Q: Kernal_task taking up virtual memory, computer slow
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Sep 13, 2016 7:09 PMby BobHarris,Please post the output from EtreCheck
<https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6174> or <http://etrecheck.com>
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Sep 14, 2016 2:49 AMby Jeff Greene1,Thanks, here it is
EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)
Report generated 2016-09-14 05:48:49
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 2:59
Performance: Excellent
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Computer is too slow
Description:
Computer very slow, will hang often during time machine, apps take long time to load but once loaded work ok.
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
iMac - model: iMac14,1
1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: Unknown
Intel Iris Pro
iMac 1920 x 1080
OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: less than an hour
APPLE HDD ST1000LM024 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (672.19 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Mac App Store and identified developers
/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/fileshield/unsigned
[loaded] com.avast.AvastFileShield (3.0.0 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-08-18) [Support]
/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/proxy/unsigned
[loaded] com.avast.PacketForwarder (2.1 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-08-18) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.Seagate.driver.PowSecDriver (4.3.19 - 2016-09-13) [Support]
[not loaded] com.beceem.BeceemAppleWiMAXAdapter (5.2.56d13 - 2016-09-13) [Support]
[not loaded] com.cisco.nke.ipsec (2.0.1 - 2016-09-13) [Support]
[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks
[loaded] 149 Apple tasks
[running] 82 Apple tasks
[not loaded] 46 Apple tasks
[loaded] 155 Apple tasks
[running] 90 Apple tasks
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-15) [Support]
[running] com.avast.update-agent.plist (2016-08-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.avast.userinit.plist (2016-08-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist (2016-05-03)
[running] com.epson.Epson_Low_Ink_Reminder.launcher.plist (2015-01-19) [Support]
[running] com.epson.ecrp.launcher.plist (2015-06-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.epson.esua.launcher.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]
[running] com.epson.eventmanager.agent.plist (2014-09-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.epson.scannermonitor.plist (2015-12-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist (2009-07-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-10-20) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.avast.init.plist (2016-08-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.avast.uninstall.plist (2016-08-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.avast.update.plist (2016-08-21) [Support]
[running] com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist (2016-05-03) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-03) [Support]
[running] com.memeo.MemeodSG.plist (2007-12-14) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2011-03-10) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-10-20) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2011-03-30) [Support]
[loaded] com.avast.home.userinit.plist (2016-08-21) [Support]
[loaded] uk.co.markallan.clamxav.freshclam.plist (2013-10-26) [Support]
iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
BetterSnapTool Application (/Applications/BetterSnapTool.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-15) [Support]
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin1017277: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 (2012-10-01) [Support]
Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-18)
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.4 (2012-09-22) [Support]
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-07) [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-22) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.40728.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-10-01) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-18)
Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-22) Outdated! Update
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 (2012-07-10) [Support]
googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-07) [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2008-10-27)
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.6 - SDK 10.6 (2016-07-23) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 77 build 03 (2016-04-01) Check version
rbjninstallplugin_2.5.111.8: rbjninstallplugin 2.5.111.8 - SDK 10.8 (2014-04-28) [Support]
rbjnplugin_2.5.111.8: rbjnplugin 2.5.111.8 - SDK 10.8 (2014-04-28) [Support]
Flash Player (2016-06-28) [Support]
Java (2016-04-01) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 327.16 GB
Destinations:
Data [Network]
Total size: 2.00 TB
Total number of backups: 92
Oldest backup: 12/26/14, 6:13 PM
Last backup: 9/13/16, 9:21 PM
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk used 327.16 GB X 3)
9% mdworker(21)
8% mds_stores
6% kernel_task
4% mds
2% WindowServer
712 MB kernel_task
418 MB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(5)
401 MB mdworker(21)
344 MB mds_stores
229 MB com.avast.daemon
1.55 GB Free RAM
6.44 GB Used RAM (4.02 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used
Sep 14, 2016, 05:34:00 AM Self test - passed
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Sep 14, 2016 10:15 AMby BobHarris,[not loaded] com.Seagate.driver.PowSecDriver (4.3.19 - 2016-09-13) [Support]
You most likely do not need this. It is not the problem, just house cleaning.
Avast should go. You said the problem existed before Avast, but you should still remove it. Anti-virus packages are a huge percentage of the performance complaints received in the forums.
How does Mac OS X protect me?
