I have a iMac 27" late 2012, OS X 10.8.4 and last night it woke up from sleep-mode while I was 3 meters away from it. Nobody but me was in the room. The login-Screen was visible. After some seconds the main screen went black again, but the screen of the second monitor (from LG, connected via a thunderbolt-adapter) kept glowing in a dark gray light. So I hit a key on the keyboard, the mac woke up again, and I sent it to sleep by pressing the power-button. Now both screen was black and I went to bed.
I did google that today and I found the command pmset -g log which prints out a hybernate-log, and in this log I found evidence for even more strange wake-up-events. This is a part of this log:
Time stamp Domain Message Duration Delay
========== ====== ======= ======== =====
UUID: EBB08E57-0FC8-4724-AD4B-30629C0130BE
2013-08-10 18:49:57 MESZ Sleep Power Button Sleep Sleep: Using AC 4204 secs
2013-08-10 18:49:57 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) Released ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:16:58 id:0xc00000d3d Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 18:49:57 MESZ WakeRequests Clients requested wake events: None
2013-08-10 20:00:01 MESZ DarkWake DarkWake due to EC.SleepTimer/SleepTimer: Using AC 0 secs
2013-08-10 20:00:01 MESZ HibernateStats hibmode=0 standbydelay=4200 rd=662 ms
2013-08-10 20:00:01 MESZ Sleep Maintenance Sleep Sleep: Using AC 10250 secs
2013-08-10 20:00:04 MESZ Assertions PID 13(UserEventAgent) Created BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.DarkWakeFire)" 00:00:04 id:0xc00000d86 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 20:00:04 MESZ Assertions PID 1979(SoftwareUpdateC) Created BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.BackgroundDownload)" 00:00:04 id:0xc00000d88 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 20:00:06 MESZ Assertions PID 1979(SoftwareUpdateC) Released BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.BackgroundDownload)" 00:00:06 id:0xc00000d88 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 20:00:06 MESZ Assertions PID 13(UserEventAgent) Released BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.DarkWakeFire)" 00:00:06 id:0xc00000d86 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 20:00:17 MESZ SlowResponse PMConnection: Response from mDNSResponder is slow (powercaps:0x0) 15994 ms
2013-08-10 20:00:17 MESZ WakeRequests Clients requested wake events: None
2013-08-10 22:50:51 MESZ Wake Wake from Standby due to EC.SleepTimer/SleepTimer: Using AC 39 secs
2013-08-10 22:50:51 MESZ HibernateStats hibmode=0 standbydelay=4200 rd=654 ms
2013-08-10 22:50:59 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) Created ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:00:05 id:0xc00000dca Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 22:51:13 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) TimedOut ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:00:19 id:0xc00000dca Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 22:51:13 MESZ Assertions Summary- Aggregate:0x40 Using AC
Sleep/Wakes since boot:27 Dark Wake Count in this sleep cycle:1
Time stamp Domain Message Duration Delay
========== ====== ======= ======== =====
UUID: 5CD9A4D4-6924-4423-A3FF-D2DCC23BAD4F
2013-08-10 22:51:30 MESZ Sleep Power Button Sleep Sleep: Using AC 4205 secs
2013-08-10 22:51:30 MESZ SlowResponse Kernel: Response from powerd is slow 15997 ms
2013-08-10 22:51:30 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) Released ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:00:37 id:0xc00000dca Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-10 22:51:30 MESZ WakeRequests Clients requested wake events: None
2013-08-11 00:01:35 MESZ DarkWake DarkWake due to EC.SleepTimer/SleepTimer: Using AC 0 secs
2013-08-11 00:01:35 MESZ HibernateStats hibmode=0 standbydelay=4200 rd=654 ms
2013-08-11 00:01:35 MESZ Sleep Maintenance Sleep Sleep: Using AC 10240 secs
2013-08-11 00:01:40 MESZ Assertions PID 144(UserEventAgent) Created BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.DarkWakeFire)" 00:00:04 id:0xc00000de6 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 00:01:44 MESZ Assertions PID 144(UserEventAgent) Released BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.DarkWakeFire)" 00:00:09 id:0xc00000de6 Aggregate:0x40
2013-08-11 00:01:51 MESZ SlowResponse PMConnection: Response from mDNSResponder is slow (powercaps:0x0) 16002 ms
2013-08-11 00:01:51 MESZ WakeRequests Clients requested wake events: None
2013-08-11 02:52:04 MESZ Assertions PID 2005(helpd) Created BackgroundTask "com.apple.helpd.sdmbuilding" 00:00:07 id:0xc00000df9 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 02:52:15 MESZ Wake Wake from Standby due to EC.SleepTimer/SleepTimer: Using AC 313 secs
2013-08-11 02:52:15 MESZ HibernateStats hibmode=0 standbydelay=4200 rd=717 ms
2013-08-11 02:52:25 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) Created ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:00:08 id:0xc00000e23 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 02:52:37 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) TimedOut ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:00:20 id:0xc00000e23 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 02:52:37 MESZ Assertions Summary- Aggregate:0x1040 Using AC
2013-08-11 02:53:17 MESZ Assertions PID 2016(SubmitDiagInfo) Created PreventSystemSleep "com.apple.SubmitDiagInfo.run" 00:00:00 id:0x800000e35 Aggregate:0x11140
2013-08-11 02:53:18 MESZ Assertions PID 2016(SubmitDiagInfo) Released PreventSystemSleep "com.apple.SubmitDiagInfo.run" 00:00:00 id:0x800000e35 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 02:57:28 MESZ Assertions PID 2005(helpd) Released BackgroundTask "com.apple.helpd.sdmbuilding" 00:05:32 id:0xc00000df9 Aggregate:0x40
Sleep/Wakes since boot:29 Dark Wake Count in this sleep cycle:1
Time stamp Domain Message Duration Delay
========== ====== ======= ======== =====
