AP9630 "Application Watchdog"

[arj_apc]

I would like to implement an "Application Watchdog" using the scheduled outlet restart feature of the UPS AP9630 management card. My plan is to setup a scheduled outlet restart in say half an hours time. My Windows application will then use SNMP to update (say every minute) the scheduled restart time. Whilst the application is happily running the SNMP updates of the scheduled time will prevent the UPS from from ever actually restarting the machine. If the application crashes the SNMP update will not occur and the UPS will perform a soft shutdown and power off restart after half an hour.

Does anyone know if the scheduled timer is happy if the time is constantly updated via SNMP?

Can anyone see any problems with this idea?

Andrew

[voidstar_apc]

The UPS has both a setting and a timer for the outlet off delay. When the outlet is commanded to reboot, the setting is latched into the timer and the timer starts counting down. Today SNMP only exposes the setting, so I think you'll need to cancel the reboot (turn outlet on) and then start a new reboot to get the desired effect.

[arj_apc]

voidstar,

But presumably by constantly moving the scheduled time forwards (using SNMP) the reboot command will never actually be issued. I was also wondering if disabling, changing the time and then re-enabling the scheduled event would do the trick. Unfortunately I don't have access to a non-production UPS this week so I cannot test the ideas.

Andrew

[voidstar_apc]

Hi Andrew, I hadn't considered scheduled reboots, however scheduling is only accessible via the web and INI, not SNMP. I think INI would be the easiest way to do it... upload a new config.ini file (with only the scheduling section) every time you want to kick the watchdog. However this would (depending on duty cycle) complicate FTPing into the NMC for any other reason like updating the firmware so it might be worth doing the work of scripting against the web interface. Might want to either synchronize the NMC's time with the same source as your computer, or take the NMC's time into account when scheduling.

[arj_apc]

Are you sure about the scheduled time not being accessible from SNMP? If I look in the powernet417.mib I see...

xATSTestingScheduleTestTime OBJECT-TYPE
   SYNTAX DisplayString
   ACCESS read-write
   STATUS mandatory
   DESCRIPTION
      "The time of day that the scheduled test will occur.
       Specified in the format hh:mm."
   ::= { xATSTestingSchedule 3 }

Which seems to indicate the scheduled time is read/write from SNMP.

Andrew

[voidstar_apc]

Hi Andrew,

That's the InfraStruXure Automatic Transfer Switch (xATS)... it schedules testing of the attached generator. Great product -- sadly APC never managed to sell it well.

Here's what scheduled shutdown for UPS systems looks like in the INI:

[Scheduling]
; Schedule a shutdown event of the UPS.
; Format: Event# = Status, Interval, Turn Off Time, Turn On Time, PCNS, Name
; Status: Enabled/Disabled/Delete
; Interval: Once, Daily, 1 Week, 2/4/8 Weeks
; Turn Off Time: Time (Daily), Day Time (Weekly), or Date Time (Once)
; Turn On Time: Time (Daily), Day/'Same Day' Time (Weekly), or Date Time (Once)
; PCNS: Enabled/Disabled (PowerChute Network Shutdowns)
; Name: Text description
Event1=Enabled, Once, 01/01/2017 00:00, Immediately, Disabled, Shutdown
Event2=Not Configured
Event3=Not Configured
...

[arj_apc]

Ahhh, ok. I did not appreciate that the powernet417.mib file contains details for products other than the Smart-UPS. It's obvious now I know that.

Ok, I'll look into updating the scheduled time by sending a new .INI file.

On the other hand, it would be a great idea to allow the scheduled time to be updated from SNMP. As "Mr Firmware" I'm sure you could squeeze it into the next release!!! 🙂

Anyway, have a good weekend.

Andrew

[arj_apc · Accepted solution]

Voidstar, Sorry one more question...I assume you have shown the .ini section for shutting down the whole UPS. What is the section name for scheduling a shutdown on just one of the outlet groups?

Andrew