unexpected kernel panics

[jchuzi]

For a few days, my Catalina installation was behaving well. Now, I get not-infrequent kernel panics. I have run Etre-Check, which did not flag any problems. I have also removed Ejector from startup items (the panics started a few days after I installed it), reset SMC, started in Safe Mode (and restarted), checked memory with TechToolPro, reset NVRAM, and run SMART. There has not been enough time to see if the problem recurs, but the report has been sent to Apple, but maybe someone here can diagnose this for me:

panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff7f8358d238): "IOAHCIBlockStorageDriver::CommandTimeout! reallocated sectors = 0x0, pending sectors = 0x0, power on hours = 0x1, fBuiltIn = 0, LBA = 0x0, Block Count = 0x0, Tag = 0x14, Operation Type = 0x6 fis[0]=0x2EF8027, fis[1]=0x0, fis[2]=0x0, fis[3]=0x0, fis[4]=0x0"@/BuildRoot/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/IOAHCIBlockStorage/IOAHCIBlockStorage-316.40.3/IOAHCIBlockStorageDriver.cpp:6311
Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address
0xffffff801749ba70 : 0xffffff8001d3bb1b
0xffffff801749bac0 : 0xffffff8001e733e5
0xffffff801749bb00 : 0xffffff8001e64e5e
0xffffff801749bb50 : 0xffffff8001ce2a40
0xffffff801749bb70 : 0xffffff8001d3b207
0xffffff801749bc70 : 0xffffff8001d3b5eb
0xffffff801749bcc0 : 0xffffff80024d24f9
0xffffff801749bd30 : 0xffffff7f8358d238
0xffffff801749bde0 : 0xffffff7f83584213
0xffffff801749be20 : 0xffffff8002445a89
0xffffff801749be90 : 0xffffff80024459a9
0xffffff801749bec0 : 0xffffff8001d7d765
0xffffff801749bf40 : 0xffffff8001d7d291
0xffffff801749bfa0 : 0xffffff8001ce213e
      Kernel Extensions in backtrace:
         com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage(316.40.3)[482BE005-DE90-3BA3-80BC-68C59FE8ED40]@0xffffff7f8357c000->0xffffff7f835a3fff
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily(290.0.1)[1348CB77-02A5-333C-BD2D-2E33F6B182FA]@0xffffff7f83551000
            dependency: com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM(2.1)[07910380-1296-307C-A25B-FDB9D2DEBDDE]@0xffffff7f82ae9000
            dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily(2.1)[D6C7A1D3-1E90-37A3-9D36-F6793A476858]@0xffffff7f82665000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
19C57

