User profile for user: andrew011
andrew011 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Kernel: IOSurface buffer allocation size is zero

I tend to receive the above message when listening to Itunes, this message can cause itunes to pause the music and sometimes cause the whole system to crash. Although it does not affect spotify.


I have only recently found out what the problem is, this problem has been going on for a long time. it does get annoying after sometime that your music pauses.


The list of text below has been copied from my Kernel.log and shows that this problem is quite prominent.

Would there be a olution to this? I have previously reinstalled my Operating system, after the reinstallation the problem occurs again. Even after an upgrade to OS X Lion the problem is still there


Mid 2010 Imac, 2.8Ghz Quad Core i5, 8GB ram, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 5750 1024 MB





rdbus=0)

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: [ PCI configuration end, bridges 8 devices 36 ]

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: FireWire (OHCI) TI ID 823f built-in now active, GUID e80688fffebe3be2; max speed s800.

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: mbinit: done [96 MB total pool size, (64/32) split]

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Pthread support ABORTS when sync kernel primitives misused

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib kmod start

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless kmod start

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib load succeeded

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: com.apple.AppleFSCompressionTypeDataless load succeeded

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient: ready

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Ethernet [AppleBCM5701Ethernet]: Wake reason GIGE - bonjour - service connect

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Network wake from BCM5701Enet

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 000000009833 0x5ac 0x8403 0x9833

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: USBMSC Identifier (non-unique): 00001411A7BE 0x411 0x105 0x300

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: [IOBluetoothHCIController::setConfigState] calling registerService

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: rooting via boot-uuid from /chosen: F995335E-73C3-3050-9BE7-6AD137A3B0CA

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Waiting on <dict ID="0"><key>IOProviderClass</key><string ID="1">IOResources</string><key>IOResourceMatch</key><string ID="2">boot-uuid-media</string></dict>

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Got boot device = IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/SATA@1F,2/AppleIntelPchS eriesAHCI/PRT0@0/IOAHCIDevice@0/AppleAHCIDiskDriver/IOAHCIBlockStorageDevice/IOB lockStorageDriver/ST31000528AS Media/IOGUIDPartitionScheme/NotQuiteMaxDisk@2

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: BSD root: disk0s2, major 14, minor 2

Jul 26 16:36:22 localhost kernel[0]: Kernel is LP64

Jul 26 16:36:23 localhost kernel[0]: BCM5701Enet: Ethernet address c4:2c:03:0f:54:8f

Jul 26 16:36:25 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: Previous Shutdown Cause: 5

Jul 26 16:36:25 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: ** Device in slot: SLOT--1 **

Jul 26 16:36:25 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: DSMOS has arrived

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.597048: ath_get_caps[4036] rx chainmask mismatch actual 3 sc_chainmak 0

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.597073: ath_get_caps[4011] tx chainmask mismatch actual 3 sc_chainmak 0

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601135: Atheros: mac 128.2 phy 13.027.601140: radio 12.027.601142:

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601146: Use hw queue 0 for WME_AC_BE traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601152: Use hw queue 1 for WME_AC_BK traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601158: Use hw queue 2 for WME_AC_VI traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601163: Use hw queue 3 for WME_AC_VO traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601169: Use hw queue 8 for CAB traffic

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601174: Use hw queue 9 for beacons

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601235: wlan_vap_create : enter. devhandle=0xd320c610, opmode=IEEE80211_M_STA, flags=0x1

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 27.601271: wlan_vap_create : exit. devhandle=0xd320c610, opmode=IEEE80211_M_STA, flags=0x1.

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: AirPort_AtherosNewma40: Ethernet address d8:30:62:59:e7:bd

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: IO80211Controller::dataLinkLayerAttachComplete(): adding AppleEFINVRAM notification

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: IO80211Interface::efiNVRAMPublished():

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: NTFS driver 3.8 [Flags: R/W].

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 1 (Unspecified).

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 28.701894: setDISASSOC from disconnectVap

Jul 26 16:36:26 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: 28.701905: switchVap from 1 to 1

Jul 26 16:36:27 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: NTFS volume name BOOTCAMP, version 3.1.

