Series of panic attacks

Question

Level 1

8 points

Series of panic attacks

My 8-core Mac Pro (2,1) running 10.6.8 has recently started having an endless series of panic attacks, with a frequency of 1-2 per day. A typical log follows, but the BSD of the current thread varies: sometimes it's dropbox, sometimes SecurityAgent, sometimes mds, sometimes kernal_task. The CPUs that rail to respond are typically 0, 1, or 2 but I've seen 7 do it too.

I had made two hardware changes prior to this series of attacks: (1) I replaced one of the internal disks (not the system disk) and (2) I noticed that only 28Gb of my 32Gb of memory was showing up, and I identified which two DIMMs were bad and removed them, being careful to keep the missing two slots in the slots 3 and 4 of the lower riser (B). I've now pulled out the new disk and reduced the memory to two DIMMs in the upper riser in an effort to trouble shoot.

Any other suggestions? Thanks.

Wed Aug 28 23:10:22 2013

panic(cpu 2 caller 0x28fc2e): "TLB invalidation IPI timeout: " "CPU(s) failed to respond to interrupts, unresponsive CPU bitmap: 0x20, NMIPI acks: orig: 0x0, now: 0x0"@/SourceCache/xnu/xnu-1504.15.3/osfmk/i386/pmap.c:3572

Backtrace (CPU 2), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)

0x98b639f8 : 0x21b837 (0x5dd7fc 0x98b63a2c 0x223ce1 0x0)

0x98b63a48 : 0x28fc2e (0x59a47c 0x20 0x0 0x0)

0x98b63ab8 : 0x29480b (0x84b7a0 0x0 0x98b63b48 0x2a0577)

0x98b63be8 : 0x29555c (0x84b7a0 0x107a000 0x0 0xfe8083d0)

0x98b63c58 : 0x2615b0 (0x84b7a0 0x107a000 0x0 0x107e000)

0x98b63d88 : 0x261b4b (0x107e000 0x0 0x1 0x0)

0x98b63dc8 : 0x25a8e7 (0x2951ebc 0x107a000 0x0 0x107e000)

0x98b63e08 : 0x4a01df (0x2951ebc 0x107a000 0x4000 0x214b8198)

0x98b63e28 : 0x4a02fb (0x21a3a3b0 0x400 0x98b63e58 0x2fb5d0)

0x98b63e58 : 0x4a035d (0x2ca952f8 0x3 0x98b63e88 0x504738)

0x98b63e88 : 0x473bb7 (0x21ed29c0 0x98b63ed8 0x98b63ea8 0x21a3a3b0)

0x98b63ef8 : 0x475968 (0x21ed72b0 0x21ed29c0 0x2ca952a0 0x210f6534)

0x98b63f38 : 0x475a39 (0x0 0xc 0x98b63f5c 0x1)

0x98b63f78 : 0x4f7f90 (0x2ca952a0 0x2cacbf00 0x2cacbf44 0x0)

0x98b63fc8 : 0x2a1fd8 (0x223ea3a0 0x1 0x10 0x2cb9c0a4)

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: Dropbox

Mac OS version:

10K549

Kernel version:

Darwin Kernel Version 10.8.0: Tue Jun 7 16:33:36 PDT 2011; root:xnu-1504.15.3~1/RELEASE_I386

System model name: MacPro2,1 (Mac-F4208DA9)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 52571712575761

unloaded kexts:

com.apple.driver.AppleFileSystemDriver 2.0 (addr 0xe64000, size 0x12288) - last unloaded 96946682551

loaded kexts:

com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.3d0 - last loaded 34657729799

com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.5.7

com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.20

com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 2.0.5f14

com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.57

com.apple.GeForce 6.3.6

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBDisplays 289

com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0

com.apple.iokit.CHUDUtils 364

com.apple.iokit.CHUDProf 366

com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.1.6

com.apple.driver.AppleMCEDriver 1.1.9

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelMeromProfile 19.1

com.apple.driver.Apple_iSight 4.0.1

com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.7.0a1

com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.5.1

com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.8

com.apple.BootCache 31.1

com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.4

com.apple.driver.AppleIntel8254XEthernet 2.1.3b1

com.apple.iokit.AppleYukon2 3.2.1b1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI 4.2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.2.4

com.apple.driver.AppleFWOHCI 4.7.3

com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPIIXATA 2.5.1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.2.4

com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.4.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBUHCI 4.2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.6

