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Something wrong under the hood: Mac Pro takes too long to boot...

There must be something wrong 'under the hood' here. My brand new Mac Pro with 10 Gig memory and a clean install of everything takes typically around 4 minutes to startup. I know it should be considerately faster, since when I have reset the PMU (unplug powercord, wait, replug with power-button pressed) it speeds through the process in less than a minute, to be slowed down at next restart. I noticed something weird in the log as well: it's startup time is 20:22:43 (wrong) and then changes to 18:25:05 (correct).
Although I'm an experienced troubleshooter, I was never good at demystifying logs, so if any of you care to take a peek to see if you notice something out of the ordinary, that would be great: So here goes:

29-08-08 20:22:43 com.apple.launchctl.System[2] launchctl: Please convert the following to launchd: /etc/mach_init.d/dashboardadvisoryd.plist
29-08-08 20:22:43 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.cups.cupsd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
29-08-08 20:22:43 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.ntp.ntpd) Unknown key: SHAuthorizationRight
29-08-08 20:22:50 com.paceap.pacesupport[39] kextload: extension /System/Library/Extensions/PACESupportFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/PACESupportL eopard.kext is already loaded
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] Optimizing network performance
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] /Library/StartupItems/Digidesign Mbox 2/Digidesign Mbox 2:start
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] Starting Digidesign Mbox 2 Configuration Service
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] PACESupport - launchd already started us
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload: extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiIO.kext appears to be loadable
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] net.inet.tcp.delayed_ack: 3 -> 0
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] Starting Cisco Systems VPN Driver
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] net.inet.tcp.recvspace: 65536 -> 65536
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload serialization lock busy; sleeping (89 retries left)
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] net.inet.tcp.sendspace: 65536 -> 65536
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] net.inet.udp.recvspace: 42080 -> 73728
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] Starting Qmaster services
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload: loading extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiIO.kext
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] Starting HP IO Monitor
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] Starting HP Trap Monitor
29-08-08 18:25:06 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload: extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiIO.kext is already loaded
29-08-08 18:25:06 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload: extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiDal.kext appears to be loadable
29-08-08 18:25:06 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload: loading extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiDal.kext
29-08-08 18:25:06 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload serialization lock busy; sleeping (88 retries left)
29-08-08 18:25:06 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload: extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiDal.kext is already loaded
29-08-08 18:25:07 com.apple.SystemStarter[16] kextload: /System/Library/Extensions/CiscoVPN.kext loaded successfully
29-08-08 18:25:10 com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.UserEventAgent-LoginWindow[140]) Exited: Terminated
29-08-08 18:25:12 com.apple.FolderActions.enabled[150] launchctl: Error unloading: com.apple.FolderActions.folders
29-08-08 18:25:14 Dock[160] _DESCRegisterDockExtraClient failed 268435459
29-08-08 18:25:27 com.apple.launchd[147] ([0x0-0xb00b].com.apple.dock[160]) Exited abnormally: Bus error
29-08-08 18:25:37 [0x0-0xd00d].com.apple.finder[165] Fri Aug 29 18:25:37 arno-peeterss-mac-pro.local Finder[165] <Error>: CGImageCreate: invalid image size: 0 x 0.

Mac Pro 2 x 2.8 Quad, Mac OS X (10.5.4), 10G memory

Posted on Aug 29, 2008 8:52 AM

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10 replies

Aug 29, 2008 9:18 AM in response to Arno Peeters

The SMC only really does a full reset when left unplugged overnight.

Strip it down to basic hardware would be one step, and check for latest firmware or drivers for your 3rd party devices:

29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 /Library/StartupItems/Digidesign Mbox 2/Digidesign Mbox 2:start
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 Starting Digidesign Mbox 2 Configuration Service
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 PACESupport - launchd already started us
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 kextload: extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiIO.kext appears to be loadable
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 net.inet.tcp.delayed_ack: 3 -> 0
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 Starting Cisco Systems VPN Driver
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 net.inet.tcp.recvspace: 65536 -> 65536
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 kextload serialization lock busy; sleeping (89 retries left)
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 net.inet.tcp.sendspace: 65536 -> 65536
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 net.inet.udp.recvspace: 42080 -> 73728
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 Starting Qmaster services
29-08-08 18:25:05 com.apple.SystemStarter16 kextload: loading extension /System/Library/Extensions/DigiIO.kext

Make sure startup disk is set.
Try Safe Boot (the next restart has to build cache for extensions and other things).