Jul 26 16:36:27 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: nstat_lookup_entry failed: 2

Jul 26 16:36:28: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 16:36:27 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: Ethernet [AppleBCM5701Ethernet]: Link up on en0, 100-Megabit, Full-duplex, Symmetric flow-control, Debug [796d,2300,0de1,0300,45e1,0000]

Jul 26 16:36:29 Andrew-Purdys-iMac kernel[0]: macx_swapon SUCCESS

Jul 26 16:36:34 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015319c00][BNBMouseDevice::init][66] init is complete

Jul 26 16:36:35 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015319c00][BNBMouseDevice::handleStart][66] Done

Jul 26 16:36:35 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015a16000][AppleMultitouchHIDEventDriver::start] entered

Jul 26 16:36:35 andrew-pc kernel[0]: [ffffff8015a90d00][AppleMultitouchDevice::start] entered

Jul 26 16:36:56 andrew-pc kernel[0]: udf log: Allow bogus directory length

Jul 26 16:37:14 andrew-pc kernel[0]: AppleBCM5701Ethernet: 0 1 BCM5701Enet::replaceOrCopyPacket worked after N tries

Jul 26 16:40:27 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 16:41:22: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 16:41:40 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 16:43:52: --- last message repeated 6 times ---

Jul 26 16:45:16 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 16:46:22: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 18:25:18 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:26:23 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:32:19 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:34:08 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:34:45 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:36:22: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 18:37:53 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:38:52: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 18:39:27 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 18:40:17 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 19:27:48 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 19:28:45: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 19:28:45 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 19:29:15: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 22:53:21 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:56:56 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:58:28: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 22:58:28 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:58:58: --- last message repeated 6 times ---

Jul 26 22:59:00 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 22:59:30: --- last message repeated 5 times ---

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `CodeResources': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Growl': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Headers': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Resources': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Current': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Headers': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Resources': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Skype': 93

Jul 26 23:03:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: CoreServicesUIAg[590] Unable to clear quarantine `Current': 93

Jul 26 23:04:53 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:06:23: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:08:22 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:18:09 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:22:01 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:24:39 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:26:23: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:27:36 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:33:49 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:35:58 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:36:28: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:37:23 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:37:58 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:38:37: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:38:37 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:39:08: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:39:52 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:40:36: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:40:36 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:42:23 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:46:12 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:46:44 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:47:14: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 26 23:47:58 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:48:38 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:49:36 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:50:19: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 26 23:50:19 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 26 23:51:23: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 27 00:50:43 andrew-pc kernel[0]: HFS: Very Low Disk: freeblks: 0, dangerlimit: 154

Jul 27 14:07:46 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:09:00: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 27 14:09:00 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:13:16 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:15:07 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:15:50: --- last message repeated 3 times ---

Jul 27 14:15:50 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:16:24: --- last message repeated 1 time ---

Jul 27 14:16:26 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:16:56 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

Jul 27 14:17:26: --- last message repeated 2 times ---

Jul 27 14:17:28 andrew-pc kernel[0]: IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 27, 2011 6:29 AM

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154 replies
User profile for user: tgim422
tgim422
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 25, 2012 6:57 AM in response to DaddieMac

DaddieMac wrote:


Does anyone experience this bug on a Mac with an ATI chipset or ATI graphics card?


Yes. I have a Fall 2011 MBP with an AMD Radeon HD 6750M (ATI) graphics card and my kernel log files are filled with IOSurface: buffer allocation size is zero errors. I also have a bunch of HFS: Very Low Disk: freeblks: 0, dangerlimit: X errors.


I just upgraded to 10.7.4.


Also, I can confirm that loading certain web pages causes an IOSurface error to be thrown. It happened in both Safari 5.1.7 and Chrome 21.0.1145.0 dev.


Some other symtoms-


I've also recently noticed problems with my battery showing 98% or 99% remaining immediately after disconnecting the charger. And I mean immediately, 1-3 seconds. It very rarely displays 100% remaining. Also, there are times when the battery takes an inordinate amount of time to fully charge. For example, this morning the battery was not fully charged despite being pluged in all night and in sleep mode. It had been plugged in for over 12 hours. I had to close all open programs and restart the computer before it completed charging.


I frequently use Photoshop CS4, and I consistently see the following problem. When I launch Photoshop, the first file I open, instead of having a grey background fill, the workspace will have a pixelated, rainbow colored, snow type pattern (mostly purple, green and yellow). Once I zoom in / out, the display will refresh and the grey background will reappear. Weird!


I have to say, it's a bit unsettling condsidering a MBP + Adobe CS4 Suite costs $3000+


A side note. While investigating this problem I noticed that I have different Flash versions installed in Safari and Chrome. Safari - Flash 11.2.x.x & Chrome - Flash 11.3.x.x. Not sure if that is ok, or correct. But it's above my level of knowledge.


And a big thanks to everyone for writing up their experiences. really very helpful.

Reply
User profile for user: DaddieMac
DaddieMac
User level: Level 1
69 points

May 25, 2012 7:25 PM in response to andrew011

I am investigating to see if maybe this problem comes from errors in how Lion establishes user accounts with the sandboxd. I could be sandboxing the passing of data in IOSurface because the current user is not properly set up in whatever hidden database sandboxd uses.


