2nd Management Card in Symmetra PX

[Anonymous user]

I am wanting to use PowerChute Network Shutdown to gracefully shut down my servers when either the power is out for a set period, or if the temperature exceeds set parameters.

I have a Symmetra PX with one AP9617 management card connected to the internal APC LAN. This card is the link for the Infrastruxure Manager.

1) Do I understand correctly that I have to have another management card installed in the UPS that is connected to the outside network for PCNS to work?

2) Can I install a AP9619 for temperature monitoring, or do I have to have to duplicate the existing management card?

I have several slots available. The existing AP9617 is in the slot next to the bottom on the right.

Thanks in advance!

[BillP]

nope, the cards are hot swappable. the only thing you may see is a notification in ISX manager since you remove the network management card.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks, Winna. You have been a huge help. I'm placing the order today.

[BillP]

yeah that makes sense - either way you do it, you can have an AP9619 - so whether you add it to your configuration now, or remove the AP9617 and then use the AP9619 by itself and move that AP9617 to some other UPS, it doesnt matter. just a note, the AP9617 is the basic card and the AP9619 is the one with the environmental options, I think you confused the two.

the authentication phrase prompt is asking you to type in the same authentication phrase that is on the network management card. by default, it is admin user phrase just as I typed it in bold. this authentication phrase is so that the network management card and the UPS can communicate and its an extra security measure. you can change it but you need to make sure you change it on the network management card and enter it in PCNS accordingly. but, like i said, if you never edited it, it is admin user phrase

ISX manager can monitor any APC networked device for the most part. the environmental AP9619 card can definitely be monitored just as your AP9617 is now.

there are two other environmental monitoring devices I can say work with ISX manager as far as monitoring and alerts go.

[AP9340 Environmental Unit|http://apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=AP9340]

[AP9320 environmental management system|http://apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=AP9320]

FYI, another option is a Netbotz device. I dont have experience with them but I know they can monitor environmental items. they cannot be managed with ISX manager though, only ISX central. ISX central is ISX manager's replacement since it was recently discontinued.

[you can start looking here|http://apc.com/products/category.cfm?id=17]

[take a peek at ISX central|http://apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=350]

[BillP]

yes, you are correct. you'd need a second management card to put in your Symmetra PX so that it can communicate with your PCNS clients on your network.

you can buy whatever management card you want - AP9617, AP9618, or AP9619. They all provide the same essential functions with added benefits such as the environmental monitoring or out of band management. so you can certainly have an AP9617 and AP9619.

alternatively, you could monitor your Symmetra PX via ISX manager on the User LAN port so that it can communicate with your PCNS clients and still be monitored via ISX manager.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks, Winna, for the quick reply!

I like the idea of having the temperature sensor-it's something I don't currently have. I have to rely on much more archaic methods to monitor my small data center. Since PCNS is available for download, and with the AP9617's environmental capabilities, I think that would give me more bang for the buck.

I tried to install PCNS on a test machine, but I got stuck at the Authentication Phrase of the install. I've upgraded the ISX Manager to the latest release, but still can't get past the prompt for the Authentication Phrase. I don't know if I'm restrained by my license or if I'm just missing something.

If I do go with the 9617, can the ISX server recieve it's status and temperature readings if it is connected to the user lan?

Are there other options for environmentals that I'm missing? It seems that for just a little bit of dough, the 9617 gives me much more than what I have now.

Thanks again for your help!

[Anonymous user]

That's some great information, Winna. You are right, I was confused with my part numbers.

I think I'm going to go with the AP9619. I have an empty slot, so I think I can just insert the card while the UPS is powered on, configure the card's IP address for my network, and then install PCNS. This will let me shut down gracefully, which is the prime objective.

Is there any problem inserting the AP9619 while the Symmetra is powered on? If I remove the existing AP9617 so I can put the AP9619 in it's place, do I have to shut the system down?

Thanks Again!

[BillP]

no problem 😉

[Anonymous user]

Ok, the AP9619 came in and I think I have most things right so far. The only issue now is that when the AP9619 is seated in the Symmetra, the LCD display on the front of the unit stops working.

When I first installed the AP9619, I configured it's IP, then logged on the card's web page. The card would report temperature, but it could not see the UPS and showed that it lost communications with the UPS.

I researched the forums and found that I had the wrong application for the 3 phase Symettra, so I flashed the card with the sy3p application and now it can report on all the parameters of the UPS as well as temperature. Also, now the Application Modules and the AOS for both the AP9617 and AP9619 match.

Now, when the AP9619 is seated, the Infrastruxure Manager can still communicate with the AP9617 and report the UPS's status properly. But, the LCD display doesn't show the charge or load levels or runtime. The display also can't find any accessories under the Accessories menu. When I unseat the AP9619, the display returns to normal after a few seconds.