Corrupt nvram?

Aug 30, 2008 5:36 AM in response to Arno Peeters

Did some testing this morning... When I boot my machine without anything other then my monitor, it rushes to the finish in just 53 secs! Connecting USB and FW410, it slows to 2 minutes... but adding my networkcable it crawls to 3'30! So I assume network-checks during startup and maybe some USB/FW driver issues are the culprit.
Disabled "dashboardadvisoryd.plist" (just put it trough Google, and you know why) and now I'm digging trough the logs to find more/other erroneous messages.
Will let you know if I find something that will speed things up, but I have seen online I'm definitely not the only one with this Leopard-issue (not connected to certain Mac-models)

Aug 30, 2008 6:17 AM in response to The hatter

Yep!
Did all the cache-magic, update-prebindings, time-server-setting etc. Like I've seen elsewhere (people complaining about a blue screen that sits there for some seconds before the desktop appears) have the same issues: long boottimes. I'm afraid it is linked to how Leopard checks for file integrity, USB-connectivity and other related startup-services. Just uninstalled HP-drivers and Gutenprint to see if that maybe makes a difference...
Remember: this machine is spanking new, did a clean install of ALL apps, don't use any APE-enhancers or other notorious crap that can halt the startup. Wish I could decipher them logs better to see what's going on.

Aug 30, 2008 6:35 AM in response to Arno Peeters

Removing the HP-drivers did indeed make a difference: booting time is now 1'21"... Much better.
I'm abroad now, so I don't have my HP-scanner/printer connected which might be the reason why the drivers take longer to fully load, waiting for an answer from the device, which will not come...
Not sure if this was 'IT', but at least it has improved somewhat.

Aug 30, 2008 6:43 AM in response to Arno Peeters

Yes, external device communication can be a problem. Any time you reset nvram you usually have to reset startup disk. Somehow, it sometimes gets set to net boot though.

If you see a circle and slash, it is often the journal file is shot, and just boot from 2nd drive to disable, repair, re-enable journaling.

What is the Cisco entry refer to? Also, Digidesign was listed.

Are there firmware updates available? are they compatible? With my router, I had to replace it, then get firmware update recently (luckily the modem is okay).

Pro Tools 7.4.2 provides Mac OS X 10.5.3 Leopard compatibility for Pro Tools|HD, Pro Tools LE, and Pro Tools M-Powered users. Some currently shipping plug-ins and virtual instruments are not yet compatible with Pro Tools 7.4.2 software running on Mac OS X 10.5.3, and some require that users update their plug-ins if an update is available.
http://www.avid.com/company/releases/2008/080619ProTooldigidesign.html

Aug 30, 2008 6:53 AM in response to The hatter

Cisco refers to a VPN-client I need to upload program-material. Definitely will add to a slow boot.
Protools (by Didgidesign) is my core-business. Since I recently bought this Mac, i download all the latest versions (including maintenance releases) of all my software, just to be safe. This was close to 4 weeks ago, so most stuff should be up the par.
The modem I use here on location in Finland is an oldie (ZyXel Prestige 660H) of which the latest firmware available was released in 2005... Cannot help that.
Thanks for your insights!

Aug 30, 2008 6:53 AM in response to Arno Peeters

I know HP drivers have been "implicated" in problems before (MacFixit, MacIntouch reports and troubleshooting) but first I've heard of long startups, gonna file this one away!

Flaky cables have also caused 'mischief' on systems. One person found internal corrosion on the FW plug for his LaCie drive cable causing weak connection, and kernel panics.

Something wrong under the hood: Mac Pro takes too long to boot...

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