Version 9.5.2 Released Today

Regarding TM backups and the recent slowdown with On Access scanning running, I’ve been noticing that while the projected run time can get to be pretty long, as the backup progresses, the speedup can be considerable.

Note that I have automatic backups turned off and initiate the backup manually. With the TM window open, the progress, especially the jumps in data processed, improves over time. This doesn’t happen all the time and is most likely when the backup runs over 5GB. It’s as if the Sophos process stops qualifying as “background” if a certain quantity of data is surpassed.

I'd noted that earlier in the week, the Sophos update download that I initiate when I boot up was 4.5MB rather than the usual KB, suggesting that more than just signature files were being updated but the Sophos version number hasn't changed. Turning On-Access Scanning off still speeds up the backup immediately but the speedup does seem to occur when enough has been already backed up. It's possible that TM arranges data by size for backup with the largest files last but that's just a guess, though it would explain what I've observed.

An update: Just tried it again and with a 6.5GB TM manual backup, the estimated time grew to 40 minutes. Then, with about 4GB done (I wasn't staring at it constantly since about 15 minutes had dragged by), it abruptly dropped to 4 minutes and then took about one minute to complete. On-Access Scanning was on for the full period.

For those of us who don't keep copies of important application installers "just in case," the Sophos installer was on your HD at some point when you first installed it. Would it be on a backup or deep down in Time Machine? If you have the original installer, it should upgrade itself once it's installed.

I cannot find a download link for Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition 9.5.2.  I have it installed on my Mac and would like to install it on my parents', but all I can find are links to Sophos Home.  I strongly prefer the non-cloud based user interface on Sophos Anti-Virus Home Edition.  In particular the ability to schedule scans easily.

hellohgjytrjytr said:

I don't know what "background process throttling" is?? Is this the same as on-access scanning?? Please advise.

The key question is when you expect to release a fix for Time Machine problem. An estimate, even though not guaranteed, would be very helpful. Please advise.

I don't know what "background process throttling" is either though I suspect it involves favoring current activity performance over the stuff going on under the hood (probably such as Sophos On-Access Scanning which is why the throttling is set to off), and since the setting appears more general than just Sophos-related, I'm concerned what other  processes might be affected by turning background throttling off.

Please note that I'm just a Sophos user like you, not an expert and don't know when the fix will be released either, though I suspect it'll be when it's ready, unlike, seemingly, macOS Sierra.[;)]

Update: Some researching resulted in more information about background process throttling. This link provides a discussion and some cautions regarding such throttling. Personally, I'll wait for the Sophos update and just turn off On-Access Scanning only when running a TM backup (that's one of the advantages of running TM manually as needed rather than automatically).

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Hi have the same problem with macos sierra and sophos home.

If can help here my answer

1. the home edition doesn't have this feature. does it?

2. correct

3. i use a nas dlink and and time capsule vm based on linux. on both of them TM stopped to work after macos sierra installation 

I think that debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=0 isn't a solution because it will affect every low priority throttle from anything at the kernel level.

so at the moment "i solve" disabling sophos home.

hope you solve quickly because it's very frustrating.

...

I don't know what "background process throttling" is?? Is this the same as on-access scanning?? Please advise.

The key question is when you expect to release a fix for Time Machine problem. An estimate, even though not guaranteed, would be very helpful. Please advise.

litanyww said:

We identified an issue which causes slow Time Machine backups, and our next release should include a fix.  In the mean time, you can disable background process throttling in order to speed up your backups:

sudo sysctl debug.lowpri_throttle_enabled=0

William

Since disabling background process throttling via that command appears to be permanent (at least until the next release), what would we be giving up?

And can I assume that setting enabled=1 will turn it back on? I normally I just turn On-Access Scanning off during the TM backup but the Terminal command is quicker.

Hello Christopher,

Thanks for the report. We haven't been able to reproduce this, and wanted to ask a couple of questions:

1. are you using "Scan Network Volumes" in the on-access scanner? if so, does the problem disappear if you turn it off?
2. I'm guessing the problem will disappear if you aren't using on-access scanning, but good to confirm
3. can you share a bit more about the NAS that you are using? we are curious why the compression library is involved

Much appreciate the assistance.