AP9617 missing Apparent Load Power & Load Current after upgrade

[Anonymous user]

I have 2 Smart-UPS 1500 RM, each with an AP9617 management card in them.

Prior to upgrading both UPS to apc_hw02_aos_373.bin (apc_hw02_sumx_372.bin), I was able to view the current load in amps via the web interface or via snmp (oid .1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.1.4.2.4.0).

I upgraded both units at the same time and using the same firmware files.

Now 1 unit will show the current load and 1 will not. 

Working
Model: Smart-UPS 1500 RM
Serial Number: WQ0807160068
Firmware Revision: 667.18.D
Manufacture Date: 07/21/09

Not Working

Model: Smart-UPS 1500 RM

Serial Number: AS0548235287

Firmware Revision: 617.3.D

Manufacture Date: 11/27/05

I know these are old UPS's and old management cards, but I am really curious why both displayed the current load in amps via snmp prior but not after.

I can provide snmpwalk output for both Units if needed, but the oid is totally missing from AS0548235287

[BillP]

Hello,

Which version did you upgrade from?

I believe we did intentionally make changes in this area back in the day due to the fact that some UPSs shouldn't have been reporting certain values to begin with based on what they truly support in their own firmware.

Before we begin, I know that you showed us through NMC, these both report as Smart-UPS 1500 - can you confirm what their exact SKU is from the sticker on the actual UPS itself? Something like SUA1500 or SURT1500? That way, I can verify what I am thinking is happening is true where we made those changes I mentioned and I can clearly explain it.

[Anonymous user]

The OS version was very old (AOS 2.1?), I think it was dated 2003

Works
SUA1500R2X122
WQ0807160068

Not Working
SUA1500RM2U
AS0548235287

[BillP]

Hi John,

Sorry for the delay. I was asking a few colleagues to help try and figure out what is going on.

My first question is - were you seeing 0 for output current or was it actually showing data properly?

The reality is that the two UPSs you have, even though they are similar model numbers, are different generations internally and specific to the firmware platform. The SUA1500R2X122 is a "4G" from 2008 and the SUA1500RM2U from 2005 (year of mfg seen in serial numbers), based on its firmware is what we call a 3.6G meaning it was developed between the 3rd and 4th generation models that are historically designated by their SU and SUA prefixes and the model number. Yours have both SUA of course.

The UPS team confirmed they only added support for output current and VA (apparent load) in 4G units unfortunately.

Now, back to my original thought I was getting at and with the above considered, I think the NMC firmware did a "clean up" at some point where it stopped showing 0 or other erroneous values when it should be N/A because the UPS does not support it to begin with. 

Let me know if you have any questions or feedback on this. We could always get you a firmware downgrade if you wanted it (wouldn't recommend that) but then it is likely the values you were seeing before were erroneous in some way.

[Anonymous user]

Oddly enough it used to show output current of 1 or 2amps. I do appreciate you checking this out. It's not a huge deal, I just disabled that field in my monitoring system. I guess losing that oid is a small price to pay for a more modern firmware.

[BillP]

Hmm, and the 1 or 2 amps for load must have made sense, right? Meaning you have a small load on the UPS and didn't expect to see something like 10 or 12? It's piqued my interest as it did yours so was just asking. Understood you'll stop checking on it with your monitoring tool.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Yes, I keep both APC's fairly balanced so it reported within 1amp of the other unit, which made sense.

That oid doesn't exist when I snmpwalk that unit, so I guess that part was removed from the code for that model, but I am interested to see if it was intentional or the reason why.

Thanks again!