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 19.2.0: Sat Nov  9 03:47:04 PST 2019; root:xnu-6153.61.1~20/RELEASE_X86_64
Kernel UUID: C3E7E405-C692-356B-88D3-C30041FD1E72
Kernel slide:     0x0000000001a00000
Kernel text base: 0xffffff8001c00000
__HIB  text base: 0xffffff8001b00000
System model name: iMac15,1 (Mac-42FD25EABCABB274)
System shutdown begun: NO
Panic diags file available: YES (0x0)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 2488232943312
last loaded kext at 2472242905832: >!UMergeNub   900.4.2 (addr 0xffffff7f8625c000, size 12288)
last unloaded kext at 62041693660: >usb.!UHostPacketFilter   1.0 (addr 0xffffff7f82dda000, size 24576)
loaded kexts:
@fileutil   20.036.15
>!AUpstreamUserClient   3.6.8
@kext.AMDFramebuffer   3.0.4
>AudioAUUC   1.70
@kext.AMDRadeonX4000   3.0.4
@kext.AMDRadeonServiceManager   3.0.4
>!AGraphicsDevicePolicy   4.5.21
@AGDCPluginDisplayMetrics   4.5.21
>!AHV   1
|IOUserEthernet   1.0.1
>!AMikeyHIDDriver   131
|IO!BSerialManager   7.0.2f4
>!APlatformEnabler   2.7.0d0
>AGPM   111.4.1
>X86PlatformShim   1.0.0
>!AMikeyDriver   283.15
>pmtelemetry   1
>AGDCBacklightControl   4.5.21
>!AHDAHardwareConfigDriver   283.15
@Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X   7.0.0
>!A!IHD5000Graphics   14.0.3
@kext.AMD7000!C   3.0.4
>!AMCCSControl   1.13
>!AHDA   283.15
>eficheck   1
>!A!ISlowAdaptiveClocking   4.0.0
>ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin   1.0.0
>!AThunderboltIP   3.1.3
>!ABacklight   180.1
>!A!IFramebufferAzul   14.0.3
|!ABCM5701Ethernet   10.3.5
>!ASMCLMU   212
>!ALPC   3.1
>AirPort.BrcmNIC   1400.1.1
@filesystems.autofs   3.0
>!AVirtIO   1.0
@filesystems.hfs.kext   522.0.9
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeDataless   1.0.0d1
@BootCache   40
@!AFSCompression.!AFSCompressionTypeZlib   1.0.0
@filesystems.apfs   1412.61.1
>!ASDXC   1.7.7
>!AAHCIPort   341.0.2
@private.KextAudit   1.0
>!ARTC   2.0
>!AACPIButtons   6.1
>!AHPET   1.8
>!ASMBIOS   2.1
>!AACPIEC   6.1
>!AAPIC   1.7
$!AImage4   1
@nke.applicationfirewall   303
$TMSafetyNet   8
@!ASystemPolicy   2.0.0
|EndpointSecurity   1
>!UMergeNub   900.4.2
>!AXsanScheme   3
>!UAudio   320.49
>usb.cdc   5.0.0
@kext.AMDRadeonX4030HWLibs   1.0
@kext.AMDRadeonX4000HWServices   3.0.4
>!AGraphicsControl   4.5.21
|IOAVB!F   800.17
>!ASSE   1.0
@plugin.IOgPTPPlugin   800.14
>X86PlatformPlugin   1.0.0
>!AThunderboltEDMSink   4.2.2
@kext.AMDSupport   3.0.4
>!ASMBus!C   1.0.18d1
>DspFuncLib   283.15
@kext.OSvKernDSPLib   529
>!A!ILpssGspi   3.0.60
|IOSlowAdaptiveClocking!F   1.0.0
>IOPlatformPluginLegacy   1.0.0
@!AGPUWrangler   4.5.21
>!ABacklightExpert   1.1.0
|IONDRVSupport   569.3
@!AGraphicsDeviceControl   4.5.21
|IOAccelerator!F2   438.2.8
|IOEthernetAVB!C   1.1.0
>!AHDA!C   283.15
|IOHDA!F   283.15
>IOPlatformPlugin!F   6.0.0d8
>!ASMBusPCI   1.0.14d1
|IO80211!F   1200.12.2b1
>mDNSOffloadUserClient   1.0.1b8
>corecapture   1.0.4
|IOSkywalk!F   1
|IOGraphics!F   569.3
@kext.triggers   1.0
>!UHIDMouse   192
>!AHIDMouse   192
|IOUSBHIDDriver   900.4.2
|Broadcom!BHost!CUSBTransport   7.0.2f4
|IO!BHost!CUSBTransport   7.0.2f4
|IO!BHost!CTransport   7.0.2f4
|IO!B!F   7.0.2f4
|IO!BPacketLogger   7.0.2f4
>usb.IOUSBHostHIDDevice   1.2
>!AThunderboltDPInAdapter   6.2.4
>!AThunderboltDPOutAdapter   6.2.4
>!AThunderboltDPAdapter!F   6.2.4
>!AThunderboltPCIUpAdapter   2.5.2
>!AThunderboltPCIDownAdapter   2.5.2
>usb.!UHub   1.2
>usb.networking   5.0.0
>usb.!UHostCompositeDevice   1.2
|IOAudio!F   300.2
@vecLib.kext   1.2.0
|IOSerial!F   11
|IOSurface   269.6
@filesystems.hfs.encodings.kext   1
|IOAHCIBlock!S   316.40.3
>!AThunderboltNHI   5.8.1
|IOThunderbolt!F   7.4.7
|IOAHCI!F   290.0.1
>usb.!UXHCIPCI   1.2
>usb.!UXHCI   1.2
|IOUSB!F   900.4.2
>!AEFINVRAM   2.1
>!AEFIRuntime   2.1
|IOSMBus!F   1.1
|IOHID!F   2.0.0
$quarantine   4
$sandbox   300.0
@kext.!AMatch   1.0.0d1
>DiskImages   493.0.0
>!AFDEKeyStore   28.30
>!AEffaceable!S   1.0
>!AKeyStore   2
>!UTDM   489.60.3
|IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice   422.0.2
>!ACredentialManager   1.0
>KernelRelayHost   1
>!ASEPManager   1.0.1
>IOSlaveProcessor   1
|IOTimeSync!F   800.14
|IONetworking!F   3.4
|IOUSBMass!SDriver   157.40.7
|IOSCSIArchitectureModel!F   422.0.2
|IO!S!F   2.1
|IOUSBHost!F   1.2
>!UHostMergeProperties   1.2
>usb.!UCommon   1.0
>!ABusPower!C   1.0
|CoreAnalytics!F   1
>!AMobileFileIntegrity   1.0.5
@kext.CoreTrust   1
|IOReport!F   47
>!AACPIPlatform   6.1
>!ASMC   3.1.9
>watchdog   1
|IOPCI!F   2.9
|IOACPI!F   1.4
@kec.pthread   1
@kec.Libm   1
@kec.corecrypto   1.0

[Xairbusdriver]

Have you looked at the Option Apple->System Information... output? You can also use a "System Report..." button in the About This Mac dialog. I'd suggest selecting the Software, Extensions item. Maybe sort on the "Notarized" column and look for any "No" items that are marked as "Yes" in the Loaded column.