<http://www.thesafemac.com/mmg-builtin/>
[loaded] uk.co.markallan.clamxav.freshclam.plist (2013-10-26) [Support]
You do not need ClamXAV either.
You took this EtreCheck shortly after rebooting. You should really wait until your Mac is showing some of the performance issues, but before it has wedged to collect the EtreCheck data, that way it might show us some of the performance info related to the issues.
[running] com.memeo.MemeodSG.plist (2007-12-14) [Support]
Are you currently using this backup software? If not, suggest you remove it.
BetterSnapTool Application (/Applications/BetterSnapTool.app)
FYI - BetterTouchTool has all the features of BetterSnapTool (same author), but includes a lot more features.
Besides the anti-virus packages, I do not see a lot wrong. An EtreCheck report when the performance issues are happening might be more helpful.
Also the virtual memory size of any task is of interest only to the software developer. It is just imaginary addresses, and since the kernel needs to manage everything, it is may need to have a large virtual address space. The kernel's virtual address space usage is not your performance problem.
Finally, you are posting in the Mavericks forum, but you are running El Capitan. I'm going to ask the moderators to move this thread to the El Capitan forum.
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Sep 14, 2016 5:18 PMby Jeff Greene1,This is all helpful, thanks! I'm not running memo or clamxav, but I guess the .plist files are leftover from an uninstall. How do I find those to get rid of them? I suspect they are hidden because I did a search and they didn't come up.
And thanks for recommending the move of the thread!
I'm letting the computer run for a while now and will post new etracheck output soon.
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Sep 14, 2016 6:31 PMby BobHarris,EasyFind (free download)
<http://www.devontechnologies.com/products/freeware.html>
That should help you find any file anywhere on your disk.
Finder -> Go -> Go to folder -> /Library/LaunchAgents
Finder -> Go -> Go to folder -> /Library/LaunchDaemons
Finder -> Go -> Go to folder -> ~/Library/LaunchAgents (that is a tilda, typically found in the upper left corner of the keyboard)
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Sep 15, 2016 12:17 AMby MadMacs0,I see the kernel task taking grow in the same manner if I have not restarted for four days or so and I have 20 GB RAM in my late 2011 21.5" iMac. To be honest, I have not gotten any clues from EtreCheck as it doesn't really tell me what is driving the kernel task. I can often get it to shrink after quitting Safari, but the real answer for me is to simply restart. If it ever became a persistent problem, I'm sure I would be more concerned.
I do notice that both Flash Player and Silverlight are out-of-date. Haven't heard whether those are due to security issues or not, but usually are.
I don't recognize those two rbjninstallplugin User Plugins. Apparently they have something to do with BlueJeans software? In any case, I see at least fifteen cases here in the Forum over the years with complaints similar to yours
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Sep 15, 2016 1:36 AMby Jeff Greene1,I'm not sure what the rbjn... plugins are either. I did upgrade Flash last night and will do the same with Silverlight now, thanks.
After removing the .plist things above the computer was running pretty well last night. But this morning, after being asleep overnight, the computer is beginning to slow down. It's not as bad as it was, but I'm wondering if it will continue to get worse over time. In the past a restart didn't help much, but perhaps now it will. Here's my latest EtreCheck, which does show a downgrade from "Excellent" performance when I checked last night to "Good" this morning. Any other ideas would be appreciated:
EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)
Report generated 2016-09-15 04:30:44
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 3:30
Performance: Good
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Problem: Computer is too slow
iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2013)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
iMac - model: iMac14,1
1 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU: 4-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported
Wireless: Unknown
Intel Iris Pro
iMac 1920 x 1080
OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: about 6 hours
APPLE HDD ST1000LM024 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 999.35 GB (669.64 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple, Inc. Keyboard Hub
Apple, Inc Apple Keyboard
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
Mac App Store and identified developers
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.Seagate.driver.PowSecDriver (4.3.19 - 2016-09-13) [Support]
[not loaded] com.beceem.BeceemAppleWiMAXAdapter (5.2.56d13 - 2016-09-13) [Support]
[not loaded] com.cisco.nke.ipsec (2.0.1 - 2016-09-13) [Support]
[not loaded] 7 Apple tasks
[loaded] 153 Apple tasks
[running] 78 Apple tasks
[not loaded] 46 Apple tasks
[loaded] 156 Apple tasks
[running] 89 Apple tasks
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.cisco.anyconnect.gui.plist (2016-05-03)