Also, I cannot get a prompt to come up when I connect to the communications card with the 940-024D cable and Hyperterminal.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance, gang!

[BillP]

hmm ok can you just let me know a couple more tidbits?

i believe that you can only hyperterminal in when you remove the display from the "display" port. try and see if that works if you can hypterminal in after doing that.

we tested it here with two management cards and the display did work fine. did you ever for some reason change the baud rate on the network management card?

also, just for an FYI for us, what model PX is this?

i also attached a document to this post that may help.

are you able to switch the slots the two management cards are in to see if it works after doing that?

i will investigate further though and post back.

[BillP]

can you also check what happens when you just leave the AP9619 in the UPS with the AP9617 removed? do you have any other accessory cards installed besides these two management cards.

thanks!

[Anonymous user]

The model is SY20KF. I haven't changed the baud rate; it's still 2400-8-N-1.

I tried switching the slots of the two management cards and now I can log into the card using the serial port at 2400-8-N-1.

But, the Powerview doesn't connect any more and the web management of the original AP9617 says that lost communications to the ups. The AP9619 says the same thing, whether or not the 9617 is installed or not.

In the slots on the left, starting at the top:

Display/Computer Interface (No Number on Card Face)
Blank
XR Communications (No Number on Card Face)
Battery Monitor (No Number on Card Face)

In the slots on the right, starting at the top:
Blank
AP9619
AP9617
External SwitchGear Monitor (No Number on Card Face)

It's almost like the UPS itself isn't talking to any management device now. Is there some way to reset it without dropping the load? (Bypass the UPS, then cycle the UPS?)

Thanks again. You guys are great.

[BillP]

hi again,

ok, lets focus on getting one card to work with the UPS, then we can add the second card in.

lets just work with the AP9617. lets hook that up the way it originally was and lets see if it will work. so lets reseat everything and put that original card back in.

alternatively, you can call into support of thats quicker but we can definitely continue working on here if you have time.

[Anonymous user]

Is there an order to reinsert these cards?

Do I also need to pull the Battery Monitor and External SwitchGear Monitor cards out as well?

Working through this forum is helping me to learn things that I didn't have the opportunity to when the UPS was installed. Believe me, I am enjoying this process.

[BillP]

yeah remove all of the cards if you can. the only thing you need to worry about is putting the network management cards in the correct slots. see the attachment on the other post about that. it gives pictures and instructions for the accessories and which slots they should go in.

other than that, you can put whatever you want in at anytime as long as they are in the correct slots.

[Anonymous user]

Everything is reseated. The management cards still do not see the UPS and the PowerView is asking me to Please Wait...

The management cards still cannot find the UPS.

I did not pull the System Power Supply cards. Should I repeat this and pull those two cards out as well?

[BillP]

ok.

at this point, i would suggest calling in if you can per the advice of a three phase UPS tech. (1-800-890-4272 opt 4 then opt 4)

but anyway - lets remove all accessory cards and just plug the powerview in by itself to see if we can get that to work. then if its working, start with the original AP9617 and see if the powerview IMMEDIATELY stops working.

if the powerview works by itself, it seems to indicate a communication problem on the bus or the baud rate problem - which i know you mentioned you didnt touch.

let me know how that goes.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks, Winna. I worked on it last night after hours and I managed to get the UPS working as it was originally. I had to shut down the servers and reboot the UPS to get it to work. The AP9619 still makes the PowerView stop working when it's seated and the AP9617 only works in the bottom right slot. That's the first time this UPS has had to reboot since it was installed four years ago. Its a good machine.

I'll give the support folks a call in a few minutes and see what we can turn up.

Thanks for your help, Winna. I appreciate your time and efforts.

[BillP]

no problem. you can let them know you were discussing it on the APC forum, if you havent called already.

[Anonymous user]

Winna, that was great advice. Neal had my problem worked out in less than two minutes. As it turned out, I somehow had the baud rate changed. We changed it back to 2400 so the PowerView could communicate with everything. And now, everything is working just as it should.

Thank you for your help. I enjoyed learning about my Symmetra; the only problems we've experienced with it have been during startup four years ago (when a field tech took care of everything) so I haven't had a chance to learn it's configuration.

Again, thank you very much.

[BillP]

no problem!

let us know if you need anything else 🙂

[BillP]

SymmetRa px 80 KVA not On

It's giving some fault 

1. System startup configuration failed 

2. Static bypass switch fault

3. RiM & MIM on and failed

4.UPSC is overload

5.No found working models

[BillP]

Hi,

Your system has multiple errors. You should contact local 3 phase support for assistance. Local support contact information can be found at this link

http://www.apc.com/pk/en/support/contact-us/index.jsp

[BillP · Accepted solution]

thank you Mr. Bill