I suspect this because my user account was on the existing drive when I upgraded to Lion. I suspect many or all of you have migrated users from a previous Time Machine backup or other drive. Correct me if I'm wrong! It would be useful to know.


Otherwise, it might be due to a bug in libxml2 2.7.3, which is in Lion and has known bugs with webkit. The current version of libxml2 is 2.7.8, and it solves some of the bugs in libxml2 2.7.3 that cause problems for webkit.


However, I have no idea how one might go about updating the version of libxml2 that is built into Lion, or if this is even advisable or possible.


However due to the fact that Mountain Lion supposedly fixes these issues, then I'd bet it has libxml2 2.7.8. Again- correct me if I'm wrong!


If that's not it, then it could also have to do with the NVIDIA drivers. I'm going to poke my head in over at OSX86 and see if anyone has any tips on tweaking those drivers :-D

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User profile for user: tgim422
tgim422
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 26, 2012 7:48 AM in response to DaddieMac

@DaddieMac:


I formatted the hard drive and did a fresh install when I upgraded from snow leopard to lion. No time machine image or external drive was involved. Also, I just happened to check my disk permissions last week and there were no problems at all.


To clarify, my laptop hasn't locked up or crashed recently, let alone multiple times a day. It acts a little funny sometimes and considering I have 8GB ram and i7 quad 2.2 and don't do any real heavy processing, I see the pinwheel more than in previous flavors of mac os x.


Most of the problems I experience ouccur while I'm using a web browser. I confirmed that flash is one of the culprits, but I think that has alreay been established in this thread. Here's what I did (repeated in both Chrome and Safari) -


  1. Played a video on vimeo using html5 player - No IOSurface error
  2. Played a video on vimeo using flash player - 2x IOSurface errors thrown in kernel.log


Hope this helps. Good luck hunting down the problem.

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User profile for user: tgim422
tgim422
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 27, 2012 5:20 AM in response to rentgeeen

@rentgeen


I followed the steps you mentioned above and I can confirm that IOSurface errors are thrown each time I toggle through the pages of effects in Photo Booth. Actually 9 errors appered each time I changed the page, i guess one for each effect. But my laptop did not crash, slow down, or become unresponsive. Had I not been looking at the console, all the errors would have been totally transparent to me.


A couple thoughts. I never use Photo Booth, but I can imagine for some one who does, their log files could fill up quite quickly considering 9 error log entries are thrown each time. I know that log files are rotated, but I'm not familar enough with the inner workings of mac os to know when log rotation happens or what triggers it.


Second, I read most of this thread the other day and I know some people mentioned using SSD drives. I do not, I have the original 750 GB HDD and it's only about one third full. Again, not sure this has anything to do with the problem, just trying to help eliminate possible causes.


good luck!

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User profile for user: rentgeeen
rentgeeen
User level: Level 1
0 points

May 27, 2012 9:37 AM in response to tgim422

@tgim422


I was only showing with this procedure that it has somehing to do with video because my mac freezes during Skype and Gmail Video Chat calls.


Gmail is using Flash shockwave plugin - and that is using video card so must be wrong something with the kexts - video drivers or OS X itself. Skype is not using flash so I guess its not the flash. Basically when my mac freezes it has something to do with the video and photo booth is proving it with 9 IO errors for each frame.

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User profile for user: jbollyn
jbollyn
User level: Level 1
6 points

May 27, 2012 11:16 AM in response to andrew011

I have done a couple things to address this error, and it looks like it is fixed for me. I only use this home 2011 27' iMac (Lion) for browsing and Office 2011.


I uninstalled Flash player, stopped using Safari, installed Chrome for the embedded Flash. There were still a few errors logged to the console until I disabled the embedded Flash with about:plugins -


http://www.mytechguide.org/8173/disable-flash-completely-google-chrome/


The buffer allocation size errors have completely stopped.


Message was edited by: jbollyn

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User profile for user: davidh
davidh
User level: Level 4
1,896 points

Jun 8, 2012 6:28 PM in response to koDiacc

File-level POSIX permissions has *NOTHING* whatsoever to do with the mechanisms generating the error "

Kernel: IOSurface buffer allocation size is zero"

Nothing.


It's also a common misguided notion that "repairing permissions" fixes things that it has nothing to do with.


In terms of what "Repair Permissions" in actual *fact* accomplishes, please read

http://www.macworld.com/2006/08/secrets/repairpermissions/index.php?pf=1


and

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10330946-263.html?tag=mncol

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Kernel: IOSurface buffer allocation size is zero

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