[running] com.epson.Epson_Low_Ink_Reminder.launcher.plist (2015-01-19) [Support]
[running] com.epson.ecrp.launcher.plist (2015-06-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.epson.esua.launcher.plist (2016-07-27) [Support]
[running] com.epson.eventmanager.agent.plist (2014-09-21) [Support]
[loaded] com.epson.scannermonitor.plist (2015-12-16) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist (2009-07-28) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-10-20) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-15) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-08-29) [Support]
[running] com.cisco.anyconnect.vpnagentd.plist (2016-05-03) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-03) [Support]
[running] com.memeo.MemeodSG.plist (2007-12-14) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2011-03-10) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-10-20) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2011-03-30) [Support]
iTunesHelper Application (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/MacOS/iTunesHelper.app)
BetterSnapTool Application (/Applications/BetterSnapTool.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
o1dbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-15) [Support]
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin1017277: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 (2012-10-01) [Support]
Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-18)
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.3.4 (2012-09-22) [Support]
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-07) [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-14) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.40728.0 - SDK 10.6 (2015-10-01) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-18)
Flash Player: 23.0.0.162 - SDK 10.9 (2016-09-14) [Support]
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 (2012-07-10) [Support]
googletalkbrowserplugin: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 (2015-12-11) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 15.017.20053 - SDK 10.11 (2016-08-07) [Support]
iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 (2008-10-27)
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.6 - SDK 10.6 (2016-07-23) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 77 build 03 (2016-04-01) Check version
rbjninstallplugin_2.5.111.8: rbjninstallplugin 2.5.111.8 - SDK 10.8 (2014-04-28) [Support]
rbjnplugin_2.5.111.8: rbjnplugin 2.5.111.8 - SDK 10.8 (2014-04-28) [Support]
Flash Player (2016-08-29) [Support]
Java (2016-04-01) [Support]
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 329.71 GB
Destinations:
Data [Network]
Total size: 2.00 TB
Total number of backups: 93
Oldest backup: 12/26/14, 6:13 PM
Last backup: 9/14/16, 11:38 PM
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 2.00 TB > (Disk used 329.71 GB X 3)
6% backupd
4% diskimages-helper
4% sysmond
4% kernel_task
4% WindowServer
754 MB kernel_task
172 MB Dropbox
164 MB mdworker(10)
164 MB mds_stores
115 MB Mail
4.24 GB Free RAM
3.76 GB Used RAM (1.33 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used
Sep 14, 2016, 09:47:34 PM Self test - passed
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Sep 15, 2016 2:24 AMby MadMacs0,Jeff Greene1 wrote:
I'm not sure what the rbjn... plugins are either.
Looks like BlueJeans develops enterprise level video conferencing software including web based, so if you aren't using anything like that, I would trash them from ~/Library/Internet Plugins/, especially since so many others in the Forum seem to have reported similar issues.
Looks like you have a lot of extra Epson software installed that isn't required for basic printer/scan/fax functions, but no indication that it's causing your issues. If they provide useful functions, leave them alone.
/Library/LaunchAgents/com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist is very old and probably left over from an HP printer you no longer have. I do remember that causing me some sort of minor issue related to ppc only software, but not sure exactly what that was.
the mdworker and mds_stores processes indicate that Spotlight was still indexing when you ran EtreCheck, and those alone will cause a degraded performance.
When I bought my iMac with 8 GB RAM running Mountain Lion, I wasn't able to run very many apps without things slowing down, so I bought 16 GB additional right away and it made all the difference in the world. I can't imagine how slow it would be now that I'm running 10.11.6. The only thing that would make it faster is an SSD internal drive, but that's more work than I'm prepared to do right now.
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Sep 15, 2016 4:28 PMby BobHarris,I'm not running memo ..., but I guess the .plist files are leftover from an uninstall.
[running] com.memeo.MemeodSG.plist (2007-12-14) [Support]
Memeo is still running. If this is a backup utility of some kind, it can be spending time accessing files on your disk. I am not saying it a problem, just basing my opinion on your saying you do not use it, but it is still running.
As MadMacs0 says, more RAM is always considered a useful addition. My Macbook Pro has 16GB and my iMac has 32GB. I've been using Crucial.com and MacSales.com (OWC) for my RAM. Both of them well respected Mac RAM vendors.
