My iMac is eating my bandwidth

Question

Level 1

8 points

My iMac is eating my bandwidth

I have a late 2009 21.5 iMac 10.10.3. Verizon supplies me with DSL and I have been complaining to them about unpredictable and wide variations in my connection speed for some time without resolution until today. The V technician discovered that the iMac is intermittently using 110% of my bandwidth. It happens if I am connected wirelessly and/or with ethernet cable. It seems random. I have disconnected all peripherals. I can test the connection speed with my Air wirelessly on the same modem. I also have a VOIP on the modem, but that has no effect. My speed is fine until I put the iMac on the network. Sometimes the bandwidth is OK, and then, randomly, it goes to near nothing. When that happens, disconnecting the iMac restores the service instantly. I have an active iCloud account. Should I edit what goes to the cloud? I also have Google Drive and Dropbox, but they are not automatic. Where to start?? TIA!

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), late 2009 21.5

Posted on Apr 30, 2015 12:55 PM

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Answer 1

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

Apr 30, 2015 1:18 PM in response to jgieske

Do you backup your computer to an on-line service like any in this article:

http://mac-online-backup-services-review.toptenreviews.com/ ??

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Answer 2

jgieske Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2015 3:10 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks for looking. iCloud only. I back up to Timeline and other EXD's. This slowing occurs with all EHD's disconnected.

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

Apr 30, 2015 3:51 PM in response to jgieske

I am not familiar with Timeline, is it an online service or does it back up to an external HD?

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Answer 4

jgieske Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2015 4:31 PM in response to rkaufmann87

What was I thinking? TimeMachine!

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

Apr 30, 2015 5:46 PM in response to jgieske

Open Activity Monitor - Network and see what is using your bandwidth up.

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Answer 6

jgieske Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2015 6:38 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thanks again! This is what I see on the Activity monitor under "network" just after doing the speed check below. I have no idea what the numbers mean!

When I disconnect the iMac, my ping is usually under 30 and the download is 2.8. The ping often goes to 800+!

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Answer 7

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

Apr 30, 2015 6:53 PM in response to jgieske

Uninstall Chrome and try using Safari.

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Answer 8

jgieske Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2015 5:08 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Is there any reason to think that this could be he result of some kind of malware?

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Answer 9

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

May 1, 2015 5:46 AM in response to jgieske

Did you uninstall Chrome and re-test. You can run an EtreCheck report and we can look for obvious issues.

EtreCheck

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Answer 10

jgieske Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2015 8:03 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Yes. This is with Chrome uninstalled!

I am working now from my MBA on the same network with the iMac disconnected from the network.

here is what I get:

I am starting to think that there is something seriously wrong with the iMac.

I have Disk Warrior. Also, I have never done a clean install since 2009! I can do that, I think, as I made a Yosemite startup disk. Seems bit drastic though. Very hard for me to do much to the iMac online. Thoughts?

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Answer 11

jgieske Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2015 8:05 AM in response to jgieske

Here is the iMac without chrome:

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Answer 12

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

May 1, 2015 8:39 AM in response to jgieske

That indicates an ISP issue, not a Mac issue. OS X does not govern the download speed. You may want to run the same test on another device such as any other computer in the house. If the other device has a faster speed then your next stop is to either call AppleCare and get help or take it to an Apple Store and see what setting you have that isn't correct.

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Answer 13

jgieske Author

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2015 8:51 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Here is the etre:

Problem description:

bandwidth

EtreCheck version: 2.2 (132)

Report generated 5/1/15, 11:43 AM

Download EtreCheck from http://etresoft.com/etrecheck

Click the [Click for support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Click for details] links for more information about that line.

Hardware Information: ℹ️

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2009) (Technical Specifications)

iMac - model: iMac10,1

1 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 1/DIMM0

Empty

BANK 0/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 9400 - VRAM: 256 MB

iMac 1920 x 1080

System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.10.3 (14D136) - Time since boot: 0:9:59

Disk Information: ℹ️

ST3500418ASQ disk0 : (500.11 GB)

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 499.25 GB (95.71 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H

USB Information: ℹ️

Kensington Kensington USB/PS2 Wheel Mouse

Seagate Portable 250.06 GB

EFI (disk2s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

HD3 (disk2s2) /Volumes/HD3 : 249.72 GB (41.09 GB free)

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Seagate Portable 500.11 GB

EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Time Machine (disk1s2) /Volumes/Time Machine : 225.11 GB (6.18 GB free)

Music (disk1s3) /Volumes/Music : 74.48 GB (16.00 GB free)

HD2 (disk1s4) /Volumes/HD2 : 199.39 GB (93.05 GB free)

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

HP Officejet 5600 series

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Configuration files: ℹ️

/etc/sysctl.conf - Exists

Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers

Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Applications/DiskWarrior.app

[not loaded] com.alsoft.Preview (4.2) [Click for support]

/Applications/SyncMate.app

[not loaded] com.eltima.SyncMate.kext (0.2.5b15) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions

[loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.5.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.Ralink.driver.RT2870USBWirelessDriver (1.3.0) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.PTUMWDrv (10.5.24) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3G (3.0.7) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.DisableAutoInstall (2.0.6) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverInt (0.0.40) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.rim.driver.BlackBerryUSBDriverVSP (0.0.40) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraDevSupport (2.0.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraFSCSupport (2.0.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraFSRSupport (2.0.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraHSRSupport (2.0.2) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.smithmicro.driver.SMSIWirelessModem (3.2.7) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions/NovatelWireless3G.kext/Contents/Plugins

