backupd excessive ram usage

Thank you for the Etrecheck Report :-)

It does not like good.

1 - Firstly - this is a Fusion Drive with a small SSD 28 GB in size coupled with a Mechanical HD 7000 RPM. Even at this speed and small SSD - this machine is going to perform less fast than running off the Full SSD large enough for your storage needs

2 - AntiVirus - is going to do zero beyond cause havoc with the OS and may even more. The Built-in Security is all that is required.

3 - The TM Backup drive is reported as too small. It will struggle to backup and remove outdated backups all at the same time. Normally and good practice is for the drive to be at least 1.5 to 4 times larger than the Internal Drive

4 - It reports there are out-dated 32 bit application install that are not compatible with Mojave. Go64 may help identify the Apps

5 - Then there is a Avast Software for Ransomeware. That is covered in The Built-in Security 

6 - Then TunnelBear VPN - Commercial VPNs should only be used if Mandated by Corporate Head Office for working remotely. Otherwise - ones Privacy and Security touted by the VPN is suspect.

Copy and Paste aspects from Etrecheck Report below

More than one antivirus app - This computer has multiple antivirus apps installed.

Antivirus software: Apple, Objective-See, and Malwarebytes

Small backup drive - Time Machine backup drive is too small.

System modifications - There are a large number of system modifications running in the background.

32-bit Apps - This computer has 32-bits apps will not work on current versions of the operating system.

1. /Library/SystemMigration/History/Migration-461B7F9B-4455-413F-AC31-1A2AB69F47AA/QuarantineRoot/Library/StagedExtensions/Applications/Avast.app
2. [Not Loaded] AvastFileShield.kext - com.avast.FileShield (4.0.0 - SDK 10.12)
3. [Not Loaded] AvastPacketForwarder.kext - com.avast.PacketForwarder (2.1 - SDK 10.12)
4. [Other] com.avast.init.plist (? fe750b9b - installed 2020-08-20)
5. [Other] com.avast.update.plist (? f4a2548f - installed 2020-08-20)
6. [Running] com.objective-see.ransomwhere.plist (Objective-See, LLC - installed 2017-04-20)
7. [Running] com.objectiveSee.blockblock.plist (Objective-See, LLC - installed 2018-09-08)

[Loaded] com.tunnelbear.mac.tbeard.plist (TunnelBear, Inc. - installed 2020-03-20)

disk0 - APPLE HDD ST1000DM003 1.00 TB (Mechanical - 7200 RPM)

APPLE SSD SM0032L 28.00 GB (Solid State - TRIM: Yes)

Delete these files & restart...

/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.init.plist

/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.avast.update.plist

/Library/LaunchAgents/com.avast.userinit.plist

Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at startup), does the problem occur in Safe Mode? Could take 10 minutes.

Safe mode attempts to repair Disks & clears lots of caches & loads safe Drivers, & prevents loading of 3rd party extensions, so if Safe Mode works try again in regular boot.

To add to P. Phillips excellent summary:

1)

Mounted Volumes:

disk2s1 - Macintosh HD

1.03 TB (Shared - 934.05 GB used, 86.40 GB free)

You have less than 10 percent free space on your hard drive which, when combined with a nearly full backup drive:

disk3s2 - T**********e

999.69 GB (986.25 GB used, 13.44 GB free)

can hamper any backup scheme.

2) Please add App Cleaner to things that need to be kicked to the curb. Catlike, Macs have cleaned themselves for 20 years. Adding dreck like that only interferes with some very elegant self-maintenance routines you paid Apple to build into the system. Let your Mac be a Mac.

3) Even considering you have 24GB RAM, IMHO you have FAR too many User log-in items. I believe half can be cleaned out for better responsiveness.

4) Your drive performance:

Performance:

System Load: 3.12 (1 min ago) 2.93 (5 min ago) 2.31 (15 min ago)

Nominal I/O speed: 18.31 MB/s

File system: 25.40 seconds

Write speed: 330 MB/s

Read speed: 1490 MB/s

Although your Write speeds are on the low end of "normal," overall drive performance is still "in the zone" based of a collection of similar drive reports I've been collecting.

500 MBps is more typical, but your Write speeds may well improve dramatically when you free up some space on Macintosh HD.

Agree with all the points made.

To really see both Hardware and Software in a Snap Shot >>

Suggest downloading the Application Etrecheck  directly from a Well Respected ASC Contributor. The application is free or paid from added features. Run the application with Full Disc Access ( Security & Privacy - Full Disc Access ). It will take a Snap Shot -  both the hardware and software. The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last )

We can have a look at the report for possible issues and may have possible suggestions to resolve the issues.

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, alter, modify, remove or delete or attempt to do so is an invitation for disaster and may require a Reinstallation of the OS.

Have you tried closing all the Memory Intensive Applications for Adobe before doing the TM Backup ?

The situation is is very good hands with @Allan Jones and @BDAqua right now.

If I were you, heed the advised offered by these two Contributors. I know I have and learned a lot for them, still learning.

:-)))

Thanks for the report! :)