kernel and mds errors in console - by the thousand

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Level 1

8 points

kernel and mds errors in console - by the thousand

I notice that four or five times a day I have to restart Safari as the machine becomes unbearably slow. Today, when it happened I took a look in the consol All Message logs and was mystified to found thousands of entries piling up, sometimes 20 a second. Can any one shed some light on these:

22/05/09 4:56:46 PM kernel add_fsevent: zalloc sez: 0
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM kernel add_fsevent: event_zone info: 4096 0
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM kernel add_fsevent: watcher 0x75122004: num dropped 0 rd 7200 wr 7200 q_size 8192 flags 0x4
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM kernel add_fsevent: watcher 0x7518e004: num dropped 171696 rd 5942 wr 5941 q_size 8192 flags 0xd
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM kernel add_fsevent: watcher 0x166c0004: num dropped 0 rd 0 wr 0 q_size 1024 flags 0x0
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:46 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:48 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:48 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:48 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:50 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:50 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:50 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:51 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:51 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:51 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:52 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:52 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:52 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM kernel add_fsevent: event queue is full! dropping events (num dropped events: 20264; num events outstanding: 2347).
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd[65] FMOD WATCH EVENTS DROPPED!
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM kernel add_fsevent: kfse_list head 0x90cdcdc0 ; num pendingrename 1749
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM kernel add_fsevent: zalloc sez: 0
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM kernel add_fsevent: event_zone info: 4096 0
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM kernel add_fsevent: watcher 0x75122004: num dropped 0 rd 7231 wr 7231 q_size 8192 flags 0x4
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM kernel add_fsevent: watcher 0x7518e004: num dropped 171741 rd 5942 wr 5941 q_size 8192 flags 0xd
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM kernel add_fsevent: watcher 0x166c0004: num dropped 0 rd 0 wr 0 q_size 1024 flags 0x0
22/05/09 4:56:56 PM mds[7107] (Error) FMW: WE ARE DROPPING FMW EVENTS!

Mac Pro 2x2.26GHz Quad-core Intel Xeon/16GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.5.7), 1TB HD.

Posted on May 22, 2009 2:06 PM

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Answer 1

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

May 22, 2009 4:19 PM in response to plattapuss

I'm not sure what's causing it, but it looks like something is overwhelming or corrupting the OSX File System Event Database.

That's a hidden database that OSX keeps on each drive, containing a record of all directories (folders) that are changed. Spotlight and TM use it, as do some anti-virus scanners, to find out what's been added or changed since the last "event" they processed.

mds (MetaData Server) is an OSX process that has to do with this processing.

Just why events aren't being added, or are being dropped is way beyond my expertise, but you're right, it's probably serious, especially if you're using Time Machine.

I'd be inclined to do a Restart, then shut down as many user apps as you can.

Then do a +Verify Disk+ (not permissions) via Disk Utility (in your Applications/Utilities folder) on your internal HD. If you have any external drives, do a +Repair Disk+ (not permissions) on them.

If DU finds errors on your internal HD, you'll have to boot from your Leopard Install disc and use it's copy of DU to repair them, since you can't repair the file system on the disk you're running from. Post back if you need to do this but don't know how.

Also, how big is your internal HD, and how much space is available on it? (Note: if there's almost no space available, do not do a restart. Post back ASAP instead.)

Ditto any external drives/partitions you have?

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Answer 2

plattapuss Author

Level 1

8 points

May 22, 2009 4:54 PM in response to plattapuss

Thanks for the info. The internal drive is 1TB and only has 250MB used. I have an external RAID that I have used for over a year without incident, it is 500MB with 150MB free. No errors showing up in the RAID software.

I will reboot and run Verify Permissions as you suggest. Once complete I will post my results.

Feeling unlucky with Macs now as I have two dead Macs awaiting return to Apple (iMac and MBP) and now this new one is causing troubles. Not my lucky year. All machines are on APC 1500 Backups. 😟

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Answer 3

plattapuss Author

Level 1

8 points

May 23, 2009 5:03 AM in response to plattapuss

I closed all applications and restarted. The errors were gone after restart. Also, as suggested, I ran Disk Verify, which came back with a big green happy "Disk Volume OK" (can't remember exact message). Ran repair permissions also, which found a few hundred lines of permissions that were out of whack.

Ever since I updated to 10.5.7, I have noticed an increase in erratic behaviour from my MP. Apps crashing, strange errors in console, lots of Kernel errors.

I am good for now though. Thanks. If this error comes back, I will post again.

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Answer 4

May 23, 2009 5:20 AM in response to plattapuss

HI,

Are you running anti-virus software?

Also, try Open DNS Just follow the instructions.

~Library/Input Managers. If you have any Input Managers listed, delete them and see if the problem persists.

*"Ran repair permissions also, which found a few hundred lines of permissions that were out of whack. "*

They aren't really, "out of whack". Those are just messages and can be ignored. They are a result of recent software updates.

And check out this thread: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9461000&#9461000

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 5

plattapuss Author

Level 1

8 points

May 23, 2009 11:31 AM in response to plattapuss

Okay, I have viewed the thread on OpenDNS, and Safari things. I signed up for OpenDNS, which is nice as our kids are 7 and 10, and although they only use the computer in the kitchen where we are, and only when we are around, it only takes 10 seconds for them to click through to some horrible site. I could not find the SafeBrowsing.db file but disabled Safe browsing in Safari and Firefox.

As for permissions, thanks, I was wondering why there were so many messages. No worries there.'

No kernel errors this morning. Now on to finding out why Geektool still crashes since the 10.5.7 patch.

I believe my original question, although not answered specifically, has been resolved at this point. If I suddenly start getting them again in the future, I will post again.

Thank you to everyone who shared their patience and wisdom on helping me love my MP again.

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