[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3GData (3.0.7) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions/PTUMWDrv.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.PTUMWCDFree (10.5.24) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.PTUMWCSP (10.5.24) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.PTUMWDIAG (10.5.24) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.PTUMWMdmControl (10.5.24) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.PTUMWMdmData (10.5.24) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.devguru.driver.PTUMWUSBMergeNub (10.5.24) [Click for support]

/System/Library/Extensions/SMSIWirelessModem.kext/Contents/PlugIns

[not loaded] com.smithmicro.driver.SMSIWirelessCDC (3.2.7) [Click for support]

[not loaded] com.smithmicro.driver.SMSIWirelessSerial (3.2.7) [Click for support]

Startup Items: ℹ️

WiUtilityUSBStartUp: Path: /System/Library/StartupItems/WiUtilityUSBStartUp

HP IO: Path: /Library/StartupItems/HP IO

Startup items are obsolete in OS X Yosemite

Launch Agents: ℹ️

[not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.splashtop.streamer.SRServiceAgent.plist [Click for support] [Click for details]

[running] net.culater.SIMBL.Agent.plist [Click for support]

[running] syncmateStarter.plist [Click for support]

Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.bombich.ccc.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.splashtop.streamer.SRServiceDaemon.plist [Click for support]

[failed] com.vmware.launchd.vmware.plist [Click for support]

User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist [Click for support]

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Click for support]

User Login Items: ℹ️

Mail Application (/Applications/Mail.app)

Google Chrome Application (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)

Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)

Google Drive Application (/Applications/Google Drive.app)

handyPrintDaemon UNKNOWN (missing value)

Print Daemon Application (/Library/Printers/hp/Print Daemon.app)

Director Docker Application (/Applications/Hewlett-Packard/HP Photo and Imaging Software/HP Photo and Imaging Director/Director Docker.app)

Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 6.1 [Click for support]

Default Browser: Version: 600 - SDK 10.10

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.3.8.1 [Click for support]

CouponPrinter-FireFox: Version: Version 1.1.5

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.13 [Click for support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.0.61118.0 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 4.6.0f2 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

Flash Player: Version: 17.0.0.169 - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8

googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.0.0 - SDK 10.8 [Click for support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.13 [Click for support]

GarminGpsControl: Version: 4.0.1.0 Release - SDK 10.6 [Click for support]

DirectorShockwave: Version: 11.6.8r638 [Click for support]

User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown [Click for support]

MRJPlugin: Version: 1.0-JEP-0.9.6.4 [Click for support]

Safari Extensions: ℹ️

AllMyTube

3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Déjà Vu [Click for support]

Flash Player [Click for support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Click for support]

FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE) [Click for support]

Time Machine: ℹ️

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: YES

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 499.25 GB Disk used: 403.54 GB

Destinations:

Time Machine [Local]

Total size: 225.11 GB

Total number of backups: 80

Oldest backup: 2014-03-06 17:03:25 +0000

Last backup: 2015-05-01 01:30:35 +0000

Size of backup disk: Too small

Backup size 225.11 GB < (Disk used 403.54 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

38% cloudd

4% WindowServer

2% nsurlsessiond(2)

2% AppleSpell(2)

1% Google Chrome Helper(6)

Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

426 MB Google Chrome Helper(6)

368 MB kernel_task

127 MB Google Chrome

90 MB Finder

86 MB mdworker(8)

Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

18 MB Free RAM

3.98 GB Used RAM

52 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

May 1, 2015, 11:26:56 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.AmbientDisplayAgent_2015-05-01-112656 _[redacted].crash

May 1, 2015, 11:25:19 AM Self test - passed

Apr 28, 2015, 01:36:59 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/cloudd_2015-04-28-133659_[reda cted].crash

Apr 28, 2015, 12:33:25 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/cloudd_2015-04-28-123325_[reda cted].crash

Apr 28, 2015, 12:15:22 PM /Users/[redacted]/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/cloudd_2015-04-28-121522_[reda cted].crash

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Answer 14

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,532 points

May 1, 2015 9:15 AM in response to jgieske

Well I see a number issues with your system. Over the years of owning the machine you have added a lot of junk.

First you have SmithMicro antvirus installed, not only is an antivirus app 100% unnecessary it robs your system of valuable resources. OS X does not require any cleaning, antivirus, or other third party maintenance utilities. I suggest locating the developers instructions for uninstalling it and any other similar utilities. In order to keep OS X safe it only requires keeping it up-to-date and using a bit of common sense. The common sense is simple.... first NEVER download from a torrent site, NEVER respond to a phone call, e-mail, or ad telling you the system has a virus or is compromised, this is a SCAM. Finally never download from a site you do not trust.

Next is your system is running dangerously low on HD Space, it only has 95GB available. I strongly recommend moving large libraries such as your iTunes, iPhoto (or Photos) and iMovie libraries to an external HD.

Third is your system is starved for RAM. I would recommend upgrading that too.

Finally, you have a large amount Internet Pluggins installed, likely many are out-of-date or are now unnecessary.

Due to all of these issues what I would recommend is doing an Erase and Install of your system and starting over. Before you start backup the computer and test the backup. I would make a clone of the internal HD so you can restore the apps and libraries you want. Then manually install up-to-date apps and moving the large libraries you have accumulated to an external HD. I suspect by doing so you

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Answer 15

May 1, 2015 9:27 AM in response to jgieske

jgieske wrote:

Unless you get drastically different numbers with another device when the iMac is not connected, (8 or 10Mbps download vs the 2.70 here) this tell me its an ISP issue, mainly your internet bandwidth is really low. when the iMac is connected its probably trying to download an update or something. Which such low bandwidth ictuses it up to finish the download as fast as possible.

That's not something you can change on your iMac, it something you need to talk to Verizon about and get a package with more bandwidth.

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