Well, I don't wish to debate whether Cocktail contributed to the problem or not, but the problem has recurred without Cocktail being installed. It occurred twice recently. Both times one of the two LaCie disks was running. Both are connected to the eSATA ports of an AKiTiO Thunder2 Dock, which is then connected as follows to the MacBook Pro:
An AKiTiO Thunder2 Duo configured for RAID 1 is connected directly to the MBP, the Thunder2 Dock is connected to the Thunder2 Duo, and so is an Apple Thunderbolt 27" Display. SuperDuper! was just finishing backing up the boot disk to a LaCie 2big Quadra (configured RAID 1, connected via eSATA to the Thunder2 Dock) when the whole UI became unresponsive. I was watching cable TV using EyeTV Hybrid (a USB gizmo that connects the MBP to the cable TV output) when EyeTV lost contact to the station to which I was tuned. That's when I noticed that the UI had also become unresponsive. The machine did nothing for what seemed like ages before finally rebooting. No kernel panic, no offer to send a panic log to Apple.
As you suggested, I examined the system.log and ran EtreCheck. Here is the EtreCheck. In the Description I describe what I found in the system.log.
EtreCheck version: 3.0.3 (307)
Report generated 2016-09-16 22:59:41
Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com
Runtime 2:18
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 restarting
Description:
Random shutdowns not so random. The last two times they occurred, one of the LaCie drives (connected via eSATA to AKiTiO Thunder2 Dock) has been running. In the system.log I see:
Sep 16 21:54:43 localhost locationd[92]: locationd was started after an unclean shutdown
…
Sep 16 21:54:45 RRL-MacBookPro kernel[0]: Previous shutdown cause: -128
Here’s what happens just prior to rebooting:
Sep 16 21:52:31 RRL-MacBookPro kernel[0]: Sandbox: coresymbolicatio(6972) System Policy: deny(1) file-write-data /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data
Sep 16 21:52:31 RRL-MacBookPro coresymbolicationd[6972]: Attempt to create [/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data] failed. Operation not permitted
Sep 16 21:52:31 RRL-MacBookPro coresymbolicationd[6972]: Unable to open storage at /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data
Sep 16 21:52:31 RRL-MacBookPro com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.coresymbolicationd): Service only ran for 0 seconds. Pushing respawn out by 10 seconds.
Sep 16 21:52:34 RRL-MacBookPro kernel[0]: FireWire GUID 0000000000000000 is invalid!
Sep 16 21:52:41 --- last message repeated 1 time ---
Sep 16 21:52:41 RRL-MacBookPro kernel[0]: Sandbox: coresymbolicatio(6983) System Policy: deny(1) file-write-data /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data
Sep 16 21:52:41 RRL-MacBookPro coresymbolicationd[6983]: /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data did not validate, resetting cache
Sep 16 21:52:41 RRL-MacBookPro kernel[0]: Sandbox: coresymbolicatio(6983) System Policy: deny(1) file-write-unlink /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data
Sep 16 21:52:41 RRL-MacBookPro kernel[0]: Sandbox: coresymbolicatio(6983) System Policy: deny(1) file-write-data /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data
Sep 16 21:52:41 RRL-MacBookPro coresymbolicationd[6983]: Attempt to create [/System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data] failed. Operation not permitted
Sep 16 21:52:41 RRL-MacBookPro coresymbolicationd[6983]: Unable to open storage at /System/Library/Caches/com.apple.coresymbolicationd/data
Sep 16 21:52:41 RRL-MacBookPro com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.coresymbolicationd): Service only ran for 0 seconds. Pushing respawn out by 10 seconds.
Sep 16 21:54:37 localhost bootlog[0]: BOOT_TIME 1474055677 0
I see that sequence repeated at roughly 10 sec. intervals preceding the final repeat that seems to end in a reboot. During that time no interaction with the UI was possible, if memory serves me correctly.
Hardware Information: ⓘ
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011)
[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro8,3
1 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4-core
16 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]
BANK 0/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
BANK 1/DIMM0
8 GB DDR3 1333 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Battery: Health = Normal - Cycle count = 27
Video Information: ⓘ
Intel HD Graphics 3000
AMD Radeon HD 6770M - VRAM: 1024 MB
Color LCD 1920 x 1200
Thunderbolt Display 2560 x 1440
System Software: ⓘ
OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 (15G1004) - Time since boot: about one hour
Disk Information: ⓘ
Samsung SSD 850 EVO 2TB disk0 : (2 TB) (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
Macintosh HD (disk1) / : 2.00 TB (1.09 TB free)
Core Storage: disk0s2 2.00 TB Online
MATSHITADVD-R UJ-8A8 ()
eSATA-2 LaCie 2BigQuadra disk2 : (2 TB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
MacBook Pro HD Clone (disk2s2) /Volumes/MacBook Pro HD Clone : 2.00 TB (1.10 TB free)
AKiTiO Safe disk3 : (4 TB) (Rotational)
EFI (disk3s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
MacBook Pro Time Machine 2016-06-22 (disk3s2) /Volumes/MacBook Pro Time Machine 2016-06-22 : 4.00 TB (3.06 TB free)
USB Information: ⓘ
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)
Apple Inc. BRCM2070 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Elgato EyeTV Hybrid
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. Keyboard Hub
Apple Inc. Apple Keyboard
Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Display)
Apple Inc. Apple Thunderbolt Display
Apple Inc. Display Audio
Thunderbolt Information: ⓘ
Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus
inXtron AKiTiO Thunder2 Duo Pro
inXtron AKiTiO Thunder 2 Dock
Apple Inc. Thunderbolt Display
Configuration files: ⓘ
