CarboniteDaemon using 85-90 in Activity Monitor

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Level 2

425 points

CarboniteDaemon using 85-90 in Activity Monitor

My computer has been getting very hot. The fans have been coming on. I checked Activity Monitor and see that the CarboniteDaemon is using running like 85-90 in my CPU column... and it wasn't even backing up. Anyone else experience this. I'm gonna keep it paused for a couple days and see if that is indeed the issue. I opened up my MacBook Pro and tried blowing out any dust in the fans and on the logic board, but it looked clean.

Bryan

MacBook Pro 17" (2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo)  2GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.6),  GETMACPLATE.ORG

Posted on Mar 21, 2009 9:17 PM

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Answer 1

Furi0us.Bee Author

Level 2

425 points

Apr 3, 2009 2:58 PM in response to marcthemacguy

I actually posted my review on my blog:

http://www.scriptedlizard.com/thevault/carbonite-online-backup-trial-review

The Carbonite CEO posted. I was a bit skeptical, but I emailed him directly, and indeed he did post the comment. They extended my trial by 30 days, and had me email my logs to them. I did a clean install tonight of the OS and after installing Wallet, will install Carbonite and watch it closely. I will then start installing my other apps and try to see which app it is.

They also told me to lower priority, and just pause, which is unacceptable. Then they said my MobileMe was causing it to act up, and to disable that... um.... no. They said that they only had 3 reports of this issue, which I don't buy. I've seen more than that in posts on the web.

I'll post back my results.

Bryan

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Answer 2

Mar 30, 2009 3:51 PM in response to Furi0us.Bee

My MacBook started doing the same thing this afternoon. I tried LiveChat with Carbonite and they just told me to select "Lower Priority". That didn't work. Looks like I will be calling them first thing tomorrow.

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Answer 3

Apr 3, 2009 3:05 PM in response to Furi0us.Bee

Although I am not having the "huge resources" problem you are, I wanted to find out WHEN Carbonite does its thing. I mean, is it at 2am every day? As soon as a selected file or folder is changed? After xx minutes of system inactivity?

The answers I received were, essentially, that Carbonite runs all the time one is connected to the 'Net.

I think MY mental problem with that answer will be solved when SCHEDULING is available to Mac users - like it is for Windows customers.

One thing Carbonite has going for it: You CAN chat or speak with real people. They are concerned with the Mac audience.

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Answer 4

Furi0us.Bee Author

Level 2

425 points

Apr 3, 2009 10:45 PM in response to clintbradford

I did a clean install of the OS... still Carbonite behaved badly and used large amounts of CPU resources. I have screenshots at the link below, with an explanation of the problem:

http://www.scriptedlizard.com/thevault/the-carbonite-maneuver

Basically, Carbonite always says "backup in progress" when it's supposed to say "idle." It did say Idle a few times, and had normal CPU usage. Then then mysteriously, it goes back to saying "backup in progress" when there is nothing happening, and this is where the CPU resources get hammered. Activity Monitor shows 80-90. My screenshot is at 95.

I emailed them again. I had no other apps installed except Wallet, so they can't say anything on my end was interfering.

Bryan

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Answer 5

Apr 3, 2009 10:58 PM in response to Furi0us.Bee

Hmmm ... Not even when Carbonite is backing up does it take up that amount of resources on my system.

Although I am still looking forward to a "scheduling" feature, I was confident enough to go ahead and purchase a year's service.

I hope you discover what's going on with your system!

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Answer 6

Apr 4, 2009 3:36 PM in response to clintbradford

From Carbonite, regarding WHEN it runs ... just FYI ...

"Changes within a modified file will be backed up 10 minutes after a change has been made. However, the same file will be backed up only once within a 24 hour period. This prevents a single file from backing up multiple times within the same day, which can use extra resources and prevent the initial backup of new files. If you would like to back up a file sooner, right-click the file and select "Backup this file as soon as possible"."

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Answer 7

Craiglea

Level 1

10 points

Apr 25, 2009 3:15 PM in response to Furi0us.Bee

I am having exactly the same problem here with my trial period of using Carbonite. It seemed fine when I was carrying out my initial backup but since then has run pretty consistently at 80% CPU.

