# voxl-camera-server failed to set pipe size: Cannot allocate memory

Source: https://forum.modalai.com/topic/4799/voxl-camera-server-failed-to-set-pipe-size-cannot-allocate-memory
Category: General Questions (https://forum.modalai.com/category/2/general-questions)
Posted: 2025-10-03 15:53:31 UTC by paul.foley
Replies: 2 · Views: 453

## paul.foley · 2025-10-03 15:53:31 UTC

Hello, 
I have a C++ application for doing image processing of frames from voxl-camera-server. When I run it, within a few minutes, my application stops receiving frames and I see the following from the camera server about failing to set pipe size. Once that occurs, restarting my application or the camera server does not help. Rebooting is the only thing I have found that consistently gets the camera server back in a good state.

```
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: thread is locked to cores: 4 5 6 7
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: Connected to cpu-monitor
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: Skipping Camera: tracking_front, configuration marked disabled
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: Skipping Camera: hires_front, configuration marked disabled
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: Starting Camera: hires_down (id #2)
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: gbm_create_device(156): Info: backend name is: msm_drm
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: Skipping Camera: tracking_down, configuration marked disabled
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: ------ voxl-camera-server: Started 1 of 4 cameras
Oct 03 14:11:21 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: ------ voxl-camera-server: Camera server is now running
Oct 03 14:16:48 m0054 voxl-camera-server[10625]: WARNING failed to set pipe size: Cannot allocate memory
```

I'm on a Starling 2 Max. Below is the version information. 
```
voxl2:~$ voxl-version 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
system-image: 1.8.02-M0054-14.1a-perf
kernel:       #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Nov 11 22:59:41 UTC 2024 4.19.125
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hw platform:  M0054
mach.var:     1.2.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
voxl-suite:   1.4.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Packages:
Repo:  http://voxl-packages.modalai.com/ ./dists/qrb5165/sdk-1.4/binary-arm64/
Last Updated: 2023-03-02 12:58:40
WARNING: repo file has changed since last update,
        packages may have originated from a different repo
List:
kernel-module-voxl-fsync-mod-4.19.125     1.0-r0
kernel-module-voxl-gpio-mod-4.19.125      1.0-r0
kernel-module-voxl-platform-mod-4.19.125  1.0-r0
libfc-sensor                              1.0.7
libmodal-cv                               0.5.16
libmodal-exposure                         0.1.3
libmodal-journal                          0.2.2
libmodal-json                             0.4.3
libmodal-pipe                             2.10.6
libqrb5165-io                             0.4.9
libvoxl-cci-direct                        0.2.5
libvoxl-cutils                            0.1.1
modalai-slpi                              1.1.19
mv-voxl                                   0.1-r0
qrb5165-bind                              0.1-r0
qrb5165-dfs-server                        0.2.0
qrb5165-imu-server                        1.1.2
qrb5165-rangefinder-server                0.1.4
qrb5165-slpi-test-sig                     01-r0
qrb5165-system-tweaks                     0.3.4
qrb5165-tflite                            2.8.0-2
voxl-bind-spektrum                        0.1.1
voxl-camera-calibration                   0.5.9
voxl-camera-server                        2.1.1
voxl-ceres-solver                         2:1.14.0-10
voxl-configurator                         0.9.7
voxl-cpu-monitor                          0.5.3
voxl-docker-support                       1.3.1
voxl-elrs                                 0.4.1
voxl-esc                                  1.5.1
voxl-feature-tracker                      0.5.2
voxl-flow-server                          0.3.6
voxl-fsync-mod                            1.0-r0
voxl-gphoto2-server                       0.0.10
voxl-gpio-mod                             1.0-r0
voxl-io-server                            0.0.4
voxl-jpeg-turbo                           2.1.3-5
voxl-lepton-server                        1.3.3
voxl-lepton-tracker                       0.0.4
voxl-libgphoto2                           0.0.4
voxl-libuvc                               1.0.7
voxl-logger                               0.4.9
voxl-mavcam-manager                       0.5.7
voxl-mavlink                              0.1.1
voxl-mavlink-server                       1.4.4
voxl-modem                                1.1.5
voxl-mongoose                             7.7.0-1
voxl-mpa-to-ros                           0.3.9
voxl-mpa-tools                            1.3.7
voxl-open-vins                            0.4.16
voxl-open-vins-server                     0.3.0
voxl-opencv                               4.5.5-2
voxl-osd                                  0.1.1
voxl-platform-mod                         1.0-r0
voxl-portal                               0.7.5
voxl-px4                                  1.14.0-2.0.94
voxl-px4-imu-server                       0.1.2
voxl-px4-params                           0.6.3
voxl-qvio-server                          1.1.1
voxl-remote-id                            0.0.9
voxl-reset-slpi                           0.0.1
voxl-state-estimator                      0.0.4
voxl-streamer                             0.7.5
voxl-suite                                1.4.1
voxl-tag-detector                         0.0.4
voxl-tflite-server                        0.3.9
voxl-utils                                1.4.4
voxl-uvc-server                           0.1.7
voxl-vision-hub                           1.8.17
voxl-vtx                                  1.1.8
voxl2-io                                  0.0.3
voxl2-system-image                        1.8.02-r0
voxl2-wlan                                1.0-r0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
```