/etc/sudoers, File size 1282 but expected 2299
Gatekeeper: ⓘ
Mac App Store and identified developers
Unknown Files: ⓘ
/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.micromat.techtoolpro9.BackgroundTool.plist
/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.micromat.techtoolpro9.BackgroundTool
One unknown file found. [Check files]
Kernel Extensions: ⓘ
/Library/Application Support/Roxio
[not loaded] com.roxio.TDIXController (2.0 - 2015-09-06) [Support]
/Library/Extensions
[loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (3.7 - SDK 10.11 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.Akitio.ThunderDockChargingSupport (1.0 - SDK 10.9 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] org.cindori.TrimEnabler (1.0 - SDK 10.10 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchAfaTech (1.1 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchCinergy450 (1.1 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchCinergyXS (1.1 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchEmpia (1.1 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.elgato.driver.DontMatchVoyager (1.1 - 2016-09-15) [Support]
System Launch Agents: ⓘ
[not loaded] 8 Apple tasks
[loaded] 159 Apple tasks
[running] 71 Apple tasks
System Launch Daemons: ⓘ
[not loaded] 43 Apple tasks
[loaded] 157 Apple tasks
[running] 90 Apple tasks
Launch Agents: ⓘ
[running] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist (2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist (2012-11-27) [Support]
[failed] com.adobe.ARMDCHelper.cc24aef4a1b90ed56a725c38014c95072f92651fb65e1bf9c8e43c37a2 3d420d.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[running] com.bitdefender.antivirusformac.plist (2016-05-04) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[running] com.micromat.TechToolProAgent.plist (2016-07-30) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist (2014-12-05) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2014-08-11) [Support]
Launch Daemons: ⓘ
[running] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist (2016-09-15) [Support]
[not loaded] com.actualtechnologies.odbcmanager.plist (2010-06-30) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.Communicator.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2016-07-12) [Support]
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2016-06-29) [Support]
[loaded] com.bitdefender.AuthHelperTool.plist (2016-05-04) [Support]
[not loaded] com.bitdefender.agent.plist [Support]
[loaded] com.bitdefender.upgrade.plist (2016-05-04) [Support]
[running] com.elgato.EyeConnect.plist (2014-02-11) [Support]
[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2016-09-02) [Support]
[running] com.micromat.TechToolProDaemon.plist (2016-07-30) [Support]
[running] com.micromat.techtoolpro9.BackgroundTool.plist (2016-08-05) [Support]
[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist (2010-08-25) [Support]
[loaded] com.omnigroup.OmniSoftwareUpdate.OSUInstallerPrivilegedHelper.6.plist (2015-12-02) [Support]
[loaded] com.omnigroup.OmniSoftwareUpdate.OSUInstallerPrivilegedHelper.plist (2014-10-29) [Support]
[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2014-12-05) [Support]
[loaded] com.skype.skypeinstaller.plist (2016-08-06) [Support]
[loaded] net.tunnelblick.tunnelblick.tunnelblickd.plist (2016-08-26) [Support]
[loaded] org.cindori.SenseiTool.plist (2016-09-03) [Support]
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2014-08-11) [Support]
[loaded] org.wireshark.ChmodBPF.plist (2015-09-15) [Support]
Internet Plug-ins: ⓘ
Google Earth Web Plug-in: 7.1 (2016-08-20) [Support]
Default Browser: 601 - SDK 10.11 (2016-07-22)
OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin: 12.2.8 (2010-12-10) [Support]
AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: 10.1.6 (2013-02-26) [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-20) [Support]
Silverlight: 5.1.50428.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-06-30) [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2016-07-22)
iPhotoPhotocast: 7.0 - SDK 10.8 (2012-07-30)
Flash Player: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.9 (2016-07-20) Outdated! Update
PepperFlashPlayer: 22.0.0.209 - SDK 10.6 (2016-07-20) [Support]
AdobePDFViewer: 10.1.6 (2013-02-26) [Support]
CANONiMAGEGATEWAYDL: 3.1.0.2 (2009-09-09) [Support]
SharePointBrowserPlugin: 14.6.7 - SDK 10.6 (2016-08-30) [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Java 8 Update 101 build 13 (2016-07-23) Check version
3rd Party Preference Panes: ⓘ
Flash Player (2016-06-29) [Support]
FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) (2015-06-14) [Support]
Java (2016-07-23) [Support]
TechTool Protection (2016-07-30) [Support]
Time Machine: ⓘ
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 2.00 TB Disk used: 911.00 GB
Destinations:
MacBook Pro Time Machine 2016-06-22 [Local]
Total size: 4.00 TB
Total number of backups: 46
Oldest backup: 22/06/16 17:01
Last backup: 16/09/16 21:52
Size of backup disk: Adequate
Backup size 4.00 TB > (Disk used 911.00 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ
68% backupd
6% WindowServer
4% kernel_task
2% Little Snitch Agent(2)
2% Console
Top Processes by Memory: ⓘ
1.60 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(17)
1.19 GB kernel_task
1.02 GB mds_stores
983 MB mdworker(45)
344 MB BDLDaemon
Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ
4.89 GB Free RAM
11.00 GB Used RAM (3.50 GB Cached)
0 B Swap Used
Diagnostics Information: ⓘ
Sep 16, 2016, 10:55:47 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/backupd_2016-09-16-225547_[redacted].cpu_resour ce.diag [Details]
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd.bundle/Contents/Resources/backupd
Sep 16, 2016, 09:54:37 PM Self test - passed
Sep 13, 2016, 11:30:45 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/backupd_2016-09-13-233045_[redacted].cpu_resour ce.diag [Details]