jclnc
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: mds and kernel_task are eating all of my memory

I recently upgraded to Mavericks. Immediately afterwards I encounted a problem. Anywhere between five minutes and two hours after booting up my computer (I'm using a mid-2011 15" MacBook Pro with 8GB of RAM and a 2.2 GHz Core i7), the process mds will use around 1.5 GB of memory and the process kernel_task will use around 4.7 GB. Normal use for the former on my machine is about 100 MB, and for the latter is 500-700 MB. At this point my computer becomes difficult to use, and if I don't shut down within a couple minutes the OS will ask me to quit all of my applications, then crash, at which point I have to do a hard shutdown. I recently discovered that this last part can be avoided if I force-quit mds, so I'm in much better shape than I was originally. Still, is there any way to fix this?

 

What I've tried: Of course I flashed the PRAM and reset the SMC, which did nothing. I then reindexed my hard drive (apparently mds is in charge of spotlight-related things), which also did nothing. Finally, I reinstalled Mavericks using the recovery partition, and reindexed my hard drive again. This also didn nothing. The only thing I can think of is that Mavericks introduced a memory leak into mds. What else could be going on?

 

NOTE: I am using third-party memory. My computer has user-replaceable memory. Otherwise everything is stock.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Nov 18, 2013 4:48 AM

Close
jclnc

Q: mds and kernel_task are eating all of my memory

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by ViShVa,Helpful

    ViShVa ViShVa Nov 18, 2013 8:49 AM in response to jclnc
    Level 2 (265 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 8:49 AM in response to jclnc

    Read this Discussion and follow the troubleshooting tips, especially the excellent steps outlined by Linc Davis.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/message/23665059#23665059

     

    Post your results here.

     

    Also, download and run "etrecheck" from this site and post the results here so someone can help you

     

    http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck_story

  • by jclnc,

    jclnc jclnc Nov 18, 2013 10:55 AM in response to jclnc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 10:55 AM in response to jclnc

    Here are the result of running Linc Davis' instructions, linked by ViShVa (thanks, ViShVa, for suggesting this):

     

    Step 1:

    foo.tap (1.0)

    foo.tun (1.0)

     

    Step 2:

    com.parallels.vm.prl_naptd

    org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx

    org.freedesktop.dbus-system

    com.parallels.desktop.launchdaemon

    com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper

    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool

    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper

    com.google.keystone.daemon

    com.cocoatech.pathfinder.SMFHelper6

    com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd

    com.barebones.textwrangler

    com.adobe.fpsaud

     

    Step 3:

    com.google.GoogleTalkPluginD.65504.3016FE9D-66A0-46F4-9E7F-044C89C769E8

    com.googlecode.iterm2.18512

    com.cocoatech.PathFinder.19744

    com.google.Chrome.framework.service_process/Users/$USER/Library/Application_Supp ort/Google/Chrome

    com.google.Chrome.49840

    com.getdropbox.dropbox.52128

    com.manytricks.Moom.43152

    com.alfredapp.Alfred.14992

    org.herf.Flux.15344

    com.pharos.popup.51776

    org.macosforge.xquartz.startx

    org.freedesktop.dbus-session

    com.parallels.vm.prl_pcproxy

    com.parallels.DesktopControlAgent

    com.parallels.desktop.client.launch

    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater

    com.google.keystone.system.agent

    com.cisco.anyconnect.gui

    com.vladalexa.MagicPrefs

    com.facebook.videochat.$USER.updater

    com.adobe.ARM.de23d1e3aa2d00ce38d73f10fcbdc8dcaaaf6be989610710a1ddda77

    com.adobe.ARM.202f4087f2bbde52e3ac2df389f53a4f123223c9cc56a8fd83a6f7ae

     

    Step 4:

    /Library/Components:

     

     

    /Library/Extensions:

    ATTOCelerityFC8.kext

    ATTOExpressSASHBA2.kext

    ATTOExpressSASRAID2.kext

    ArcMSR.kext

    CalDigitHDProDrv.kext

    HighPointIOP.kext

    HighPointRR.kext

    PromiseSTEX.kext

    SoftRAID.kext

    tap.kext

    tun.kext

     

     

    /Library/Frameworks:

    AEProfiling.framework

    AERegistration.framework

    Adobe AIR.framework

    AudioMixEngine.framework

    DivX Toolkit.framework

    EWSMac.framework

    GHC.framework

    Mono.framework

    NyxAudioAnalysis.framework

    PluginManager.framework

    Python.framework

    R.framework

    Tcl.framework

    Tk.framework

    iTunesLibrary.framework

     

     

    /Library/Input Methods:

     

     

    /Library/Internet Plug-Ins:

