Xserve users report performance issues after Apple's Mac OS X 10.6.8 update
Though Mac OS X 10.6.8 brought a number of fixes and enhancements to Snow Leopard, owners of Apple's now-discontinued Xserve hardware have reported performance issues from the software update.
A growing thread on the Apple Support Communities website reveals that after installing the update, a Mac OS X Server-only process dubbed "hwmond" consumes a huge share of processing power for some users. For those who experience the issue, the process can take up nearly 100 percent of the Xserve's CPU.
"The problem is that the hardware monitoring daemon 'hwmond' takes up around 95% CPU after the update," one user wrote in an e-mail to AppleInsider. "I have personally installed the update on two xserves and both now suffer from the issue."
Users on the Apple Support Communities report experiencing the issue after installing the "combo" update supplied by Apple last week. However, at least one person reported issues with the "hwmond" process after installing Apple's "delta" update for Mac OS X 10.6.8 as well.
The issue reportedly applies to a range of Xserve hardware, while one user, "jjasper," said the problem does not appear on a Mac mini Server.
"So it must be a bug in how hardware monitoring is communicating with the sensors in xserve that is giving it fits," they wrote on Apple's forums, "or is this Apple's way of making us try and get rid of our xserves, haha."
Apple announced late last year that it would discontinue its Xserve line of rack-mount servers. As promised, the hardware is no longer available to purchase, and prospective buyers are encouraged to run a Mac Pro or Mac mini instead.
Though the Xserve has been discontinued, Apple has promised that Intel-based rackmounted servers are still supported. Purchases made up to the Jan. 31, 2011, deadline carry Apple's full one-year warranty.
A growing thread on the Apple Support Communities website reveals that after installing the update, a Mac OS X Server-only process dubbed "hwmond" consumes a huge share of processing power for some users. For those who experience the issue, the process can take up nearly 100 percent of the Xserve's CPU.
"The problem is that the hardware monitoring daemon 'hwmond' takes up around 95% CPU after the update," one user wrote in an e-mail to AppleInsider. "I have personally installed the update on two xserves and both now suffer from the issue."
Users on the Apple Support Communities report experiencing the issue after installing the "combo" update supplied by Apple last week. However, at least one person reported issues with the "hwmond" process after installing Apple's "delta" update for Mac OS X 10.6.8 as well.
The issue reportedly applies to a range of Xserve hardware, while one user, "jjasper," said the problem does not appear on a Mac mini Server.
"So it must be a bug in how hardware monitoring is communicating with the sensors in xserve that is giving it fits," they wrote on Apple's forums, "or is this Apple's way of making us try and get rid of our xserves, haha."
Apple announced late last year that it would discontinue its Xserve line of rack-mount servers. As promised, the hardware is no longer available to purchase, and prospective buyers are encouraged to run a Mac Pro or Mac mini instead.
Though the Xserve has been discontinued, Apple has promised that Intel-based rackmounted servers are still supported. Purchases made up to the Jan. 31, 2011, deadline carry Apple's full one-year warranty.
Comments
Now, what would really be nice is for Apple to issue a quick update to fix the problem.
I have two Xserves and several Mini Servers... as reported, only the Xserves are having problems.
Cue all the conspiracy theories from the Apple haters.......
Cue all the Apple apologists... Oh wait, they're already here.
Come on... Lighten up, dude.
Now, what would really be nice is for Apple to issue a quick update to fix the problem.
I'm sure when Apple knows the answer they will supply an update.
I'm having a similar issue on a 2.16 iMac, except that it is the Dock process that is running at 99%+
Then that is a completely different issue. Not similar in the least. Except for the 99% proc usage.
Re: Bothaus. All I'm saying, is that since installing 10.6.8, I'm getting thrashing on my machine because of the dock process. This didn't happen before (what's your Dock cpu%) so I am putting forward a possible causal connection. I thought that's what AI forums were about - information sharing.
I just experienced and found the solution to this today. It is caused by the Parallels 6 Applications folder in the dock. To fix, delete the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist, then force quit the dock process in Activity Monitor. A new dock will be created with default settings (apps, shortcuts, etc.) so you will need to rebuild it as you prefer.
is this Apple's way of making us try and get rid of our xserves?
No. Apple would never do that!
The iMac would freeze, read the hard disk drive for a very long time, take a long time to display file and folder icons, take a long time to open a folder, etc.
My personal workaround until Apple corrects the issue:
After applying the 10.6.8 Combo Update, and repairing the permissions, re-install the CPU Help file found on the original Applications DVD that came with the iMac (in my case, version 10.6.2 of Mac OS X Snow Leopard).
I believe that the so-called "CPU Help file" contains software to exploit a quad-core CPU, as opposed to dual-core CPUs found on most Macs.
Hope this helps fellow Mac users!
Apple announced late last year that it would discontinue its Xserve line of rack-mount servers. As promised, the hardware is no longer available to purchase, and prospective buyers are encouraged to run a Mac Pro or Mac mini instead.
Though the Xserve has been discontinued, Apple has promised that Intel-based rackmounted servers are still supported. Purchases made up to the Jan. 31, 2011, deadline carry Apple's full one-year warranty.
With the Xserve discontinued, how would you set up a RAID 5 rack-mount server with hot-swappable drives and a dedicated UPS.
What should those Xserve customers do once the Xserve dies and they need to buy a new server.
With the Xserve discontinued, how would you set up a RAID 5 rack-mount server with hot-swappable drives and a dedicated UPS.
What should those Xserve customers do once the Xserve dies and they need to buy a new server.
They should probably kiss any dreams of using OS X server good bye. As a long time OS X Server admin, apple is basically killing it with lion, lion has dumbed down the interface it seems, and make it perfect for manging about 10 users.
Time to call your friends at microsoft and get used to AD. Integrate your macs in with a 3rd party solution in that. It's your best bet.
Apple only cares about hipsters and soccer mom's now, not the people who kept them alive for years. Makes me sad really
Though OS X server was always not that great of a product, OD never worked right and would break if you looked at it the wrong way, print ques finally kinda work in 10.6 server. Netboot always worked well but that's really it. AFP falls flat on its face with high load, the list goes on. Shame apple never made it what it could have been.
Wonder why this issue didn't materialize during the beta stage. I guess no one has a test xserve environment running.
Apple assumes no one actually uses OS X server I'm pretty sure
So much FUD, my eyes burnt
Too bad you're wrong.
Apple assumes no one actually uses OS X server I'm pretty sure
Great first post. Commendable.
Too bad you're wrong.
How am I wrong? How long have you been using os x server? How many objects do you have? How many users? WGM, is being killed, have you used the new serveradmin? From what I know the print server, SMB server, NFS server are all gone. We can now use all AFP
Also what current hardware are you going to run OS X server on? Minis? Mac Pros? HAH! I need redundant power supplies and hot swappable drives. Oh and it needs to fit in a rack.
Look at the new iCloud data center. All HP HW in there http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/apples...-with-hp/50103
Great first post. Commendable.
Just because it's my first post here doesn't mean I am new to the apple community. Judging by your join date I'd say you're probably a new fan boy rather than a long time user. Apple sticks it to enterprise people. From what I know, even apple doesn't use OS X server anymore. Look at the new final cut and how that's bombing. Apple no longer cares about anything but the home user. Schools be damned, businesses be damned, pros be damned. They're basically sticking it to all of us who kept them alive when times were tough