com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1

com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5

com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.7

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.6

com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 142.6.0

com.apple.security.sandbox 1

com.apple.security.quarantine 0

com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.14

com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 142.6.0

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 17

com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 2.0.5f14

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction 10

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction 14

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction 10

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction 10

com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction 20

com.apple.nvidia.nv40hal 6.3.6

com.apple.NVDAResman 6.3.6

com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireIP 2.0.3

com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 74.2

com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.4.5f3

com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3

com.apple.iokit.CHUDKernLib 365

com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.8.3fc2

com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3

com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 2.0.5f14

com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.2.1

com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 2.0.5f14

com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 41.4

com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.0d5

com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.7.0a1

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDMouse 162

com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse 162

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHIDKeyboard 141.5

com.apple.driver.AppleHIDKeyboard 141.5

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.2.0

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.2.4

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.6.8

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass 2.6.7

com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.8

com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6

com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6

com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6.1

com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1

com.apple.iokit.IOATAPIProtocolTransport 2.5.1

com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.8

com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.10

com.apple.iokit.IOFireWireFamily 4.2.6

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.2.4

com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.6

com.apple.iokit.IOATAFamily 2.5.1

com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.2.4

com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.4.0

com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.6

com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1

com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1

com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6

com.apple.driver.DiskImages 289

com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.3

com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.6

com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6.5

com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 30, 2013 10:01 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Aug 30, 2013 7:10 PM in response to astropig

You did not include the Hardware section of the panic log. It usually has a lot of helpful information.

Mac OS X: How to log a kernel panic

The mac Pro 65lb tower uses Error Correcting Code Memory, so memory problems typically show up as machine check, uncorrectable error. Lacking those, you do not likely have a memory problem.

You do not have any added any non-Apple kernel extensions, so they cannot be causing this problem.

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Answer 2

astropig Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 30, 2013 8:55 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks! Here's the hardware part from one of the panic attack logs. As for the last entry, there are no external firewire devices attached besides the iSight.

System Profile:

Model: MacPro2,1, BootROM MP21.007F.B06, 8 processors, Quad-Core Intel Xeon, 3 GHz, 24 GB, SMC 1.15f3

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, PCIe, 256 MB

Memory Module: global_name

Network Service: Built-in Ethernet 2, Ethernet, en1

PCI Card: Marvell Yukon Gigabit Adapter 88E8053 Singleport Copper SA, sppci_ethernet, Slot-4

PCI Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, sppci_displaycontroller, Slot-1

PCI Card: pci1033,35, sppci_usbopenhost, Slot-3@13,1,0

PCI Card: pci1033,35, sppci_usbopenhost, Slot-3@13,1,1

PCI Card: pci1033,e0, USB Enhanced Host Controller, Slot-3@13,1,2

PCI Card: pci1033,35, sppci_usbopenhost, Slot-2@16,1,0

PCI Card: pci1033,35, sppci_usbopenhost, Slot-2@16,1,1

PCI Card: pci1033,e0, USB Enhanced Host Controller, Slot-2@16,1,2

Serial ATA Device: ST3750640AS P, 698.64 GB

Serial ATA Device: ST2000DM001-1CH164, 1.82 TB

Parallel ATA Device: OPTIARC DVD RW AD-7170A

USB Device: Hub, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x9122, 0xfd500000 / 3

USB Device: Keyboard Hub, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x1005, 0xfd510000 / 5

USB Device: Apple Optical USB Mouse, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x0304, 0xfd513000 / 7

USB Device: Apple Keyboard, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x021d, 0xfd512000 / 6

USB Device: Apple Cinema HD Display, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x921e, 0xfd520000 / 4

USB Device: Backup+ Desk, 0x0bc2 (Seagate LLC), 0xa0a4, 0xfd100000 / 2

USB Device: FA GoFlex Desk, 0x0bc2 (Seagate LLC), 0x50a1, 0x41500000 / 2

FireWire Device: built-in_hub, Up to 800 Mb/sec

FireWire Device: iSight, Apple Computer, Inc., Up to 200 Mb/sec

FireWire Device: unknown_device, Unknown

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 31, 2013 11:06 AM in response to astropig

Your firmware is up-to-date for an early 8-core.

Why are you running a PCIe Ethernet card? The Mac Pro built-in is capable of gigabit Ethernet and offers large frame support.

You are also running two additional USB cards plus a Hub (or is that the Hub in the display). What's the story with those?

Are you doing advanced Photo or Video work? 24GB suggests that you may be. You should consider replacing the aging 7300 with an Apple-firmware 5770, about US$250, for better graphics support and less trouble. It works in all models of Mac Pro EXCEPT there may be trouble playing copy-protected movies.

Sometimes the CPU interrupt problems like you are seeing are caused by a Display card (which is a processor as well) not correctly responding with interrupts when it has completed its work. Are you seeing any screen anomalies?

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Answer 4

astropig Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 31, 2013 11:28 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks very much for taking a look at this! To answer your questions:

1. I don't remember ever messing with the Ethernet card; as far a I know, I'm running with the original hardware for the Ethernet.

2) I did add two cards for additional USB ports. (I removed them today to see if it helps any.) Don't know anything about any hubs; I do have two displays.

3) I don't do advanced photo or video work. I'm an astronomer, and I have 24 Gb (and 8 cores) because I run CPU- and memory-intensive models to do things like radiative transfer in stellar atmospheres. My graphic requirements are quite modest, but thanks for the suggestion.

4) I haven't seen anything funny with the monitors, but just to simplify things I removed the second monitor to see if that helps.

