web client: high cpu usage on firefox 18.0

[rosch]

Hi all,

unfortunately the latest* Firefox 18 is using way too much cpu, about 20% compared to <5% for Firefox 17.
This is Firefox idling. Logging into Zimbra and waiting for it to settle takes some time with CPU usage up to 100%.

Can somebody else confirm this?

Hence recommend not to update to Firefox 18 if using the Zimbra Web Client.
Note: the percentages are for the Firefox process only (in my case that is /usr/lib/firefox/firefox).

Release 7.2.0_GA_2669.UBUNTU10_64 UBUNTU10_64 FOSS edition, Patch 7.2.0_P1.
*latest on Ubuntu 10.4.

[phoenix]

I don't see that behaviour connected to a ZCS 8.0.2 server (using FF on openSUSE 12.2 64bit) and unfortunately I don't have a ZCS 7.2.0 to test at the moment. You don't mention whether this is Windows (if so, which version) or Linux.

[rosch]

You don't mention whether this is Windows (if so, which version) or Linux.

I do (*latest on Ubuntu 10.4) but maybe it was not clear enough.

To sum up I see this issue on Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS desktops:
CPU 20% for Firefox. Was < 5% on Firefox 17.
Running Firefox with -safe-mode: 15-17% CPU. Still way too much.

Also tested on Windows XP 32bit (Firefox 18):
CPU 8-12% for Firefox. Are those normal values?
(that is idling with one tab open, the Zimbra Web client).

[phoenix]

I do (*latest on Ubuntu 10.4) but maybe it was not clear enough.

I assumed that was the ZCS server version.

To sum up I see this issue on Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS desktops:
CPU 20% for Firefox. Was < 5% on Firefox 17.
Running Firefox with -safe-mode: 15-17% CPU. Still way too much.

Also tested on Windows XP 32bit (Firefox 18):
CPU 8-12% for Firefox. Are those normal values?
(that is idling with one tab open, the Zimbra Web client).

I don't see anything like that, my FF is usually three instances with 100+ tabs open (inc. the ZCS web UI) and I see about 3% CPU on Windows (various flavours) and on my openSUSE system. As I said, I don't currently have any ZCS 7.2.2 to test against but I wouldn't expect any great difference. Are you on the same LAN as the ZCS server when you have this problem or external? If you gave me a test account I could try connecting and see if it makes any difference to my CPS usage, send me a PM if you want me to do that.

[rosch]

Are you on the same LAN as the ZCS server when you have this problem or external?

Yes, same LAN. (also external, with the same results)

[phoenix]

Yes, same LAN. (also external, with the same results)

OK, I did have a look and I can confirm the high CPU usage - it went up-to +20% and then dropped back to 10% and stayed there while the web UI was open. I did notice that you have quite a few zimlets enabled on the account, if I uncheck them then the cpu usage goes down to about 6% with an occasional spike of 10%. From that quick test I'd say that one of those zimlets is causing a problem, you could try adding those back in one-by-one and see if one of them causes problems.

[rosch]

From that quick test I'd say that one of those zimlets is causing a problem, you could try adding those back in one-by-one and see if one of them causes problems.

When disabling all zimlets Firefox is still using about 10%. I still think that is 10 times too much.
Also why are the zimlets consuming cpu when idling?

Enabling 3 (basic) zimlets uses about 9-10% which confirms that idling zimlets should not consume cpu.

Thanks a lot for testing

[phoenix]

When disabling all zimlets Firefox is still using about 10%. I still think that is 10 times too much.
Also why are the zimlets consuming cpu when idling?

Enabling 3 (basic) zimlets uses about 9-10% which confirms that idling zimlets should not consume cpu.

I would agree that the CPU usage is higher than it should be unfortunately I'm not a coder so I can't really give you any help with debugging those zimlets. I guess you'll have to wait for a forum member with a lot more skills than I possess and possibly visit bugzilla to file a report, sorry I can't be of more help.

Thanks a lot for testing

You're welcome.

[rosch]

I would agree that the CPU usage is higher than it should be unfortunately I'm not a coder so I can't really give you any help with debugging those zimlets. I guess you'll have to wait for a forum member with a lot more skills than I possess and possibly visit bugzilla to file a report, sorry I can't be of more help.

You helped a lot already.
The only suspicious item from the Firefox 18 releasenotes is this one, which is a new feature:
Faster JavaScript performance via IonMonkey compiler

I might look into that later some time.

Update: beta and alpha tests:
Firefox 19.0 beta 1: CPU 8-10%
Firefox 20.0 alpha 2: CPU 7-8%

So it seems it is less of an issue in the coming versions but still relatively high.