[jingo_man]

hi guys

recently, i've been experiencing really slow response times from my apple remote. this is weird as i have been running the same version for nearly a couple of months and dont recall this being a particular problem all the time...

i am running SVN 27924
this is the xbmc.log

no particular activity, just opened XBMC and browsed couple menu items

can anyone help with this? are there tests to run or settings to configure?

cheers

jingo_man

[Sam.Nazarko]

Is it slow outside of XBMC aswell? i.e. going through the menus in frontrow?

Tried changing the battery?

[jingo_man]

hey sam

its fine in the general OS X interface.

the battery was low though aswell. that was what i originally attributed it to over the past few weeks (was getting the low battery indicator in top-left when started using the remote). however, even with the low battery, this was working fine for everything except xbmc.

but i replaced the battery this week, and having seen no improvement, i thought i needed to post about it here...

[jingo_man]

ok, so i'm still having issues with this, which i dont recall before...

if i try to "quickly" navigate through the menu structure within XBMC (not holding down up or down, but quick single presses) nothing happens. so i have to plod around the interface, taking a second or 2 before pressing the next menu navigation otherwise nothing happens.

this is **extremely** and entirely unsatisfactory for a media player/centre. i wont continue with it much longer!

i have installed the latest svn available at this time, xbmc-r28256-trunk-x86.dmg, to see if it resolved the issue. it hasnt.

i am willing to provide any info and/or log file, which was originally provided, though i think the pastebin.org has probably expired... i cant see any other settings for this in the XBMC's config.

is anyone experiencing this? is this the result of a recent svn change? (pre-merge and stuff)

[davilla]

post "ps aux"

is XBMCHelper running, it should not be on the AppleTV as Launcher handles sending IR events to XBMC.

When Launcher installs XBMC, it will delete the XBMCHelper binary.

[jingo_man]

USER PID %CPU %MEM VSZ RSS TT STAT STARTED TIME COMMAND
frontrow 187 54.9 8.6 273196 22572 ?? R 9:22PM 45:50.38 /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder -psn_0_393217
frontrow 412 41.7 27.5 305268 72036 ?? Ss 9:31PM 31:44.37 /Applications/XBMC.app/Contents/MacOS/XBMC -fs
root 52 0.4 0.2 31704 556 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:40.36 /usr/sbin/coreaudiod
root 40 0.0 0.0 28292 28 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.50 kextd
root 47 0.0 0.2 28664 452 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.15 /usr/sbin/mDNSResponder -launchdaemon
root 48 0.0 0.1 27576 244 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.19 /usr/sbin/netinfod -s local
root 51 0.0 0.1 29588 304 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.72 /usr/sbin/configd
root 53 0.0 0.0 27800 100 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.10 /usr/sbin/diskarbitrationd
root 54 0.0 0.1 28320 228 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.03 /usr/sbin/memberd -x
frontrow 55 0.0 0.1 27716 140 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.03 /usr/bin/ripstop
root 56 0.0 0.1 29248 192 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/securityd
root 59 0.0 0.1 27860 216 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/notifyd
root 60 0.0 0.0 27672 112 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.03 /usr/sbin/distnoted
root 61 0.0 0.2 29124 396 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.26 /System/Library/CoreServices/coreservicesd
root 62 0.0 0.3 30384 712 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.20 /usr/sbin/DirectoryService
root 66 0.0 0.1 27248 164 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:01.89 /usr/sbin/update 600
root 70 0.0 0.1 27372 164 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.00 /usr/bin/dropbear -b /Users/frontrow/.dropbear_banner
root 88 0.0 0.2 29200 604 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.46 /usr/sbin/lookupd
root 108 0.0 0.0 27764 84 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.04 /usr/libexec/crashreporterd
root 133 0.0 0.1 34196 372 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.29 /usr/sbin/AppleFileServer
frontrow 140 0.0 0.3 111108 792 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.31 /System/Library/CoreServices/loginwindow.app/Contents/MacOS/loginwindow console
windowse 142 0.0 0.5 135860 1412 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:02.74 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Resources/WindowServer -daemon
root 146 0.0 0.1 27736 292 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.35 ntpd -f /var/run/ntp.drift -p /var/run/ntpd.pid
frontrow 157 0.0 0.2 41848 644 ?? Ss 9:22PM 0:00.22 /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/ATS.framework/Support/ATSServer
frontrow 165 0.0 0.2 54676 404 ?? Ss 9:22PM 0:00.06 /System/Library/CoreServices/pbs
frontrow 169 0.0 0.1 27316 212 ?? S 9:22PM 0:00.01 /sbin/launchd
frontrow 173 0.0 0.1 32256 344 ?? Ss 9:22PM 0:00.03 /usr/libexec/airtunesd -launchd
frontrow 194 0.0 0.2 27784 444 ?? S 9:22PM 0:00.01 /System/Library/Filesystems/AppleShare/check_afp.app/Contents/MacOS/check_afp
frontrow 208 0.0 0.2 27784 444 ?? S 9:22PM 0:00.01 /System/Library/Filesystems/AppleShare/check_afp.app/Contents/MacOS/check_afp
frontrow 221 0.0 0.2 27784 444 ?? S 9:22PM 0:00.01 /System/Library/Filesystems/AppleShare/check_afp.app/Contents/MacOS/check_afp
root 266 0.0 0.1 38092 384 ?? Ss 9:22PM 0:00.10 /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DiskManagement.framework/Resources/DiskManagementTool -uuid B47E7FE2-A675-48DE-82DA-B7C975620113
root 418 0.0 0.1 27412 328 ?? Ss 10:46PM 0:00.14 /usr/bin/dropbear -b /Users/frontrow/.dropbear_banner
frontrow 419 0.0 0.3 27724 760 p0 Ss 10:46PM 0:00.02 -bash
root 421 0.0 0.1 27284 392 p0 R+ 10:47PM 0:00.01 ps auxwww
root 1 0.0 0.1 28352 144 ?? S<s 9:21PM 0:00.17 /sbin/launchd
root 36 0.0 0.0 27264 76 ?? Ss 9:21PM 0:00.01 /sbin/dynamic_pager -F /private/var/vm/swapfile