Reply

Answer 5

Aug 31, 2013 11:41 AM in response to astropig

PCI Card: Marvell Yukon Gigabit Adapter 88E8053 Singleport Copper SA, sppci_ethernet, Slot-4

if your Ethernet is plugged into the card in slot 4, I would leave it alone for now. If the Ethernet is plugged into a port on the backplate, the card in slot 4 is redundant, and could be removed without issue.

One display Vs two (if both on the same card) should not be a problem.

If you have not recently blown the dust up and out of your Mac, this might be your cue to do so. Do not do this in a nice part of the house, it is VERY messy. Be sure to blow out the graphics card fan as well.

Reply

Answer 6

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 31, 2013 11:43 AM in response to astropig

Regardless of how modest your needs are for a GPU, using a 7 yr old 256MB 7300GT OEM is not really a good idea.

FBDIMMs run hot and use a lot more watts. Newer modules are better and a lot cheaper than they were. When you have a problem and have to remove some, you can bet they were not performing and irregardless of ECC and given your errors...

Either find a bootable backup clone from before the RAM problem

Or do a clean install

And make sure to have a dedicated system boot drive with any and all media data etc off to other drives - might really appreciate a 250GB Samsung 840 SSD for your 2007 model.

And put in a 1GB VRAM Apple ATI 5770 while at it.

I think with a clean system t hen see if there are any panics or issues.

Anytime the system panics and crashes don't assume a restart is safe, or that a Safe Boot will find and fix any errors to files and directory.

Reply

Answer 7

astropig Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 31, 2013 12:07 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

This sounds all very useful.

1) I did look up the Apple-firmware 5770, and the only problem is that the Apple store website claims that it requires Mac Pro (Mid 2010) or later model. Mine is the Mac Pro 2,1 circa 2007. Do you know if it will work anyway? Or is there an alternative?

2) There was an incredible amount of dust inside the machine when I messed with the memory, and I blew things out pretty well. I'm concerned that perhaps this created the problem---maybe dust got into something that it shouldn't have.

3) The 24Gb of memory is not original--I replaced all of the original memory with OWC memory about 3 years ago.

4) My ethenert cable is plugged into one of the two original ports in the backplates. I must have installed the PCIe card years ago for reasons no longer clear to me. I can pull it out if it might be creating problems.

5) I can indeed do a clean install of Snow Leopard if it might solve my problem---my backups are always up to date. Does this seem more likely than an actual hardware issue?

thanks!

Reply

Answer 8

The hatter

Level 9

60,990 points

Aug 31, 2013 12:15 PM in response to astropig

Take it with s grain of salt, you skipped the helpful comments section or the 1000s of users like myself using 5770 (Mac Pro 1,1)

FBDIMMs fail. Perfectly fine to use non-Apple in fact you should, but I would caution with OWC with those.

How To Install and Remove Memory Mac Pro

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4433

2x2GB FBDIMM DDR2 667MHz @ $32

http://www.amazon.com/BUFFERED-PC2-5300-FB-DIMM-APPLE-Memory/dp/B002ORUUAC/

http://www.datamemorysystems.com/apple-mac-pro-8-core-2-x-quad-core-intel-xeon-2 -8ghz-ma970ll/a-early-2008-memory-upgrades/http://www.datamemorysystems.com/apple-mac-pro-8-core-2-x-quad-core-intel-xeon-3 -0ghz-bto-2007-memory-upgrades/

http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT102472AF667

Mac Pro 8GB Kit

Komputerbay 8GB (2x 4GB) DDR2 667MHz ECC FB-DIMM 240 PIN

http://www.amazon.com/Komputerbay-PC2-5300F-Buffered-FB-DIMM-Heatspreaders/dp/B0 05HIWD5U/

About Mac OS X Kernel Panics:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742

Resolving Kernal Panics

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/kernelpanics.html

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10344626-263.html

http://macs.about.com/od/usingyourmac/qt/Troubleshooting-Os-X-Kernel-Panics.htm

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742

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Answer 9

Aug 31, 2013 2:16 PM in response to astropig

RE: Apple-firmware 5770

It works in all models of Mac Pro EXCEPT there may be trouble playing copy-protected movies.

Mac Pro: Using ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card with Mac Pro released before 2010

Reply

Answer 10

astropig Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 4, 2013 5:44 AM in response to astropig

So, despite the fact that this smelled like an obvious hardware problem, I decided to proceed systematically though the link provided above to http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3742

and first establish whether it's a software or hardware issue. (It seemed certain to be hardware given the chain of events but you never know.) Following Apple's recommendation on that link, I installed Snow Leopard on an external disk, and have been running on it for three days without a single hicup; before that, I had been having panics several times a day. It's still not certain to me that it's software: it could be that there is something subtly wrong with the 6-year old internal disk I'd been using for the O/S and my home directory. It passes the disk utility tests, but it is certainly noisy, so I am going to now replace that, reinstall the operating system, and proceed. I've put the 24 GB of memory back, and have had no problem. I may or may not update to a newer graphics card, although the motivation for this seems a bit weak: I'm not seeing any issues with the monitors. I'm posting this in case it helps others having panics.

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