    AdobeAAMDetect.plugin

    AdobePDFViewer.plugin

    AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

    AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin.plugin

    AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101750.plugin

    Default Browser.plugin

    DivXBrowserPlugin.plugin

    Flash Player.plugin

    JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

    Mathematica.plugin

    OVSHelper.plugin

    Quartz Composer.webplugin

    QuickTime Plugin.plugin

    SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin

    SharePointWebKitPlugin.webplugin

    Silverlight.plugin

    Unity Web Player.plugin

    Unused

    flashplayer.xpt

    googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin

    npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin

    nsIQTScriptablePlugin.xpt

    o1dbrowserplugin.plugin

     

     

    /Library/Keyboard Layouts:

     

     

    /Library/LaunchAgents:

    com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist

    com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist

    com.google.keystone.agent.plist

    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist

    org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist

    org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist

     

     

    /Library/LaunchDaemons:

    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist

    com.barebones.textwrangler.plist

    com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist

    com.cocoatech.pathfinder.SMFHelper6.plist

    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist

    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist

    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist

    com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist

    org.freedesktop.dbus-system.plist

    org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist

     

     

    /Library/PreferencePanes:

    Box Sync.prefPane

    DivX.prefPane

    Flash Player.prefPane

    JavaControlPanel.prefPane

    TeXDistPrefPane.prefPane

     

     

    /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools:

    Google Drive Icon Helper

    com.barebones.textwrangler

    com.cocoatech.pathfinder.SMFHelper6

    com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper

    com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper

     

     

    /Library/QuickLook:

    iBooksAuthor.qlgenerator

    iWork.qlgenerator

     

     

    /Library/QuickTime:

    AppleIntermediateCodec.component

    AppleMPEG2Codec.component

    DivX Decoder.component

    DivX Encoder.component

     

     

    /Library/ScriptingAdditions:

     

     

    /Library/Spotlight:

    .CreationID

    Keynote.mdimporter

    Microsoft Office.mdimporter

    Numbers.mdimporter

    Pages.mdimporter

    Wolfram Notebook.mdimporter

    iBooksAuthor.mdimporter

    iWork.mdimporter

     

     

    /Library/StartupItems:

    tap

    tun

     

     

    /etc/mach_init.d:

     

     

    /etc/mach_init_per_login_session.d:

     

     

    /etc/mach_init_per_user.d:

     

     

    Library/Address Book Plug-Ins:

    SkypeABDialer.bundle

    SkypeABSMS.bundle

     

     

    Library/Fonts:

     

     

    Library/Frameworks:

    EWSMac.framework

     

     

    Library/Input Methods:

    .localized

     

     

    Library/Internet Accounts:

    V1

     

     

    Library/Internet Plug-Ins:

    CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin.plugin

    FacebookVideoCalling.bundle

    WebEx64.plugin

     

     

    Library/Keyboard Layouts:

     

     

    Library/LaunchAgents:

    com.adobe.ARM.202f4087f2bbde52e3ac2df389f53a4f123223c9cc56a8fd83a6f7ae.plist

    com.adobe.ARM.de23d1e3aa2d00ce38d73f10fcbdc8dcaaaf6be989610710a1ddda77.plist

    com.facebook.videochat.$USER.plist

    homebrew.mxcl.postgresql.plist

     

     

    Library/PreferencePanes:

    MusicManager.prefPane

     

     

    Library/Services:

    ToastIt.service

     

    Step 5:

    Flux, Flux, Flux, Steam, iTunesHelper, Alfred, Moom, Dropbox, Popup

  • by jclnc,

    jclnc jclnc Nov 18, 2013 10:59 AM in response to jclnc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 10:59 AM in response to jclnc

    Here are the results of EtreCheck. I have no idea why this says that many of my folders were excluded from my Time Machine backup, as they should be there (and, I believe, are).

     

     

    Hardware Information:

              MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)

              MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,2

              1 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4 cores

              8 GB RAM

     

    Video Information:

              Intel HD Graphics 3000 - VRAM: 512 MB

              AMD Radeon HD 6750M - VRAM: 1024 MB

     

    Audio Plug-ins:

              BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0

              AirPlay: Version: 1.9

              AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0

              iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3

     

    Startup Items:

              tap - Path: /Library/StartupItems/tap

              tun - Path: /Library/StartupItems/tun

     

    System Software:

              OS X 10.9 (13A603) - Uptime: 1 day 13:51:41

     

    Disk Information:

              TOSHIBA MK7559GSXF disk0 : (750.16 GB)

                        EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB

                        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 749.3 GB (311.03 GB free)

                        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB

     

              MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-8A8 

     

    USB Information:

              Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

     

              Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

     

              Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub

                        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

     

              Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

     

    FireWire Information:

     

    Thunderbolt Information:

              Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

     

    Kernel Extensions:

              foo.tap          (1.0)

              foo.tun          (1.0)

     

    Problem System Launch Daemons:

              [failed] com.apple.installd.plist

              [failed] com.apple.softwareupdated.plist

              [failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

     

