Mavericks getting error "file: table is full"

Question

Hi,
since upgrading to Mavericks I noticed very odd behaviour on my MBP 2012 after some days of uptime. Tabs in browsers stopped working, internet connections got cut off and apps crashed and weren't able to restart. Only a reboot helped. This started to happen regularly, after 1 - 2 days of uptime.
I've since asked around and used the "dmesg"-command in the terminal to see the kernel log when this behavious occurs. It's always the same, lines and lines of "file: table is full".
I've switched off my CrashPlan backup service which I deemed the culprit. It didn't help. I've checked my SSD for errors, SMART-Status says "GOOD" and disk repair doesn't find anything wrong with the disk.
I've also noticed that this error coincided with "QTKITServer"-processes showing up as not responding and shockwave-plugin crashing, at least when using Chrome. I now switched from Chrome to Safari to see if maybe Chrome causes this odd behaviour but I'm not very optimistic about it.
Has anyone any ideas how to narrow this problem further down or maybe even what to do about it? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Answer 1

See below the report for an explanation
The startup items & kernel extensions are a concern, are they up to date or not used? Update or remove via uninstallers or removal instructions. You have privoxy & glimmer blocker running, isn't that two web proxies?
The 2 failed launchd jobs are system level, so update or remove the related software or delete the .plists
          [failed] com.vmware.launchd.vmware.plist
          [failed] com.bitcasa.BitcasaUI.plist
Adobe updater appears to have 2 user jobs failing too… within your user account.
          [failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
          [failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
You can isolate issues with user level tasks by trying to login in a new user account. If that helps it's time to update or remove all the login items & background launchd jobs.
Google apps have caused some users issues, ensure they are up to date or remove them to see if they are the cause. Delete the system level .plists to prevent the updaters from running - the app will nag you about recreating them anyway.
You also have quite lot of internet plugins, I'd consider deleting them all & reinstalling as needed, it's easier than hunting down updated versions.
jfkorn wrote:
Startup Items:
          ArcanaStartupSound - Path: /Library/StartupItems/ArcanaStartupSound
          ParallelsTransporter - Path: /Library/StartupItems/ParallelsTransporter
          Privoxy - Path: /Library/StartupItems/Privoxy
          Wireshark - Path: /Library/StartupItems/Wireshark
Kernel Extensions:
          org.dungeon.driver.SATSMARTDriver          (0.6)
          com.AmbrosiaSW.AudioSupport          (4.1.2)
          virtualcdrw.driver          (1.0)
Launch Daemons:
          [loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
          [loaded] com.adobe.SwitchBoard.plist
          [loaded] com.ambrosiasw.ambrosiaaudiosupporthelper.daemon.plist
          [loaded] com.crashplan.engine.plist
          [loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist
          [loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist
          [loaded] com.skype.skypeinstaller.plist
          [failed] com.vmware.launchd.vmware.plist
          [loaded] org.cindori.AuthHelper.plist
          [loaded] org.glimmerblocker.proxy.plist
          [loaded] phonostarTimer.plist
Launch Agents:
          [not loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
          [loaded] com.adobe.AdobeCreativeCloud.plist
          [loaded] com.adobe.CS5ServiceManager.plist
          [failed] com.bitcasa.BitcasaUI.plist
          [loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist
          [loaded] org.glimmerblocker.updater.plist
          [loaded] virtualcdrw.daemon.plist
User Launch Agents:
          [loaded] com.adobe.AAM.Updater-1.0.plist
          [failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
          [failed] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist
          [loaded] com.crashplan.javacheck.plist
          [loaded] com.spotify.webhelper.plist
          [loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist
          [loaded] de.metaquark.appfresh.plist
          [not loaded] info.lokiware.attachmenttamer.cleanup.plist
          [loaded] info.lokiware.attachmenttamer.setupagent.plist
          [loaded] uk.co.markallan.clamxav.freshclam.plist
          [loaded] ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist
User Login Items:
          Flux
          CheatSheet
          BetterTouchTool
          Alfred
          ClamXavSentry
          Dropbox
          Tunnelblick
          DaemonManager
3rd Party Preference Panes:
          AppTrap
          BTTPrefs
          Connect360
          DivX
          Flash Player
          Flip4Mac WMV
          GlimmerBlocker
          Growl
          Java
Internet Plug-ins:
          AdobeAAMDetect.plugin