The initial suggestion from Carbonite was to verify the drive and carry out any necessary repairs. After this I had the same problem and have sent them a pile of logs. My screenshot is available here <http://img.skitch.com/20090425-rg2uj7n3r5xdt3cjs442resd8f.png>.

It's good to see I am not alone but it would be even better to find an answer to this as, for the most part, I'm very impressed with Carbonite.

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Answer 8

Furi0us.Bee Author

Level 2

425 points

Apr 25, 2009 7:58 PM in response to Craiglea

Yay!!! I'm not crazy!!! Well, I ended up purchasing Carbonite (for the year) because it did do what I wanted. I tried Mozy, Amazon S3, I even tried this other service. All had one problem or another. It was as if the backup demons were cursing me. I must have spent a good 15 hours over a few days just trying to figure out all these issues.

I still get the high CPU usage, but I just have to manually pause it. I seem to get the "idle" message more now, but still it's hit or miss. Mostly, it says backing up when in fact it's doing nothing. CPU usage lowers when a backup is actually occurring. Aside from this, Carbonite seems to be the best solution out there. I can easily and quickly restore any backed-up file. It's much faster than Mozy. Amazon S3 had issues with some of my Mac files, and iDisk/Transmit/Automator concoction was a mess.

Bryan

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Answer 9

Craiglea

Level 1

10 points

Apr 26, 2009 3:16 AM in response to Furi0us.Bee

I'll post again when they get back to me. Like you this is a second try at getting online backup going and it's been good to see that Carbonite off Mac-specific support. The first response from Mozy to sa support request (despite me stating OS X usage) was to suggest I disable all anti-virus software such as AVG etc.

I have been pretty impressed with Carbonite so far. Unlike Mozy I can actually specify the files I want to backup and the restore option works!

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Answer 10

Craiglea

Level 1

10 points

Apr 28, 2009 10:24 AM in response to Craiglea

Becoming less impressed now...

I got an email response today to my original post but the steps it recommended were obviously based around the Windows UI so don't inspire much confidence. I've replied and we will see what happens. It does look as though I have exactly the same problem as Furi0us.Bee. While the status reads “Backup in progress”no files are being copied, and the CPU is being hammered.

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Answer 11

Micah D.

Level 1

80 points

May 26, 2009 5:02 PM in response to Furi0us.Bee

I'm having this same problem on my iMac with Carbonite, the Carbonite daemon is using 80 to 125% of my CPU process at all times. The only way to stop it is to pause the backup, which basically defeats the purpose of using Carbonite.

I've sent them several emails, hopefully they will have a solution. Otherwise I'll be asking for a refund.

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Answer 12

Jun 18, 2009 5:38 PM in response to Micah D.

I've been having the same issue with Carbonite "hogging" the CPU, sometimes to the point of choking other things including it's own GUI interface so that you can't get to it to "pause." I'm definitely running a the "low" priority setting. Maybe that's it (g). Perhaps that means that everything else is low priority with respect to Carbonite. I usually have to resort to opening a command window, finding the Carbonite daemon and force killing it (it doesn't show in the GUI activity monitor.)

I like the product. It has already saved me once but this is a noticeable blemish on an otherwise outstanding product.

I'm running a white MacBook with up to date Leopard. 4GB memory.

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Answer 13

Furi0us.Bee Author

Level 2

425 points

Jun 19, 2009 4:13 AM in response to iphoneczar

Funny, I just emailed them today to cancel my account and refund my money, as there software doesn't work as advertised. I'm waiting to hear back from them. I just bought a new 15" MBP, and I have the same problem. I also received email from some people on my blog who have the same issues, and they are on PCs. So when Carbonite told me this wasn't a widespread issue, they were lying to me. I don't like that.

<Edited by Host>

Bryan

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Answer 14

Furi0us.Bee Author

Level 2

425 points

Jun 19, 2009 9:33 PM in response to Furi0us.Bee

Carbonite was great about refunding my subscription. They have pretty good support, but they must get to work on a better software solution for backup.

Maybe Apple is working on a real-time backup solution backed by Mobile Me? I can only hope.

Bryan

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Answer 15

Mar 21, 2009 9:36 PM in response to Furi0us.Bee

Carbonite has been very responsive this past week for Mac users - you might want to Live Chat with them!

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