hope its not too long! haha

[davilla]

Nothing abnormal there. How about 'top -o cpu' when you are browsing through the GUI with the IR remote.

[jingo_man]

PID COMMAND %CPU TIME #TH #PRTS #MREGS RPRVT RSHRD RSIZE VSIZE
187 Finder 62.3% 8:43:23 24 273 806 29.4M 17.1M 33.1M 273M
408 XBMC 29.1% 0:20.72 10 149 437 47.4M+ 32.5M 63.1M- 272M
414 top 6.3% 0:02.69 1 19 20 424K 404K 896K 27.0M
0 kernel_tas 1.5% 24:14.95 42 2 362 28.0M 0B 62.1M- 737M
52 coreaudiod 0.7% 4:08.38 2 86 48 316K 832K 1016K 31.0M
405 bash 0.0% 0:00.00 1 14 16 164K 688K 624K 27.1M
404 dropbear 0.0% 0:00.12 1 11 17 72.0K 412K 252K 26.8M
242 DiskManage 0.0% 0:00.15 1 41 42 0B 980K 680K 37.2M
215 check_afp 0.0% 0:00.01 2 25 22 0B 556K 496K 27.1M
202 check_afp 0.0% 0:00.02 2 25 22 0B 556K 408K 27.1M
189 check_afp 0.0% 0:00.01 2 25 22 0B 556K 376K 27.1M
169 airtunesd 0.0% 1:21.43 4 97 69 376K 1.00M 1.17M 101M
167 launchd 0.0% 0:00.02 1 14 17 28.0K 364K 240K 26.7M
162 pbs 0.0% 0:00.06 2 39 38 0B 1.19M 452K 53.4M
154 ATSServer 0.0% 0:00.18 2 53 53 324K 1.51M 1.11M 46.7M
150 WindowServ 0.0% 0:11.00 2 72 112 924K 9.18M 7.22M 133M

[davilla]

PID COMMAND %CPU TIME #TH #PRTS #MREGS RPRVT RSHRD RSIZE VSIZE
187 Finder 62.3% 8:43:23 24 273 806 29.4M 17.1M 33.1M 273M
408 XBMC 29.1% 0:20.72 10 149 437 47.4M+ 32.5M 63.1M- 272M
414 top 6.3% 0:02.69 1 19 20 424K 404K 896K 27.0M
0 kernel_tas 1.5% 24:14.95 42 2 362 28.0M 0B 62.1M- 737M
52 coreaudiod 0.7% 4:08.38 2 86 48 316K 832K 1016K 31.0M
405 bash 0.0% 0:00.00 1 14 16 164K 688K 624K 27.1M
404 dropbear 0.0% 0:00.12 1 11 17 72.0K 412K 252K 26.8M
242 DiskManage 0.0% 0:00.15 1 41 42 0B 980K 680K 37.2M
215 check_afp 0.0% 0:00.01 2 25 22 0B 556K 496K 27.1M
202 check_afp 0.0% 0:00.02 2 25 22 0B 556K 408K 27.1M
189 check_afp 0.0% 0:00.01 2 25 22 0B 556K 376K 27.1M
169 airtunesd 0.0% 1:21.43 4 97 69 376K 1.00M 1.17M 101M
167 launchd 0.0% 0:00.02 1 14 17 28.0K 364K 240K 26.7M
162 pbs 0.0% 0:00.06 2 39 38 0B 1.19M 452K 53.4M
154 ATSServer 0.0% 0:00.18 2 53 53 324K 1.51M 1.11M 46.7M
150 WindowServ 0.0% 0:11.00 2 72 112 924K 9.18M 7.22M 133M

Why is Finder using 62.3% CPU ? It should be idled down when XBMC is running.

