# Cascades — CHEF-PC Slow Diagnosis + MDIRECTOR-PC RAM Plan

**Date:** 2026-05-05
**Client:** Cascades of Tucson (Syncro 20149445)

## User
- **User:** Howard Enos (howard)
- **Machine:** Howard-Home
- **Role:** tech
- **Session span:** afternoon, single thread

## Session Summary
Howard inquired about upgrading the RAM on two workstations, MDIRECTOR-PC and CHEF-PC, both Acer Aspire C24-865 AIOs with Intel i5-8250U CPUs. After reviewing documentation and confirming hardware specifications, it was determined that MDIRECTOR-PC required a 2x 4GB DDR4-2400 SODIMM upgrade, while CHEF-PC already had 12 GB and would not benefit from an 8 GB upgrade. Howard then shifted focus to CHEF-PC, which was experiencing performance issues. An audit of the GuruRMM enrollment revealed that CONTEXT.md was outdated, with 30 agents enrolled, not two. CHEF-PC was confirmed enrolled with agent ID `a2cedfea-8239-4cab-bff7-54d99c417ed1`. Remote diagnostics identified storage subsystem saturation due to concurrent agent activity. Five agent stacks were running simultaneously, including Datto RMM, Syncro RMM, GuruRMM, Datto AV, and Infocyte EDR, all contributing to high CPU and storage load. The workstation also had asymmetric RAM and a Patriot P210 SSD with partition and performance issues.

## Key Decisions
- **RAM upgrade only on MDIRECTOR-PC.** CHEF-PC already had 12 GB, making an 8 GB upgrade a downgrade.
- **Prioritize matched DDR4-2400 SODIMM pair for MDIRECTOR-PC.** Ensures dual-channel performance for the iGPU.
- **Remote diagnostics first, no changes.** Avoided unnecessary onsite work by identifying the root cause of CHEF-PC's slowness through API and PowerShell commands. Per Howard's instruction, no remediation was applied.
- **Keep ScreenConnect, plan removal of other remote tools.** Maintained ACG standard while flagging non-essential tools for removal.
- **Defer SSD replacement.** Postponed until after agent cleanup to avoid premature hardware replacement.

## Problems Encountered
- **Outdated CONTEXT.md.** Listed only 2 enrolled agents at Cascades; actual count is ~30 (enrolled 2026-04-18). Resolved by cross-referencing the GuruRMM admin API directly.
- **Concurrency of agent stacks.** Five RMM/EDR agents caused storage and WMI subsystem saturation. Identified the stacks and provided a removal sequence for onsite work.
- **Asymmetric RAM configuration.** Split 8 GB + 4 GB modules cause effectively single-channel access for the upper 4 GB band. Documented as secondary issue.
- **Patriot P210 SSD limitations.** Known SLC-cache exhaustion under sustained writes plus partition geometry (only half the disk allocated). Recommended C: partition extension; SSD replacement deferred.
- **`Get-StorageReliabilityCounter` hang during diagnostics.** Cmdlet ran for 75+ s while a parallel trivial PowerShell command round-tripped in 4 s on the same agent. Switched to `Win32_DiskDrive` + `Get-PhysicalDisk` (without reliability counter) to gather hardware data. The hang itself is diagnostic evidence of storage-stack saturation.

## Configuration Changes
None. Read-only diagnostics only on CHEF-PC. No remediation performed.

## Credentials & Secrets
- GuruRMM dashboard admin: `admin@azcomputerguru.com` / `GuruRMM2025` — vault `projects/gururmm/dashboard.sops.yaml`
- GuruRMM JWT issued during this session (~24h life): see vault for canonical credential, do not paste tokens to logs

## Infrastructure & Servers

### GuruRMM
- API (external): `https://rmm-api.azcomputerguru.com`
- API (internal): `http://172.16.3.30:3001`
- Dashboard: `https://rmm.azcomputerguru.com`
- POST endpoint for remote command execution: `POST /api/agents/{agent_id}/command` with body `{"command":"<script>","command_type":"powershell"}` — note the field is **`command`**, NOT `command_text` (latter is the GET response field). Schema validation returns 422 if you use the wrong field name.
- GET command result: `GET /api/commands/{command_id}` — returns `status`, `exit_code`, `stdout`, `stderr`, `started_at`, `completed_at`.
- `command_type` accepts `powershell` or `shell`.