    Problem System Launch Agents:

     

    Launch Daemons:

              [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist

              [loaded] com.barebones.textwrangler.plist

              [loaded] com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist

              [loaded] com.cocoatech.pathfinder.SMFHelper6.plist

              [loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist

              [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist

              [loaded] com.oracle.java.JavaUpdateHelper.plist

              [loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist

     

    Launch Agents:

              [not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist

              [loaded] com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist

              [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist

              [loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist

     

    User Launch Agents:

              [failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist

              [failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist

              [loaded] com.facebook.videochat.[redacted].plist

     

    User Login Items:

              Flux

              Flux

              Flux

              Steam

              iTunesHelper

              Alfred

              Moom

              Dropbox

              Popup

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

              Box Sync

              DivX

              Flash Player

              Java

              MusicManager

              TeXDistPrefPane

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

              AdobeAAMDetect.plugin

              AdobePDFViewer.plugin

              AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

              AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin.plugin

              AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101750.plugin

              Default Browser.plugin

              DivXBrowserPlugin.plugin

              Flash Player.plugin

              FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin

              googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin

              JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

              Mathematica.plugin

              npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin

              o1dbrowserplugin.plugin

              OVSHelper.plugin

              QuickTime Plugin.plugin

              SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin

              Silverlight.plugin

              Unity Web Player.plugin

     

    User Internet Plug-ins:

              CitrixOnlineWebDeploymentPlugin.plugin

              WebEx64.plugin

     

    Bad Fonts:

              None

     

    Time Machine:

              Auto backup: YES

              Volumes being backed up:

                        Macintosh HD: Disk size: 749.3 GB Disk used: 438.27 GB

              Destinations:

                        My Passport [Local] (Last used)

                        Total size: 2 TB

                        Total number of backups: 10

                        Oldest backup: 2013-11-13 01:25:25 +0000

                        Last backup: 2013-11-18 10:46:56 +0000

                        Size of backup disk: Adequate

                                  Backup size 2 TB > (Disk used 438.27 GB X 3)

              Time Machine details may not be accurate.

              All volumes being backed up may not be listed.

              /sbin excluded from backup!

              /usr excluded from backup!

              /System excluded from backup!

              /bin excluded from backup!

              /private excluded from backup!

              /Library excluded from backup!

              /Applications excluded from backup!

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

                 100%          mds

                   6%          Google Chrome

                   3%          coreaudiod

                   2%          WindowServer

                   1%          iTunes

                   0%          hidd

                   0%          EtreCheck

                   0%          Moom

                   0%          Dropbox

                   0%          Activity Monitor

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

              1.11 GB            mds

              84 MB              Google Chrome

              39 MB              Google Chrome Helper

              33 MB              WindowServer

              29 MB              Finder

              26 MB              Path Finder

              26 MB              iTunes

              18 MB              Dropbox

              16 MB              mds_stores

              16 MB              EtreCheck

     

    Virtual Memory Statistics:

              96 MB              Free RAM

              1.70 GB            Active RAM

              942 MB             Inactive RAM

              1.38 GB            Wired RAM

              164.49 GB          Page-ins

              944 MB             Page-outs

  • by ViShVa,

    ViShVa ViShVa Nov 18, 2013 11:14 AM in response to jclnc
    Level 2 (265 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 11:14 AM in response to jclnc

    Wow you have seriously modified your system!

     

    You will have to go methodically to see which of your extensions is clashing.

     

    I would start with removing the TUN and TAP virtual-network kernel devices

  • by jclnc,

    jclnc jclnc Nov 18, 2013 11:36 AM in response to ViShVa
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 11:36 AM in response to ViShVa

    Indeed, lots of this is left over from my last machine (for some reason I didn't do a clean install). How would I go about removing those? I googled around and found out they were installed by an app called Hotspot Shield. I reinstalled it and used the uninstall tool, but the kernel extensions are still there.

  • by ViShVa,Helpful

    ViShVa ViShVa Nov 18, 2013 11:52 AM in response to jclnc
    Level 2 (265 points)
    Nov 18, 2013 11:52 AM in response to jclnc

    The extensions are generally in the /Library/Extensions or /System/Library/Extensions or ~/Library/Extensions folders as .kext files. It is best to use uninstallers as you have done.

     

    If I were you and as you say, much may be outdated, I would do a completely clean install and only install vital stuff. Backup twice to external drives. One Time Machine and at least one Clone (You can use Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper)

     

    Then go about erasing in the "Recovery Mode" using its Disk Utility, then format with zeros to GUID Mac OS X extended (Journaled). Then use the Reinstall Mac OS X option to reinstall the system, and then reinstalling your apps and user directories.

