Q: Mac Pro keeps logging out since El Capitan

This update solved my problem Log Out Crash:

http://la.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/92183/en

If you have two or more display cards or two or more monitors then I suggest you install this update.

Spoke too soon! I'm a developer and now when I try and compile in XCode 7.0.1, 9 times out of 10 I get the Log Out Crash if on a monitor on one Graphics Card, but if I move that window to a monitor on the other card, then it compiles ok.

I wonder if Apple is actively trying to fix this? It doesn't seem limited to older Mac Pro's, I've seen reports of Brand Mac Book Pro's with the problem and not being able to use a second display on that machine is a real problem.....

NVIDIA has published a new update for my card today 6 October. I installed it just now and re-connected my third screen to the second card. After ten minutes my system (early-2009 Mac Pro, 2 x GeForce GT 120 cards, 3 x displays) is still up and running. We shall see.

Edit: 20 minutes still going strong. I have tested it by moving videos across the three screens, opening lots of applications and switching rapidly between them, that sort of thing, and so far all is well.

Gentlemen,

I include part, of a system log here; it shows that the crash happens in the module "WindowsServer", in thread 0 which handles and uses the graphics drivers. It is interesting that apple uses "Tesla" Graphics drivers - I'm in doubt that the good oulde 120 card is compatible with Tesla drivers. I'm using a Mac Pro early 2009 with two 120 cards and two 23" Apple Displays connected via Displayport.

Process:               WindowServer [381]

Path:                  /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/WindowSe rver

Identifier:            WindowServer

Version:               1

Code Type:             X86-64 (Native)

Parent Process:        launchd [1]

Responsible:           WindowServer [381]

User ID:               88

Date/Time:             2015-10-01 20:09:52.907 +0200

OS Version:            Mac OS X 10.11 (15A284)

Report Version:        11

Anonymous UUID:        4D007D2A-71CB-A93C-4FF3-23A453AA5FC9

Time Awake Since Boot: 11000 seconds

System Integrity Protection: enabled

Crashed Thread:        0  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

Exception Type:        EXC_CRASH (SIGABRT)

Exception Codes:       0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000000

Exception Note:        EXC_CORPSE_NOTIFY

Application Specific Information:

abort() called

Application Specific Signatures:

Graphics kernel error: 0x00000002

Thread 0 Crashed:: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

0   libsystem_kernel.dylib         0x00007fff9364c0ae __pthread_kill + 10

1   libsystem_pthread.dylib       0x00007fff8d64f500 pthread_kill + 90

2   libsystem_c.dylib             0x00007fff8891037b abort + 129

3   libGPUSupport.dylib           0x00007fff88ba6907 gpusKillClient + 83

4   com.apple.GeForceTeslaGLDriver 0x00001234402f86e0 0x123440000000 + 3114720

5   com.apple.GeForceTeslaGLDriver 0x00001234402f8403 0x123440000000 + 3113987

6   com.apple.CoreGraphics         0x00007fff96e5b640 CGXGLAccelFinish + 89

7   com.apple.CoreGraphics         0x00007fff96db11be CGXReleaseDisplayDeviceSurface + 227

8   com.apple.CoreGraphics         0x00007fff96e1c52e CGXUpdateDisplay + 14915

9   com.apple.CoreGraphics         0x00007fff96e20c6c update_display_callback + 212

10  com.apple.CoreGraphics         0x00007fff96b94806 run_timer_pass + 547

11  com.apple.CoreGraphics         0x00007fff96e0ee16 CGXRunOneServicesPass + 228

12  com.apple.CoreGraphics         0x00007fff96e111b7 CGXServer + 7174

13  WindowServer                   0x000000010322ff7e 0x10322f000 + 3966

14  libdyld.dylib                 0x00007fff9a3c45ad start + 1

i have this problem with a 2009 MacBook Pro;  no monitors or special cards involved.  The only way to get it to work so far has been to delete ~/Library/Preferences/* via ssh.  Then I can login and have a stable desktop;  this only lasts for the current boot however;  reboot in safe mode then has the same problem, so some incompatible preference gets set causing WindowServer to crash.

I tried todays update from NVIDIA, but to no avail. Note however that my second graphics card is an ATI Radeon HD 4870 and no updated drivers for that one. So, if you have two GT120 cards, the update may be the solution.

I just updated the NVIDIA drivers with the latest version released today (6th Oct 15) and although it was ok to start with, the problem is now a LOT worse and it crashes more than it did before!

Mac Pro 3,1

2 x NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT 512 MB with 2 x monitors on each card.

Is there anyway to revert to the previous version of the NVIDIA drivers?

Thanks

Dave

I've had the same problem with a 2009 Mac Pro running 2 original video cards and 2 monitors.

Following the advice to disable separate spaces in Mission Control has stopped the issue for me.

One of my 2 monitors is now dark and not usable, but this is better than the constant return to the log in prompts.

Hope a fix comes sooner rather than later.

I updated with the Nvidia drive ad only on log out so far after moving one monitor from the GT 120 to a PC 5770. However, now I have a high kernel task CPU usage which varies between 5% to over 1100%

I just had a "back to login" with the new nvidia driver (06/10/15), by launching a vidéo on youtube with FireFox.

I had no "back to login" since 2 days before, with the default OS X driver, and without using FireFox at all.

Interesting. I've using Firefox and Safari the whole time. Although I've had it crash when doing something in another App (XCode, Mail, Finder, Grab). It usually happens when doing something on a Monitor connected to one Graphics card and then moving to another Graphics Card, e.g. double-clicking a file in a Finder window which opens in a Window on a Monitor on the other Graphics card. I'm not sure if FF was running of every single occasion but the majority of the time is has been running but not the Active App.

Since installing the NVIDIA update WebDriver-346.03.02f01.pkg, the problem still occurs but not so frequently. I then installed the update of today (06Oct15) WebDriver-346.03.02f02 and it seems to now occur more frequently then with f01 but not as frequently as when I use the Mac OS X drivers. However when f02 does crash, after logging on again all the windows start to completely fragment with rectangles of different size appearing all over the place at random and this forces a restart.

I've not tried not using FireFox at all, but I'm not going to use it from now on and see if that makes a difference.

One thing that aggravates the situation is that when it does crash, on restart Mac OS now loads app the apps and windows from the previous crash which on a few occasions has led to it crashing again. Is there any way to turn off this brain-dead feature? Who ever thought it was a good idea to restore state after a crash without at least asking the User if they want to do that needs to be locked up for life.

Cheers

Dave

I have been following this thread since I upgraded to El Capitan on my Mac Pro as I was experiencing random log outs and display distortions. I run 4 Mac displays on two video cards, an ATI Radeon and the other an Nvidia. I installed the updated Nvidia drivers and the Nvidia Cuda suggested earlier on the thread but none solved the issue for me. I ended up swapping out the Nvidia card for another ATI Radeon card (now running 2 ATI cards) and everything has been running smoothly since then. I have tried to replicate the issue in every possible way that I can think of and so far so good. This may not be a true solution for everyone because not everyone have multiple ATI cards laying around (hoarding) but if you do have some spare ATI cards, give it a go. I will report back if the issue occurs on my current set up.

When did you download the updated Nvidia drivers?

New ones were available today and they solved my problem.The ones I downloaded a couple of days ago did not solve the problem.

I agree. I swapped my Nvidia card for two ATI Radeon HD5770 and not one log out and/or distortion has occurred in the past hour (since swap).

I downloaded both drivers today. The issue got worse after I installed them which prompted me to swap out because I got frustrated.