osx - OS X does not release external disk cache (in inactive memory)?

08
2014-07

Abuzettin.H

While I am using an/any application that does reading from an external disk, free memory continuously decreases and inactive memory increases by the same amount, which is aproximately the amount of data read. At some time, os starts paging and the system is rendered useless, forcing me to reboot.

Closing the application or using another USB slot has no effect. I have to eject the USB drive or use purge which makes other applications sluggish. Format of the external drive's partition (GUID, MBR), (HFS+, FAT32, NTFS) does not matter. All of the drives are excluded from Spotlight (are not indexed). I have OSXFuse but that is only for Truecrypt, info about partitions show native drivers.

Why is OS X continuously and incrementally caching my external disks? Can a configuration/app/plugin cause this? Is there a way to avoid this? Is there a selective purge command for external disk cache?

Note: I have already read this question and this question, I also found a custom memory manager for an older version of OS X. Does anybody have this problem with external drives, and also with Mavericks?

Here is my EtreCheck, after a clean reboot:

EtreCheck version: 1.9.11 (43) - report generated June 15, 2014

Hardware Information:
    MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)
    MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,5
    1 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2 cores
    4 GB RAM

Video Information:
    NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB

System Software:
    OS X 10.8.3 (12D78) - Uptime: 0 days 1:4:54

Disk Information:
    Hitachi HTS5450 disk0 : (160.04 GB)
        disk0s1 (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB 
        Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 94.62 GB (48.81 GB free)
        Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB 
        BOOTCAMP (disk0s4) /Volumes/BOOTCAMP: 64.57 GB (44.49 GB free)

    HL-DT-ST DVDRW  GS23N  

USB Information:
    Apple Inc. Built-in iSight 
    JMicron Storage 500.11 GB
        BKPFAT (disk1s1) /Volumes/BKPFAT: 443.2 GB (25.08 GB free)
        BKPNTFS (disk1s2) <not mounted>: 56.9 GB 
    Apple Internal Memory Card Reader 
    Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad 
    Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver 
    Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub 
        Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller 

Configuration files:
    /etc/hosts - Count: 1

Gatekeeper:
    Anywhere

Startup Items:
    TuxeraNTFSUnmountHelper: Path: /Library/StartupItems/TuxeraNTFSUnmountHelper

Launch Daemons:
    [loaded]    com.adobe.fpsaud.plist Support
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.daemon.plist Support
    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist Support
    [not loaded]    de.jinx.SmartSleepDaemon.plist Support
    [loaded]    org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist Support

Launch Agents:
    [loaded]    com.google.keystone.agent.plist Support
    [loaded]    com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist Support
    [loaded]    org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist Support

User Login Items:
    GrowlHelperApp
    Google Drive
    witchdaemon
    BetterTouchTool

Internet Plug-ins:
    JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 05 Check version
    FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 12.0.0.38 - SDK 10.6 Support
    QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.1
    Flash Player: Version: 12.0.0.38 - SDK 10.6 Outdated! Update
    o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support
    googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.4.2.18903 Support
    Silverlight: Version: 5.1.30317.0 - SDK 10.6 Support
    Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 4.1.5f1 Support
    iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

Safari Extensions:
    Bing Highlights: Version: 1.0.20
    ClickToFlash: Version: 2.5.1

Audio Plug-ins:
    AirPlay: Version: 1.7 - SDK 10.8
    iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.1 - SDK 10.8

iTunes Plug-ins:
    Quartz Composer Visualizer: Version: 1.4 - SDK 10.8

3rd Party Preference Panes:
    Flash Player  Support
    FUSE for OS X (OSXFUSE)  Support
    GamePadCompanionPrefPanel  Support
    Growl  Support
    Java  Support
    MenuMeters  Support
    SmartSleep  Support
    Tuxera NTFS  Support
    Witch  Support

Time Machine:
    Time Machine not configured!

Top Processes by CPU:
        25% firefox
         4% activitymonitord
         4% WindowServer
         1% hidd
         1% BetterTouchTool

Top Processes by Memory:
    254 MB  firefox
    111 MB  Google Chrome
    66 MB   Sublime Text
    61 MB   mds
    59 MB   Google Chrome Helper

Virtual Memory Information:
    1.72 GB Free RAM
    1.21 GB Active RAM
    416 MB  Inactive RAM
    425 MB  Wired RAM
    378 MB  Page-ins
    0 B Page-outs

Answers

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Related Answers

Troggy

Try again with an external powered USB port from a hub.
If you don't have a hub and you are on a desktop, use a port that is on the desktop, not a peripheral. If you're on a laptop, try the two-port adapter described above.
If you are using a CPU port, try a different one.
If still no joy, try a different cable. Even new cables can be defective.
Check the USB port on the external drive. If it is loose, the connection may be good enough for power but not good enough for signal. If so, consider getting a replacement enclosure.
If eliminating the silly mechanical possibilities doesn't work, go on to the other suggestions.

Bob King

I actually had that same problem, and I stuck the drive on a USB 2.0 powered hub and it seemed to clear up.

Frank V

The hard disk may have failed or is failing. I'd have to suggest that you do a DFT test on it to ensure it is still functional. Does it work on other computers?

The problem is that I doubt you can run a test like this from the USB port. It may need to be extracted from it's external casing and plugged directly in to a computer.

If you are not comfortable with this, your local Geek Squad should be able to help (for an arm and a leg).

David Pearce

Can you see the device in /Volumes?. In Terminal, try running

ls /Volumes

To see if the device is displayed there. I once had a similar problem where a flash drive would not show up in Finder, but it was in /Volumes. Reformatting the drive fixed the problem for me.

jrg

Have you tried mounting the drive with Disk Utility? I have found a few flash drives wont show up until I go to Disk Utility and find the problem drive right click and choose mount.

8088

You haven't specified what type of machine you have tried it on (i.e. laptop or desktop) and what type of external USB drive you are having problems with.

I'll assume for now that you are trying to connect a 2.5" USB drive, so it could be the case that the USB port on your mac is unable to provide enough power to the device.

I would recommend trying a different port or using a USB cable that allows you to draw power from 2 USB ports. Something similar to this:

alt text

Community

It can be noted that the error messages you are getting are the kernel logging that the USB device and the computer are not talking to each other properly and in my experience has all but once been an issue with a bad cable or hardware failing.

Have you tried another USB port on your computer running 10.5? Or another computer running an earlier version of 10.5? (eg. 10.5.6 or earlier). According to the the user forums at discussions.apple.com there appear to be some odd USB issues in 10.5.7

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osx - OS X does not release external disk cache (in inactive memory)?