The "64 bit" column seems to be only when listing applications. For Extensions, that info now seems to be only in the detailed info of any selected item: "64-bit (Intel): Yes/No". I currently have only 9 NON-notarized items, none of which are loaded.

The OS will probably always tell you, one way or another, if you try to open a 32-bit app, but it may not be as helpful with extensions/drivers. Also check the "Preference Panes" item, it also displays a "64-bit" column. I have one App that is 64-bit, but it's Pref Pane is marked as 32-bit.

I have no idea what 99.9% of your panic report means except there seem to be a lot of input/output activities. One name seems weird: "AMikeyDriver" "MikeDriver" would make some sense, but "Mikey"? Is that something that deals with feeding something to a little brother?! A search for Mikey might be interesting.

[jchuzi]

joemikeb has been very helpful in interpreting the crash log. For his take, see this FTM thread

[jchuzi]

Apparently, Ejector is not the issue. The KP just happened again. This time, my suspicions fall on the OWC dock that has two SSDs plugged into it. During the entire time that I have had it, the SSDs would sometimes be spontaneously disconnected, giving me a warning that they had been improperly ejected. OWC replaced the original dock under warranty, but the replacement exhibits the same behavior.

Consequently, I manually ejected both SSDs and disconnected the device. We'll see what happens.

[Xairbusdriver]

I like a simple plan!

[Xairbusdriver]

Two days in a row?

[jchuzi]

No KPs since I disconnected my OWC Thunderbolt dock. I don't know why the KPs started because I had not had them before. I had upgraded to Catalina a few days before the KPs started but I don't know if that has any relevance.

In any event, I am expecting delivery of this replacement, USB 3.1 on Thursday. We'll see how it goes.

[Xairbusdriver]

I think the last time I bought those type docks I actually went to NewEgg for an Orico brand. I'm bettin' the same Asian country built them for OWC also.

I have one on my wife'z MBP, my Mac mini and the iMac and one spare. Hope I don't have to test their warranty... That's my main reason for concern... I don't really care about YOUR problems!

[jchuzi]

Here's the latest:

I received the USB dock, installed the two SSDs and tried to update the clones on both. I got a message that both drives had failed! I ejected them and tried to remount them, but Disk Utility could not see them.

Consequently, I phoned OWC (they are 1 TB Mercury Extreme 6G drives) and the upshot is that OWC will replace them under warranty. Luckily, I had ordered the models with a 5-year warranty so there was no issue. I am sending them back to OWC today and OWC is, in the meantime, shipping two new drives to me.

When I described the kernel panics to OWC, I was told that the new docks have had a firmware update that should solve that issue. As usual, time will tell (fingers crossed).

[Xairbusdriver]

When it rains it pours!

Hope Santa gets the message before he leaves the pole!

[jchuzi]

The latest update:

I received one of the new SSDs, hooked it up to the new USB dock, followed all the instructions, and the drive not only would not mount on the desktop (which it shouldn't, being unformatted) but did not show in Disk Utility. I didn't know if the dock or the SSD was faulty, so took the old dock and connected it via USB (formerly connected via Thunderbolt).

I immediately got a window asking if I wanted to format the drive. I launched Disk Utility, formatted it APFS, and successfully made a clone. I will be receiving the second SSD today and will make another clone.

It will be interesting to see if I have any more kernel panics. It's possible that the Thunderbolt connection was the problem, and now it's connected via USB.

Via OWC's website, I requested a replacement. That's where I stand so far.

[Paddy]

You're not the only one seeing this KP: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/multiple-hangs-kernel-panics-on-reboot.2208578/

No real resolution - but it points to a more widespread issue possibly (?).

[jchuzi]

Thanks for posting that, but my KPs seem to be unrelated (rebooting was not an issue; they occurred during normal usage). They stopped utterly when I disconnected my OWC Thunderbolt/USB 3.0 dock. I received the second replacement SSD and successfully cloned it. The connection is now via USB 3.0 and I have the dock turned off except for updating the clones. While connected, I did not have any KPs. I returned the new dock under warranty and OWC will send a replacement.

[jchuzi]

Getting back to the subject of this thread, I received the following from OWC tech support regarding kernel panics:

Thank you for choosing OWC for your technical needs. There is, at present, a known issue with external Thunderbolt drives/enclosures/drive docks, and 10.15 Catalina, not just for our items, but all external solutions. We're working with Apple to get this resolved but presently, there is no firmware update, or fix, available for this, my apologies.
 
Currently, it’s recommended to keep an eye on our official blog, where we will post this information when it is available: https://blog.macsales.com/

[Xairbusdriver]

While I no longer have any FireWire devices in use, it sounds like it's time for a genuine, explicit farewell.