DCKlingensmith

Q: Mac Server showing 0 memory usage, 0 network traffic and constantly rising CPU usage

Hello,

 

I use my 2011 Mac Mini as a server, running Mountain Lion and Lion Server. At about 5AM this morning my memory usage went from a constant 1.6GB usage instantly down to 0 (zero)GB, at the same time my processor usage went to 0 and rose linearly thereafter. My network usage also went to 0. This isn't new, this has happened for the last month, about %85 of the time I leave my computer for more than a few hours. Of course my first assumption is that I have some kind of memory leak or uncaught fatal error. What are the first steps I should take to get to the bottom of the problem?

 

The Mac Mini auto-sleeps after 15 minutes.

Services enabled: ftp, sftp, ssh, websites, file sharing.

 

Here's the last few lines in the system log:

 

Mar 30 03:55:59 188-223 kernel[0]: CODE SIGNING: cs_invalid_page(0x1000): p=3663[GoogleSoftwareUp] clearing CS_VALID

Mar 30 04:07:22 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 2105 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:07:24 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 679 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:07:26 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 3352 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:07:28 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 4546 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:07:28 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 2250 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:34:50 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 337 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:34:52 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 2927 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:34:53 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 2660 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 04:34:56 188-223 kernel[0]: Limiting icmp ping response from 4844 to 250 packets per second

Mar 30 19:10:12 localhost bootlog[0]: BOOT_TIME 1364688612 0

 

There is nothing noteworthy in any other logs.

 

The problem may or may not have started when I upgraded from Lion to Mountain Lion.

 

Please advise, standing by...

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Mar 30, 2013 5:37 PM

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Q: Mac Server showing 0 memory usage, 0 network traffic and constantly rising CPU usage

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Camelot,

    Camelot Camelot Apr 2, 2013 10:35 PM in response to DCKlingensmith
    Level 8 (47,300 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 2, 2013 10:35 PM in response to DCKlingensmith

    This is a network problem - you're getting slammed with network traffic.

     

    It's not clear where it's coming from - either something on the LAN or remotely over the internet. A tcpdump will likely show something interesting.

  • by DCKlingensmith,

    DCKlingensmith DCKlingensmith Apr 5, 2013 4:19 PM in response to Camelot
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 5, 2013 4:19 PM in response to Camelot

    I don't see how that could be the case as the logs show only normal usage until the anomaly, and 0 network traffic after.

  • by Camelot,

    Camelot Camelot Apr 8, 2013 9:35 AM in response to DCKlingensmith
    Level 8 (47,300 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 8, 2013 9:35 AM in response to DCKlingensmith

    In short, the graphs lie.

     

    OK, maybe that's too strong a word, but either the chart is broken, or they only report TCP traffic - that is, 'normal' application traffic.

     

    If your server is connected to a network that has *any* other device on it then there is *no way* there will be zero bits on the wire. The rules of ethernet and IP traffic means there will *always* be some degree of background noise - ARP traffic as devices learn about devices on the LAN; Bonjour traffic as the OS tries to auto-discover other servers; DHCP traffic as devices look for a DHCP server; NTP traffic as your server tries to sync the clock, and so on. There's just no way '0' would ever reflect reality.

     

    If the charts are showing TCP traffic levels, then ICMP wouldn't be reflected.