### Cascades GuruRMM enrollment (corrected)
Site: CascadesTucson `c157c399-82d3-4581-979a-b9fad70f4fef`
Client: Cascades of Tucson `42e1b0e3-f8b7-4fc5-86bd-06bdbb073b7f`

~30 agents online as of 2026-05-05, including:
- ACCT2-PC, ANN-PC, ASSISTMAN-PC, ASSISTNURSE-PC, **CHEF-PC** `a2cedfea-8239-4cab-bff7-54d99c417ed1`, CRYSTAL-PC, CS-SERVER, DESKTOP-DLTAGOI, DESKTOP-H6QHRR7, DESKTOP-KQSL232, DESKTOP-LPOPV30, DESKTOP-MD6UQI3, DESKTOP-ROK7VNM, DESKTOP-TRCIEJA, DESKTOP-U2DHAP0, LAPTOP-8P7HDSEI, LAPTOP-DRQ5L558, LAPTOP-E0STJJE8, Laptop2, Laptop4, MAINTENANCE-PC, **MDIRECTOR-PC** `018663fc-c676-4374-8c10-086a47d034eb`, MEMRECEPT-PC, NurseAssist, NURSESTATION-PC, RECEPTIONIST-PC, SALES4-PC.

`clients/cascades-tucson/CONTEXT.md` "Agents currently enrolled" table needs updating — currently lists only DLTAGOI and CS-SERVER.

### CHEF-PC inventory (live, 2026-05-05)
- **Manufacturer/Model:** Acer / Aspire C24-865
- **OS:** Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (10.0.26200), installed 2024-12-14
- **Last boot:** 2026-05-04 07:24 (uptime 26.5 h at sample)
- **CPU:** Intel i5-8250U (4C/8T)
- **RAM total:** 11.92 GB — **asymmetric**:
  - DIMM1: 4 GB SK Hynix `HMA851S6CJR6N-VK` DDR4-2667
  - DIMM2: 8 GB SK Hynix `HMA81GS6CJR8N-VK` DDR4-2667
- **Disk:** Patriot P210 512GB, firmware HT5710A1, IDE/SATA, "OK"
- **Partition:** C: NTFS 222.3 GB / 91.3 GB free — **only half of the 477 GB SSD is allocated**
- **Network:** Ethernet 10.0.20.232/24 (DHCP) — internal VLAN
- **Public IP:** 184.191.143.62
- **Logged-in user:** Administrator (idle 26+ h, matches uptime)

### MDIRECTOR-PC reference (from 2026-03-20 audit)
- **Model:** Acer Aspire C24-865 AIO (same chassis as CHEF-PC)
- **CPU:** Intel i5-8250U
- **RAM:** 3.9 GB (single 4GB stick)
- **OS:** Windows 11 Home 25H2 — cannot domain join
- **Agent ID:** `018663fc-c676-4374-8c10-086a47d034eb`

## Commands & Outputs

### GuruRMM API discovery
```bash
# Login
curl -X POST https://rmm-api.azcomputerguru.com/api/auth/login \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"email":"admin@azcomputerguru.com","password":"GuruRMM2025"}'
# Returns {token, user{}}

# List agents (filter to a site)
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  "https://rmm-api.azcomputerguru.com/api/agents?site_id=c157c399-82d3-4581-979a-b9fad70f4fef"

# Run command (note: field is "command", not "command_text")
curl -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"command":"Write-Output PROBE_OK","command_type":"powershell"}' \
  "https://rmm-api.azcomputerguru.com/api/agents/$AGENT_ID/command"

# Fetch result
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  "https://rmm-api.azcomputerguru.com/api/commands/$COMMAND_ID"
```