[jingo_man]

not a clue... nothing i have done, from my knowledge.

the only thing i use the hacked ATV for is XBMC.

maybe it relates to the AFP shares i have mapped to my iMac, which are used for my XBMC library locations?

can i find more info about the sub-processes that are happening under Finder?

[jingo_man]

davilla, would you recommend totally reflashing this device from scratch and reinstalling XBMC on top?

this might remove the Finder process being so high? perhaps it hasnt properly installed everything?

i had a couple of Apple firmware revisions where i no longer hacked it. i then returned to hacking it, due to the broadcom hd card with v3.1.2 (i think), but when i did this, it still retained a load of files under the /Users/frontrow/ directory from the earlier firmware hacks. so maybe the whole OS needs a reinstall.

i'd need to have a hunt around to make sure all the required components are installed again, like AFP mounts and stuff, but would hope i could get that up and running...

with this in mind, what is the preferred method for totally wiping AppleTV? many moons since i last did it... and want to make sure its done properly!

cheers

[davilla]

davilla, would you recommend totally reflashing this device from scratch and reinstalling XBMC on top?

this might remove the Finder process being so high? perhaps it hasnt properly installed everything?

i had a couple of Apple firmware revisions where i no longer hacked it. i then returned to hacking it, due to the broadcom hd card with v3.1.2 (i think), but when i did this, it still retained a load of files under the /Users/frontrow/ directory from the earlier firmware hacks. so maybe the whole OS needs a reinstall.

i'd need to have a hunt around to make sure all the required components are installed again, like AFP mounts and stuff, but would hope i could get that up and running...

with this in mind, what is the preferred method for totally wiping AppleTV? many moons since i last did it... and want to make sure its done properly!

cheers

use a patchstick that boot to the telnet login, delete the contents of media. then boot atv(osx) and factory restore. The factory restore process does not touch the Media partition and you need to manually delete it's contents. The factory restore will see this and rebuild a virgin Media contents.

[jingo_man]

cheers for the pointer.

the Users directory is under /mnt/Scratch (and this is the main place i dump files too). is this also wiped/recreated during a factory restore?

i havent uploaded any files under /mnt/Media, and it looks like how iTunes manages sync'ed data, so although i will delete the contents (rm -rf /mnt/Media) i think the Users directory and other places where binaries have been installed are more important to have been erased.

[jingo_man]

ok, reinstalled 3.0.2 of the apple firmware, and hacked using usbatv-creator b13

then installed the nitotv smart installer to allow afp shares, copied the /Library/LaunchAgents/com.blah entry pointing to a shell script to auto-mount the 3 afp shares.

installed the crystal hd drivers, xbmc svn from the mirror and configured xbmc

through browsing the interface, this was a typical "top -o cpu" output:
PID COMMAND %CPU TIME #TH #PRTS #MREGS RPRVT RSHRD RSIZE VSIZE
174 Finder 46.6% 21:27.97 24 275 730 21.5M 6.64M 22.9M 270M
388 XBMC 42.9% 16:06.13 13 157 588 61.0M+ 26.3M 80.2M+ 308M+
386 top 5.9% 2:32.42 1 20 20 304K 204K 592K 27.0M
0 kernel_tas 2.2% 1:32.46 42 2 366 22.7M 0B 62.2M 731M
53 coreaudiod 1.4% 0:20.07 2 86 47 124K 488K 484K 31.0M
328 bash 0.0% 0:00.04 1 14 16 0B 148K 160K 27.1M
327 sshd 0.0% 0:00.55 1 11 20 68.0K 220K 244K 29.8M
309 sshd 0.0% 0:00.26 1 19 20 0B 220K 284K 29.8M
227 DiskManage 0.0% 0:00.11 1 41 44 0B 156K 244K 37.2M
226 AppleVNCSe 0.0% 0:00.03 1 26 30 0B 168K 260K 91.3M
225 ARDAgent 0.0% 0:00.09 6 92 74 88.0K 296K 392K 117M
196 check_afp 0.0% 0:00.01 2 25 21 0B 148K 144K 27.1M
176 airtunesd 0.0% 0:00.02 3 39 24 0B 148K 188K 31.5M
172 launchd 0.0% 0:00.01 1 14 17 0B 164K 168K 26.7M
167 pbs 0.0% 0:00.06 2 39 38 0B 188K 220K 53.4M
159 ATSServer 0.0% 0:00.13 2 55 48 104K 236K 348K 40.9M

the only thing i have is the appletv, with couple afp mounts, xbmc running and an ssh session running the top command. all other things running are defaults and/or system stuff.

the remote is also excessively slow to respond.

are there other tests that can be tried?

[davilla]

I would disable the afp shares and see if Finder CPU percent drops.