As a test I created a very simple application that just connects to the camera pipe and logs each time it receives a frame. I've included the code below. This exhibits the same behavior as my more complex image processing application. Is there any issue with the way I am connecting to the pipe and processing frames?

```
#include <atomic>
#include <csignal>
#include <cstdint>
#include <iostream>
#include <modal_pipe.h>
#include <thread>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <mutex>
#include <chrono>

using namespace std::chrono_literals;

std::string g_cameraString="hires_down_small_color";
uint32_t g_frameCounter=0;
uint32_t g_numIterations=100;
std::mutex g_iterationMutex;
bool g_keepRunning=true;
// Use atomic to ensure safety in signal handlers
std::atomic<bool> got_signal{false};

void _camera_connect_cb( int   ch,
                                void* context){
    printf("Connected to camera server\n");
}

void _camera_disconnect_cb( int   ch,
                                   void* context) {
    fprintf(stderr, "Disonnected from camera server\n");
}

void _camera_helper_cb( int ch,
                              camera_image_metadata_t meta, char* frame,
                              void* context) {
  std::cout<<__func__<<"Got notified of new frame #"<<g_frameCounter++<<"..."<<std::endl;

  //if pipe_client_bytes_in_pipe returns a positive number it means we have fallen behind and should skip this frame 
  if (pipe_client_bytes_in_pipe(ch) > 0) {
            fprintf(
                stderr,
                "WARNING, skipping frame on channel %d due to frame backup\n",
                ch);
        return;
    }
    {
      std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lg(g_iterationMutex);
      g_numIterations--;
    }

  return;
} 

void cleanup()
{
  std::cout<<__func__<<std::endl;
  pipe_client_close_all();
}

void connectToCameraPipe()
{
    // connect to camera pipe
    int ch = pipe_client_get_next_available_channel();
    pipe_client_set_connect_cb(ch, _camera_connect_cb, NULL);
    pipe_client_set_disconnect_cb(ch, _camera_disconnect_cb, NULL);
    pipe_client_set_camera_helper_cb(ch, _camera_helper_cb, NULL);
    //pipes all live under /run/mpa on VOXL
    std::string input_pipe_dir( "/run/mpa/");
    // add the name of the camera we want to get frames from
    std::string camera_pipe_path=input_pipe_dir;
    camera_pipe_path.append(g_cameraString);
    if (pipe_client_open(ch, camera_pipe_path.c_str(), "VoxlCameaFramePipeTest",
                         CLIENT_FLAG_EN_CAMERA_HELPER, 0)) {
        printf("%s | Failed to open pipe: %s \n", __func__, camera_pipe_path.c_str());
        return;
    }
    else {
        printf("%s | Successfully opened pipe: %s \n", __func__, camera_pipe_path.c_str());
    }
}

void usage() {
    std::cout << "Usage: VoxlCameraFramePipeTest <options> \n"
              << "Options:\n"
              << "  -c <camera_name>   Name of the camera (string). Default value is "<<g_cameraString<<"\n"
              << "  -n <iterations>    Number of iterations (unsigned integer). Default value is "<<g_numIterations<<"\n"
              << "  -h                 Print this help message"<<std::endl;
}

bool parseArgs(int argc, char** argv) {
  int opt;
  while ( (opt = getopt (argc, argv, "c:n:h") ) != -1)
  {
    switch (opt)
    {
      case 'c':
        g_cameraString=optarg;
        break; 
      case 'n':
        g_numIterations=std::stoul(optarg);
        break;
      case 'h':
        usage();
        g_keepRunning=false;
        break; 
      default:
        printf("%s | received unexpected argument.", __func__); 
        usage();
        return false;
    }
  }
  return true;
}

void signal_handler(int signal) {
    if (signal == SIGINT) {
        std::cout<<"Got signal"<<std::endl;
        got_signal = true;
    } 
}

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
  if(!parseArgs(argc, argv))
  {
    return -1;
  }
  if(g_keepRunning)
  {
    // Register the signal handler
    std::signal(SIGINT, signal_handler);
    std::cout << "Press Ctrl+C to trigger SIGINT...\n";
    connectToCameraPipe();
    while (g_keepRunning && !got_signal) {
      std::this_thread::sleep_for(10ms);
      {
        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lg(g_iterationMutex);
        g_keepRunning=(g_numIterations>0);
      }
    }
      cleanup();
  }

  return 0;
}