### CHEF-PC top processes by CPU time (since boot 26.5 h ago)
```
SyncroLive.Agent.Runner   2124 s    Syncro RMM
services                  1850 s    Windows
WmiPrvSE                  1720 s    WMI provider (driven by RMM agent inventory scans)
svchost (5124)            1518 s    Windows
endpointprotection        1153 s    Datto AV
infocyte agent             810 s    Datto EDR
Splashtop SRAgent          543 s    Splashtop remote
Datto AEMAgent             290 s    Datto RMM
```

### CHEF-PC concurrent agent / remote-access stacks discovered
| Stack | Processes |
|---|---|
| Datto RMM (CentraStage) | AEMAgent, CagService, RMM.WebRemote |
| Syncro RMM | Syncro.Service.Runner, SyncroLive.Agent.Runner, SyncroLive.Service.Runner, Syncro.Overmind.Service |
| GuruRMM (ours) | GuruRMMAgent |
| Datto AV | endpointprotection (EndpointProtectionService) |
| Datto EDR / Infocyte | agent.exe, RWDWrapper, HUNTAgent service |
| Splashtop | SRAgent, SRService, SRManager |
| ScreenConnect | ScreenConnect.ClientService (`1912bf3444b41a08`) |
| Dropbox | DbxSvc + 2 stopped DropboxUpdater services |
| Synology Drive | Synology Drive VSS Service x64 |

## Pending / Incomplete Tasks

### MDIRECTOR-PC (Howard buying parts)
- [ ] Order **2x 4GB DDR4-2400 SODIMM 260-pin 1.2V** (Crucial CT4G4SFS824A, Kingston KVR24S17S6/4, or kit Crucial CT2K4G4SFS824A)
- [ ] Onsite RAM swap (replace existing 1x 4GB with matched 2x 4GB pair for dual-channel)
- [ ] Verify with `Get-CimInstance Win32_PhysicalMemory` post-swap
- [ ] Uninstall disabled COMODO Antivirus
- [ ] Plan Win 11 Home -> Pro upgrade (so it can domain-join)
- [ ] Remove old user profile `Anna Pitzlin` (last login 2025-06-26)

### CHEF-PC (onsite remediation, deferred)
- [ ] Confirm with Mike that GuruRMM is canonical RMM going forward at Cascades
- [ ] Uninstall in order, reboot between each: Syncro stack -> Datto RMM -> Infocyte / Datto EDR -> Datto AV (verify Defender first) -> Splashtop -> Norton Security Scan
- [ ] Confirm Dropbox usage with chef Ramon Castaneda / Michael Sabia before removing
- [ ] Extend C: partition to consume the unallocated ~254 GB (use `Resize-Partition -DriveLetter C -Size <max>`)
- [ ] Optional: rebalance RAM to matched 2x 8GB or 2x 4GB for full dual-channel
- [ ] Re-test after cleanup; if still slow, plan Samsung 870 EVO 500GB or WD Blue SA510 clone-and-swap (P210 is junk-tier)
- [ ] Disable RDP (audit notes it's enabled with NLA — not needed on a chef workstation)
- [ ] Enable BitLocker
- [ ] Enable screen lock policy

### Fleet-wide (flag for Mike)
- [ ] Previous-MSP cruft cleanup is **not unique to CHEF-PC** — every Cascades workstation onboarded into GuruRMM since 2026-04-18 likely still has Datto RMM + Syncro + Infocyte + Splashtop running. This is a fleet cleanup project, not a one-machine fix. Strategy + ordering decision needed.

### Documentation
- [ ] Update `clients/cascades-tucson/CONTEXT.md` "Agents currently enrolled" section. Current text says 2 agents (DLTAGOI, CS-SERVER); reality is ~30 since 2026-04-18.