UUID: B5690C9E-7E6A-4FC8-9C71-D561FC8CD702
2013-08-11 02:57:28 MESZ Sleep Idle Sleep Sleep: Using AC 4204 secs
2013-08-11 02:57:28 MESZ SlowResponse Kernel: Response from powerd is slow 15998 ms
2013-08-11 02:57:28 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) Released ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:05:11 id:0xc00000e23 Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 02:57:28 MESZ WakeRequests Clients requested wake events: None
2013-08-11 04:07:32 MESZ DarkWake DarkWake due to EC.SleepTimer/SleepTimer: Using AC 0 secs
2013-08-11 04:07:32 MESZ HibernateStats hibmode=0 standbydelay=4200 rd=717 ms
2013-08-11 04:07:32 MESZ Sleep Maintenance Sleep Sleep: Using AC 5314 secs
2013-08-11 04:07:38 MESZ Assertions PID 144(UserEventAgent) Created BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.DarkWakeFire)" 00:00:05 id:0xc00000e4a Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 04:07:42 MESZ Assertions PID 144(UserEventAgent) Released BackgroundTask "Checking for Software Updates (com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.DarkWakeFire)" 00:00:09 id:0xc00000e4a Aggregate:0x40
2013-08-11 04:07:48 MESZ SlowResponse PMConnection: Response from mDNSResponder is slow (powercaps:0x0) 15995 ms
2013-08-11 04:07:48 MESZ WakeRequests Clients requested wake events: None
2013-08-11 05:36:06 MESZ Wake Wake from Standby due to EHC1/: Using AC 1786 secs
2013-08-11 05:36:06 MESZ HibernateStats hibmode=0 standbydelay=4200 rd=807 ms
2013-08-11 05:36:14 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) Created ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:00:06 id:0xc00000e6e Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 05:36:28 MESZ Assertions PID 182(apsd) TimedOut ApplePushServiceTask "com.apple.apsd-waitingformessages-push.apple.com" 00:00:20 id:0xc00000e6e Aggregate:0x1040
2013-08-11 05:36:28 MESZ Assertions Summary- Aggregate:0x40 Using AC
2013-08-11 05:36:53 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Created NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:08 id:0x100000e7d Aggregate:0x42
2013-08-11 05:37:31 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Released NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:45 id:0x100000e7d Aggregate:0x40
2013-08-11 05:38:01 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Created NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:07 id:0x100000e82 Aggregate:0x42
2013-08-11 05:40:44 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Released NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:02:50 id:0x100000e82 Aggregate:0x40
2013-08-11 05:42:05 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Created NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:07 id:0x100000e8a Aggregate:0x42
2013-08-11 05:47:15 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Released NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:05:17 id:0x100000e8a Aggregate:0x40
2013-08-11 05:57:31 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Created NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:07 id:0x100000e9b Aggregate:0x42
2013-08-11 05:58:25 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Released NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:01:01 id:0x100000e9b Aggregate:0x40
2013-08-11 05:58:57 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Created NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:07 id:0x100000e9d Aggregate:0x42
2013-08-11 05:59:18 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Released NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:28 id:0x100000e9d Aggregate:0x40
2013-08-11 06:00:08 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Created NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:00:07 id:0x100000e9e Aggregate:0x42
2013-08-11 06:05:41 MESZ Assertions PID 124(coreaudiod) Released NoIdleSleepAssertion "com.apple.audio.'AppleHDAEngineOutput:1B,0,1,2:0'.noidlesleep" 00:05:40 id:0x100000e9e Aggregate:0x40
Sleep/Wakes since boot:31 Dark Wake Count in this sleep cycle:1
The spooky wake-up-event I was watching was at 2013-08-10 22:50:51
But the logfile shows even more activities while I was sleeping in my bed:
2013-08-11 00:01:35
2013-08-11 02:52:04
2013-08-11 04:07:32
The next wake-up was initiated by me: 2013-08-11 04:07:32
But what are the reasons for those events in the middle of the night? Why did my iMac wake up?
UPDATE
syslog |grep -i "Wake reason"
Aug 10 20:00:00 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 10 22:50:31 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 11 00:01:34 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 11 02:51:55 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 11 04:07:31 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 11 05:35:46 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EHC1
Aug 11 07:15:55 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 11 09:15:54 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EHC1
Aug 11 11:14:09 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 11 12:40:27 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EHC1
Aug 11 13:11:04 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EHC1
Aug 11 15:08:25 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EC.SleepTimer (SleepTimer)
Aug 11 17:23:56 huberts-imac kernel[0] <Debug>: Wake reason: EHC1
EHC1 corresponds with the times when I did wake up the machine.
EC.SleepTimer are wake-ups that happened without my interaction.
What are EHC1 and EC.SleepTimer?
Best Answer
Check your log messages by typing following in Terminal while looking for the time stamp for when it occurred.
which will give you a comprehensive report only for wake up reasons.
UPDATE:
Looking at your log now, it all looks normal.
Be aware that the only time your computer can do some housekeeping is during the sleep time. That is intended by design.
However, to prevent unwanted wake ups disable the wake for wifi network access.