Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

The process "mtmfs" is using a huge amount of the CPU

Does anyone know how to sort out the process "mtmfs" using up 98% of my cpu and heating up the core so much that the fans are running full bore all the time?


I have quit the process in Activity Monitor and this stops it temporarily but I am looking for a better solution.


Thanks

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7), 2.2 Ghz Intel Core i7 GB 1333 MHz

Posted on Sep 1, 2011 9:24 PM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Sep 1, 2011 11:23 PM

A Google search indicates that mtmfs is Mobile Time Machine file system daemon.


I think that might be for the snapshots Time Machine makes for laptops when they aren't connected to their Time Machine drive. Try turning Time Machine off in System Preferences when you aren't connected to your Time Machine drive.

11 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Sep 1, 2011 11:23 PM in response to CipBal

A Google search indicates that mtmfs is Mobile Time Machine file system daemon.


I think that might be for the snapshots Time Machine makes for laptops when they aren't connected to their Time Machine drive. Try turning Time Machine off in System Preferences when you aren't connected to your Time Machine drive.

Sep 1, 2011 11:30 PM in response to Peggy Lynn

Thanks for this Peggy.


My concern is that if I turn TimeMachine off next time I turn it on it will demand to do a full backup which will take ages, but perhaps this is not the case?


Also this is rather a pain to do as I connect up my TimeMachine Hard drive at the end of each day to make a backup!


Thanks anyway.

Crispin

Sep 2, 2011 12:21 AM in response to CipBal

I would fully agree that is highly inconvenient to not have the option to disable snapshots without turning Time Machine off but Apple did not solicit my opinion on the matter. You might want to give AppleCare a call to express your unhappiness with snapshots being an ill- mannered CPU hog.

Apple - Mac OS X - Feedback


I've not had any problems with Time Machine wanting to make a full backup because I've turned it off for one reason or another. If you use TimeMachineScheduler you need to disable the scheduling you set through that software should you wish to return to normal Time Machine scheduling for any reason.

Oct 9, 2011 12:17 PM in response to CipBal

On my MacBook Pro 10.7.1


mtmfs is disabled in /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.mtmfs.plist


<key>Disabled</key>

<true/>


but:

/var/log/notice.log shows

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job disabled

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.backupd-wake launchd job disabled

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.backupd-attach launchd job disabled

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.mtmd launchd job disabled

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro mtmfs[3465]: filesystem unmount attempted from stopFS

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.mtmfs launchd job disabled

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: Cleaning up local snapshots on volume /

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: Cleaning up local snapshots on volume /Volumes/DATA/

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro mds[76]: (Normal) FMW: DOUBLE SLASH Rename (source) - p:11 ac:4 am:51c1 t:57622115738851

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro mds[76]: (Error) FMW: DOUBLE SLASH Rename (destination) - p:11 ac:4 am:51c1 t:57622115738851

Oct 9 14:09:57 smackerPro mds[76]: (Normal) FMW: DOUBLE SLASH Delete - p:11 ac:3 am:5c1 t:57622376115790

Oct 9 14:09:59 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.backupd-auto launchd job enabled

Oct 9 14:09:59 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.backupd-wake launchd job enabled

Oct 9 14:09:59 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.backupd-attach launchd job enabled

Oct 9 14:09:59 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.mtmd launchd job enabled

Oct 9 14:09:59 smackerPro UserEventAgent[11]: com.apple.mtmfs launchd job enabled

Oct 9 14:09:59 smackerPro mtmd[6206]: Set snapshot time:1318183801 (current time:1318183799)

Oct 9 14:10:04 smackerPro com.apple.mtmfs[6207]: /var/folders/zz/zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000000000000/T//mtmfsMap6207

Feb 9, 2014 5:50 PM in response to John Zwiebel

I understand why a Time Machine snapshot process would hog CPU, but I've also found the process is the third most active process for network activity. In addition to being a frustrating resources hog, this raises some concerns for data privacy as well. Why is a process that inventories my entire hard drive using the internet?


Hopefully I'm being ignorant of some basic functionality that would explain this...

The process "mtmfs" is using a huge amount of the CPU

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.