     

    Excellent guides by ds store HERE:

     

     

    How to reformat a used Mac

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-5341

     

     

    "fresh install" Mavericks

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6162

     

     


  • by Attila,

    Attila Attila Mar 17, 2014 2:52 AM in response to jclnc
    Level 3 (610 points)
    Mar 17, 2014 2:52 AM in response to jclnc

    Friends, befoe you start deleting extension here and there, you should start with logMeIn

     

    I deleted it with help from CleanMyMac (AppZapper should help too) and got good results - kernel_task does not grow immensly.

     

    I just have to prove it for longer, then I'll submit a bug to LogMeIn.

  • by Attila,

    Attila Attila Mar 17, 2014 10:03 AM in response to Attila
    Level 3 (610 points)
    Mar 17, 2014 10:03 AM in response to Attila

    That didn't help for long. I think Safari triggers something. Still theories, still the same problem kernel_task is now above 3GB, memory pressure almost in the yellow zone. Running lots of apps and dual-screen.

  • by estoel81,

    estoel81 estoel81 Jul 30, 2014 2:10 AM in response to jclnc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 30, 2014 2:10 AM in response to jclnc

    Can you check this one


    EtreCheck version: 1.9.12 (48)

    Report generated 30 juli 2014 11:06:21 CEST

     

    Hardware Information:

      MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) (Verified)

      MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro9,2

      1 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 2 cores

      4 GB RAM

     

    Video Information:

      Intel HD Graphics 4000 - VRAM: (null)

      Color LCD 1280 x 800

      DELL U2312HM 1920 x 1080 @ 60 Hz

     

    System Software:

      OS X 10.9.3 (13D65) - Uptime: 2 days 2:58:7

     

    Disk Information:

      Samsung SSD 840 EVO 120GB disk0 : (120,03 GB)

      EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209,7 MB

      SSD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 119,17 GB (54,9 GB free)

      Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB

     

      APPLE HDD HTS547550A9E384 disk1 : (500,11 GB)

      EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted>: 209,7 MB

      Macintosh HD (disk1s2) /Volumes/Macintosh HD: 499,25 GB (182,3 GB free)

      Recovery HD (disk1s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB

     

    USB Information:

      Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub

      Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard

      Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

      Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

      Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

      Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad

      Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

     

    Thunderbolt Information:

      Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

     

    Gatekeeper:

      Mac App Store and identified developers

     

    Kernel Extensions:

      [not loaded] com.dymo.usbprinterclassdriver.kext (1.1 - SDK 10.5) Support

     

    Problem System Launch Daemons:

      [failed] com.apple.AOSNotificationOSX.plist

      [failed] com.apple.wdhelper.plist

     

    Launch Daemons:

      [invalid] com.dymo.pnpd.plist

      [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist Support

     

    Launch Agents:

      [not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

      [running] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist Support

     

    User Launch Agents:

      [loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist Support

      [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

      [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

      [loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist Support

      [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support

      [running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist Support

     

    User Login Items:

      iTunesHelper

      Dropbox

      Google Drive

      Spotify

     

    Internet Plug-ins:

      AdobeAAMDetect: Version: AdobeAAMDetect 2.0.0.0 - SDK 10.7 Support

      QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

      AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support

      AdobePDFViewer: Version: 11.0.07 - SDK 10.6 Support

      DYMO NPAPI Addin: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

      Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

      SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.3 - SDK 10.6 Support

      DYMO Safari Addin: Version: (null) - SDK 10.5 Support

      Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30317.0 - SDK 10.6 Support

     

    Audio Plug-ins:

      BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9

      AirPlay: Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.9

      AppleAVBAudio: Version: 203.2 - SDK 10.9

      iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9

     

    iTunes Plug-ins:

      Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.9

     

    3rd Party Preference Panes:

      None

     

    Time Machine:

      Auto backup: YES

      Volumes being backed up:

      SSD: Disk size: 110.99 GB Disk used: 59.86 GB

      Destinations:

      Macintosh HD [Local] (Last used)

      Total size: 464.96 GB

      Total number of backups: 35

      Oldest backup: 2014-06-03 08:21:00 +0000

      Last backup: 2014-07-30 09:03:56 +0000

      Size of backup disk: Excellent

      Backup size 464.96 GB > (Disk size 110.99 GB X 3)

      Time Machine details may not be accurate.

      All volumes being backed up may not be listed.

     

    Top Processes by CPU:

          16% WindowServer

          9% Google Chrome

          1% Jing

          0% Wunderlist

          0% hidd

     

    Top Processes by Memory:

      106 MB Finder

      94 MB Google Chrome Helper

      94 MB Google Chrome

      70 MB mds_stores

      70 MB WindowServer

     

    Virtual Memory Information:

      521 MB Free RAM

      1.26 GB Active RAM

      901 MB Inactive RAM

      914 MB Wired RAM

      85.77 GB Page-ins

      2.28 GB Page-outs