          AdobePDFViewer.plugin
          CoolirisWebKitPlugin.plugin
          Default Browser.plugin
          DFusionWebPlugin.plugin
          DFusionWebPluginS64.plugin
          DivXBrowserPlugin.plugin
          Flash Player.plugin
          FlashPlayer-10.6.plugin
          Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin
          googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin
          iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
          JavaAppletPlugin.plugin
          JoostPlugin.plugin
          npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin
          o1dbrowserplugin.plugin
          OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin.plugin
          QuakeLivePlugin.plugin
          QuickTime Plugin.plugin
          RealPlayer Plugin.plugin
          SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin
          Silverlight.plugin
          Veoh Plugin.plugin
User Internet Plug-ins:
          Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin
          Move-Media-Player.plugin
          PDF Browser Plugin.plugin
          PDEPrint.plugin
          Picasa.plugin
          Unity Player.plugin
Red items are loaded at the system level (not necessarily bad, but they have the potential to modify the OS).
Blue items are loaded at the user level
Your RAM & HD look OK in terms of space etc, no obvious bad signs, the swap used (page-outs) should decrease when less of the old apps are running.
Cleanup:
All the usual caveats apply, backup before you modify the system, delete the items (or move them to another disk or folder if you are worried about deleting the wrong thing) but ensure the originals are gone or updated.
Use the Finders "Go menu > Go to Folder…" when you need to open the hidden ~/Library (your users library).
Reboot for the system changes to take effect.
How to find updates:
The critical launchd jobs & kernel extensions use reverse domain notation e.g.
com.logmein.hamachi.plist means look at http://logmein.com for updates (if you don't recognize it removing it may be appropriate)
In short: You want to try to update or remove all the system level items.
Startup Items: Stored in /Library/StartupItems/
Startup Items have been discontinued by Apple since Mac OS 10.4. They are responsible for making changes at a system level. Remove them all or spend time ensuring ALL related software is up to date. You need a very good reason to have anything installed in here. The developers are ignoring Apple guidelines by installing these - not a good sign.
Kernel Extensions: Stored in /Library/Extensions/
Kernel Extensions also load third party code, but they insert it into the 'core' of the OS. These can be safe, however you must ensure the related tools or apps are up to date, otherwise the system is basically built upon quicksand. Remove them all & see if the OS works better.
Launchd jobs: several types
LaunchAgents          - Stored in /Library/LaunchAgents
LaunchDaemons       - Stored in /Library/LaunchDaemons
User LaunchAgents   - Stored in ~/Library/LaunchAgents
These are all background jobs, they are not necessarily bad, but if they are loading old code it could be doing untold damage to the performance & stability of the entire OS. Focus on the System level jobs (the ones inside /Library - the system level) also remove ['failed'], non-system jobs.
EtreCheck gives a status on launchd jobs…
[loaded]                  - a running job
[not loaded]            - jobs that are set not to run, basically harmless, remove them unless you plan to use the associated software (if it is up to date)
[failed]                    - jobs in a crashed or unknown state, it could be forking processes or using all the system resources, remove these.
User login items:
Applications and helpers that are managed inside 'Systems Preferences > Users and groups > Login Items tab'.
These are loaded at the 'User level', consider removing all of them whilst you troubleshoot.  When you decide to re-add them ensure the software is up to date.
3rd Party Preference Panes: & Internet Plug-ins:
/Library/PreferencePanes/ and ~/Library/PreferencePanes/
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ and ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/
Once again these items all must be up to date, or remove them from your system. If the prefpanes manage additional software use the uninstaller or see the developers site for uninstall instructions. You can also right click to remove 3rd party preference panes in System preferences
Read the list of Internet plug-ins carefully, there are often duplicate Flash player versions that won't help stability, it's just wasted space too.
Don't forget to also update Safari's extensions in it's preferences (if you have any).
Re-run EtreCheck after cleaning up to see if items have returned (some apps will reload the background jobs when re-opened, so either update or remove the software).
Hope that isn't too daunting, the OS should be better if there are less old items running at the system level.