## Reference Information

### Vault paths
- `projects/gururmm/dashboard.sops.yaml` — admin login
- `projects/gururmm/api-server.sops.yaml` — JWT secret (server-side)
- `clients/cascades-tucson/gururmm-site-main.sops.yaml` — Cascades enrollment key

### URLs
- GuruRMM dashboard: https://rmm.azcomputerguru.com
- GuruRMM API: https://rmm-api.azcomputerguru.com
- ScreenConnect (ACG standard): see infrastructure vault `msp-tools/screenconnect.sops.yaml`

### File paths
- Cascades workstation inventory (audit 2026-03-20): `clients/cascades-tucson/docs/workstations.md`
- Cascades context (out of date): `clients/cascades-tucson/CONTEXT.md`
- Diagnostic helper used this session: `C:/Users/Howard/AppData/Local/Temp/run-cmd.py` (sends PS scripts to GuruRMM agent and polls for result)

### Note for Mike
**Fleet-wide MSP cleanup decision needed.** Every Cascades workstation we onboarded into GuruRMM since 2026-04-18 still has the previous MSP's Datto RMM, Datto AV, Datto EDR (Infocyte), Syncro RMM, and Splashtop running concurrently with our agent. CHEF-PC is the visible symptom — five RMM/EDR stacks plus three remote-access tools running simultaneously, with `SyncroLive.Agent.Runner` alone consuming 35+ minutes of CPU time and `WmiPrvSE` saturated. Before I scrip a fleet uninstall, need confirmation: (1) is GuruRMM the canonical RMM going forward? (2) Datto AV out, Defender in? (3) Are we still under contract on any of the Datto/Syncro tooling we'd be ripping out? Will scope this onsite workstation by workstation, but the fix is fleet-wide, not just CHEF-PC.

---

## Update: 16:42 PT — Syncro tickets created (#32253 invoiced, #32254 opened)

### What landed
Two Syncro tickets created via API on 2026-05-05 for Cascades of Tucson (customer 20149445). Ticket #32253 covers earlier today's onsite RAM install on MDIRECTOR-PC and is fully billed + invoiced. Ticket #32254 documents the Chef-PC slow-performance issue and stages the upcoming Windows reinstall — no billing applied yet. Both created with `contact_id: null` per the Cascades blank-contact rule. Initial-issue comments posted with `do_not_email: true`.

### Ticket #32253 — Shelby Trozzi 4GB RAM upgrade (Invoiced)
- **Subject:** Shelby Trozzi - 4GB RAM upgrade for slowness
- **Issue type:** Hardware. Priority: 2 Normal. Status: Invoiced.
- **Initial issue comment summary:** Per audit, Shelby's machine ran slow due to programs/photos left open for extended periods. Installed one 4GB DDR4 RAM stick to alleviate slowness. Advised user to reboot regularly and close unused programs. Recommended replacing the machine — current hardware is at end of useful life.
- **Billing:**
  - Onsite labor (product 26118): 0.5 hr @ $175/hr — applied to Cascades prepay block (auto-generated line via `charge_timer_entry`)
  - Hardware (product 32252): 1 × 4GB DDR4 RAM stick @ $25.00, taxable
- **Invoice:** #67564 — total **$27.18** ($25.00 hardware + $2.18 tax). Labor line shows "Applied 0.5 Prepay Hours" — block decremented as expected.

> Note vs. the earlier plan in this log: the original recommendation was a matched 2× 4GB DDR4-2400 SODIMM pair for dual-channel. Mike's instruction at billing time was a single 4GB stick (asymmetric with whatever was already there). The dual-channel rebalance remains a follow-up if performance is still poor after RAM + reboot discipline.

### Ticket #32254 — Chef JD / Chef-PC Windows reinstall (open)
- **Subject:** Chef JD - Chef-PC running slow / Windows reinstall
- **Issue type:** Software. Priority: 2 Normal. Status: New.
- **Asset linked:** CHEF-PC (Syncro asset 9794584).
- **Initial issue comment summary:** Chef-PC running slow. Built-in Windows repairs are getting stuck on the backend. Plan: full Windows reinstall.
- **No billing applied** — ticket scopes the upcoming reinstall.
- **Scope note:** This ticket frames the reinstall as the resolution, but the parent log's "Note for Mike" still stands — the underlying cause on this fleet is the previous-MSP agent stack (Datto RMM/AV/EDR + Syncro + Splashtop running concurrently with GuruRMM). A clean Windows install on CHEF-PC will fix the symptom on this one machine without addressing the fleet-wide stack-removal decision Mike still owes.