```

Thank you, 
Paul

## Reply by Riccardo Benedetti · 2025-10-17 06:25:43 UTC

Hello,
Same issue and same SDK here:
```
voxl2:~$ voxl-camera-server
detected system image 1.8.2
using new imx412 defaults
MISP awb str: auto
Setting MISP AWB to AutoMISP awb str: auto
Setting MISP AWB to Auto=================================================================
configuration for 3 cameras:

cam #0
    name:                hires
    sensor type:         imx412
    isEnabled:           1
    camId:               1
    camId2:              -1
    fps:                 30
    en_rotate:           0
    en_rotate2:          0

    en_preview:          0
    pre_width:           640
    pre_height:          480
    en_raw_preview:      0

    en_small_video:      1
    small_video_width:   1024
    small_video_height:  768

    en_large_video:      1
    large_video_width:   4056
    large_video_height:  3040

    en_misp:             0
    misp_width:          -1
    misp_height:         -1

    en_snapshot:         1
    snap_width:          4056
    snap_height:         3040
    exif_focal_length:   3.100000
    exif_focal_len_35mm_format:17
    exif_fnumber:        1.240000

    ae_mode:             isp
    msv_exposure_min_us: 20
    msv_exposure_max_us: 33000
    gain_min           : 54
    gain_max           : 8000
    standby_enabled:     0
    decimator:           1
    independent_exposure:0

cam #1
    name:                tracking_rear
    sensor type:         ar0144
    isEnabled:           0
    camId:               2
    camId2:              -1
    fps:                 30
    en_rotate:           0
    en_rotate2:          0

    en_preview:          1
    pre_width:           1280
    pre_height:          800
    en_raw_preview:      1

    en_small_video:      0
    small_video_width:   -1
    small_video_height:  -1

    en_large_video:      0
    large_video_width:   -1
    large_video_height:  -1

    en_misp:             1
    misp_width:          1280
    misp_height:         800

    en_snapshot:         0
    snap_width:          -1
    snap_height:         -1
    exif_focal_length:   0.000000
    exif_focal_len_35mm_format:0
    exif_fnumber:        0.000000

    ae_mode:             lme_msv
    msv_exposure_min_us: 20
    msv_exposure_max_us: 12000
    gain_min           : 54
    gain_max           : 8000
    standby_enabled:     0
    decimator:           1
    independent_exposure:0

cam #2
    name:                tracking_down
    sensor type:         ar0144
    isEnabled:           0
    camId:               0
    camId2:              -1
    fps:                 30
    en_rotate:           0
    en_rotate2:          0

    en_preview:          1
    pre_width:           1280
    pre_height:          800
    en_raw_preview:      1

    en_small_video:      0
    small_video_width:   -1
    small_video_height:  -1

    en_large_video:      0
    large_video_width:   -1
    large_video_height:  -1

    en_misp:             1
    misp_width:          1280
    misp_height:         800

    en_snapshot:         0
    snap_width:          -1
    snap_height:         -1
    exif_focal_length:   0.000000
    exif_focal_len_35mm_format:0
    exif_fnumber:        0.000000

    ae_mode:             lme_msv
    msv_exposure_min_us: 20
    msv_exposure_max_us: 12000
    gain_min           : 54
    gain_max           : 8000
    standby_enabled:     0
    decimator:           1
    independent_exposure:0

fsync_en:            1
fsync_gpio:          109
=================================================================
thread is locked to cores: 4 5 6 7
connected to mavlink pipe
Connected to cpu-monitor
Starting Camera: hires (id #1)
gbm_create_device(156): Info: backend name is: msm_drm
Skipping Camera: tracking_rear, configuration marked disabled
Skipping Camera: tracking_down, configuration marked disabled

------ voxl-camera-server: Started 1 of 3 cameras

------ voxl-camera-server: Camera server is now running
WARNING failed to set pipe size: Cannot allocate memory
***
PIPE NOT CREATED!!
***
pipe 5 size achieved: -1 requested: 1048576
Killed
voxl2:~$ 
```
```
voxl2:~$ voxl-version
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
system-image: 1.8.02-M0054-14.1a-perf
kernel:       #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Nov 11 22:47:44 UTC 2024 4.19.125
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
hw platform:  M0054
mach.var:     1.0.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
voxl-suite:   1.4.1
```

Any insight?

## Reply by Alex Kushleyev (ModalAI staff) · 2025-10-17 17:59:13 UTC (in reply to Riccardo Benedetti)

Hi @Riccardo-Benedetti and @paul-foley ,

This issue is not common. There is a potential condition (which we are going to look into) when a MPA client crashes and does not close the pipes properly, the MPA server side will keep the allocated resources open. If the client crashes repeatedly, eventually there will be no more memory for the Kernel to allocate for the new pipes.

Please check to make sure that you have no client processes that are subscribing to image streams and are crashing and restarting (perhaps restarting automatically by systemd). It is possible that a process that is not your test app is misbehaving for some reason and is causing this memory leak by continuous crashing and re-starting.

Also, what if you just use `voxl-inspect-cam` to inspect the single camera stream and no other camera clients running, does the same issue happen?

Alex