### Skill bug encountered (Syncro `timer_entry` response shape)
The Syncro skill (`.claude/commands/syncro.md`) example for `POST /tickets/{id}/timer_entry` parses the response as `.timer.id // .timer_entry.id`. The actual API response is a **flat** object — `{"id": N, "ticket_id": ..., ...}` — and that fallback always resolves to `null`.

What happened on Ticket #32253:
1. First `timer_entry` POST succeeded and created timer 39031253. My jq returned null because of the `.timer.id` pattern.
2. Subsequent `charge_timer_entry` with `null` ID returned `{"message":"Not found"}`.
3. Reading the response shape, I retried the POST. Syncro has no idempotency, so it created a SECOND timer (39031258).
4. Verified two unrecorded timers on the ticket via `GET /tickets/{id}` → `.ticket.ticket_timers`.
5. Deleted the older duplicate via `POST /tickets/{id}/delete_timer_entry` (returned `{"success": true}`).
6. Charged the survivor — generated one labor line item at the correct $175 rate.

**No double-billing landed.** Only one labor line item exists on the ticket and the invoice. Net Cascades prepay debit is the intended 0.5 hr.

**Documentation:**
- Saved feedback memory: `.claude/memory/feedback_syncro_timer_response_shape.md`
- Indexed under Feedback in `.claude/memory/MEMORY.md`
- The skill file `.claude/commands/syncro.md` example block still has the bad pattern — flagged for fix in the Pending section below.

### Cascades prepay block (post-billing)
- Before this session: 50.0 hours
- After Tickets #32253 (0.5 hr) + #32255 (1.0 hr): **48.5 hours**
- Verified via `GET /customers/20149445` → `.customer.prepay_hours == "48.5"`

### Pending (added)
- [ ] Patch `.claude/commands/syncro.md` `timer_entry` example: change `jq -r '.timer.id // .timer_entry.id'` to `jq -r '.id'`. Same fix applies to the `charge_timer_entry` response (also flat — `.ticket_line_item_id` directly on the root).
- [ ] Decide on the dual-channel rebalance for MDIRECTOR-PC if a 0.5-hr session of "reboot + close apps + reseat single 4GB stick" doesn't resolve user complaints within ~2 weeks.
- [ ] Schedule Chef-PC Windows reinstall (ticket #32254). Reinstall on its own will not remove the previous-MSP agents on the rest of the fleet — track that as the parent fleet-cleanup decision (still on Mike).

---

## Update: 16:48 PT — Syncro skill patched (closes earlier pending item)

`.claude/commands/syncro.md` patched in commit **`eb73a55`** (+41 / −6). Three changes:

1. **Default timer-billing block** — added a "CRITICAL — response shapes are FLAT" note with verified JSON for both `POST /timer_entry` and `POST /charge_timer_entry`. Added a "CRITICAL — duplicate prevention" note: verify any ambiguous timer_entry response with `GET /tickets/{id}` → `.ticket.ticket_timers[]` (the global `/ticket_timers?ticket_id=N` does NOT filter — it returns the entire history). Rewrote the example to capture `TIMER_ID=$(... | jq -r '.id')` and pass via interpolated heredoc into the charge call.

2. **Full billing workflow example (Step 2)** — fixed `TIMER_ID=$(... | jq -r '.timer.id // .timer_entry.id')` to `jq -r '.id'` with an inline back-reference to the response-shape note.

3. **List-timers row in both endpoint tables** — changed from misleading `GET /ticket_timers?ticket_id=N` (no filter) to `GET /tickets/<id>` → `.ticket.ticket_timers`.

The feedback memory at `.claude/memory/feedback_syncro_timer_response_shape.md` remains as the incident record. Future Syncro billing on this skill should hit the correct path on the first call. Closes the "Patch `.claude/commands/syncro.md`..." pending item from the 16:42 update above.

---

## Update: 17:46 PT — CONTEXT.md agent roster refreshed (closes pending item)

`clients/cascades-tucson/CONTEXT.md` "Agents currently enrolled" section refreshed against the live GuruRMM API. Roster snapshot pulled from `GET /api/agents?site_id=c157c399-82d3-4581-979a-b9fad70f4fef`.

**Final live count: 27 agents** (21 online, 6 offline at query time on 2026-05-05). Earlier "~30" estimate was high — actual is 27.

Changes:
- Replaced 2-row table (CS-SERVER, DESKTOP-DLTAGOI) with a 27-row table including hostname, role/user (where mapped), agent ID, OS version, and status-at-snapshot.
- Added a live-query curl recipe at the top of the section so future updates run from the API rather than from a stale checked-in list.
- Mapped roles where context exists (CHEF-PC, MDIRECTOR-PC, CRYSTAL-PC, NURSESTATION-PC, etc.). Marked 13 hostnames as "unmapped — needs hostname rename" — these still carry manufacturer-default `DESKTOP-*` / `LAPTOP-*` / `LaptopN` names.
- Added a fleet-wide note about the previous-MSP agent stack still running on every onboarded workstation since 2026-04-18; ties back to the parent "Note for Mike" on this same log.
- Bumped `Last updated:` header to 2026-05-05 with a one-line explanation that the roster was previously stale.

Closes the "Update `clients/cascades-tucson/CONTEXT.md` 'Agents currently enrolled' section" pending item from the original 2026-05-05 chef-pc-slow session.

---

## Update: 18:50 PT — Hostname-to-user mapping deferred (user list incoming)

Started a remote-PowerShell probe across the 9 online unmapped Cascades agents (CIM read-only — `Win32_ComputerSystem.UserName`, recent profile dirs, manufacturer/model). 9 commands queued via GuruRMM `POST /api/agents/{id}/command`. Howard interrupted before any results were consumed — Cascades will provide a user list directly, which is faster and more authoritative than inferring from interactive logons (especially for shared-desk machines and devices that don't have a current logged-on user).

The dispatched commands are harmless (read-only CIM queries) and will complete on their own when each agent picks them up; their results sit in GuruRMM unused. No state on the workstations was modified.

CONTEXT.md "Agents currently enrolled" still flags the 13 unmapped hosts as `(unmapped — needs hostname rename)` / `(unmapped)`. Once Howard provides the user list, fold the mappings back into that table in one pass.

Pending (replaces the implicit "do per-machine probes" plan):
- [ ] Receive Cascades hostname-to-user list from Howard
- [ ] Update CONTEXT.md unmapped rows in one pass
- [ ] Tie into the fleet-wide hostname-rename plan (Intune naming convention) once user mapping is in hand

---

## End of day — 2026-05-05 (Howard)

**Today's Cascades-related output:**
- Syncro tickets #32253, #32254, #32255 created. #32253 + #32255 invoiced (#67564 / #67565). Cascades prepay 50.0 → 48.5 hrs.
- Syncro skill bug found and patched (`.claude/commands/syncro.md` flat-response parsing). Feedback memory `feedback_syncro_timer_response_shape.md` added and indexed.
- CONTEXT.md "Agents currently enrolled" refreshed against live GuruRMM (27 agents, was stub 2). Live-query curl recipe added.
- Hostname-to-user mapping deferred — Howard providing a user list rather than running per-machine probes.

**Carry-forward to next session (read this first):**
1. Receive Cascades hostname-to-user list. Update the 13 unmapped rows in CONTEXT.md "Agents currently enrolled" in one pass.
2. Schedule Chef-PC Windows reinstall against ticket #32254.
3. MDIRECTOR-PC follow-up — confirm whether the single-stick 4GB install + reboot discipline resolves Shelby's slowness; if not, plan the dual-channel matched-pair rebalance.
4. Fleet-wide previous-MSP cleanup decision is still on Mike (parent "Note for Mike" earlier in this log). All items below (CHEF-PC stack removal, fleet-wide Datto/Syncro/Splashtop cleanup) gate on his call.
5. Folder-redirection rollout — Pilot pattern still validated only on Sharon Edwards (DESKTOP-DLTAGOI). Second LE machine end-to-end is the next milestone per the project section in this CONTEXT.md.

Heading offline — no pending work needs supervision overnight.
