APC AP7901 - A! question

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

I purchased a used AP7901 on ebay. I was not able to get this unit to get a DHCP address. I opened a serial connection to the unit, assigned a static IP and it still did not respond.

I noticed that I have, under Stat, it shows N? and A!

Is there a way to correct this? Not sure what to do.

Thanks.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Angela,

What is your fee?

Thanks.

See Answer In Context

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Great. Where do I ship this unit?

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

I just sent you a direct message.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

I purchased a used AP7901 on ebay. I was not able to get this unit to get a DHCP address. I opened a serial connection to the unit, assigned a static IP and it still did not respond.

I noticed that I have, under Stat, it shows N? and A!

Is there a way to correct this? Not sure what to do.

Thanks.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Hello,

The first thing we should do is go under System->About System and scroll through that all and let me know what you see. That way, I can verify the current files on the PDU but hopefully we can fix this or do a firmware upgrade if the firmware is part of the problem.

For example:

About System

Model Number : AP7921

Serial Number : ZAXXXXXXXXXX

NMC Serial Number : ZAXXXXXXXXXX

Manufacture Date : 09/08/2005

Hardware Revision : B2

MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 78 CC F2

Flash Type : TOS TC58FVM5B2

Press to continue...

---------------------------------------------------------------

Module Information

Description : Rack PDU APP

---------------------------------------------------------------

Name : rpdu Type : StatApp

Version : 374 Sector : 16

Date : 03/13/2012 Time : 16:16:54

CRC16 : 4D49

Press to continue...

Description : Network Management Card AOS

---------------------------------------------------------------

Name : aos Type : APC OS

Version : 374 Sector : 47

Date : 11/09/2011 Time : 11:45:09

CRC16 : 49C6

Press to continue...

Thanks!

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Hi Angela. Here is the info you requested:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

About System

Model Number : AP7901

Serial Number : ZA0635007831

Manufacture Date : 06/08/2007

Hardware Revision : B2

MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 2B 0A FD

Flash Type : AMD A29DL322DB

Press to continue...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Module Information

Description : Rack PDU APP

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : rpdu Type : StatApp

Version : 374 Sector : 16

Date : 03/13/2012 Time : 16:16:54

CRC16 : 4D49

Press to continue...

Description : Network Management Card AOS

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : aos Type : APC OS

Version : 334 Sector : 47

Date : 01/05/2007 Time : 14:23:44

CRC16 : 2D13

Press to continue...

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Thanks. You have a similar issue to what is outlined here -> AP7921 - empty Device Manager

When you assigned an IP address, did the status LED (with the X or checkmark next to it) turn solid green? Is there a link LED present on the network jack?

Feel free to show me the output of your TCP/IP settings screen too. Maybe there is another problem there causing no network access i.e. missing MAC address.

This is under Network->TCP/IP. See below for mine.

------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

Network started. Manual settings are in use.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

System IP : 10.44.44.131 MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 78 CC F2

Subnet Mask : 255.255.254.0

Default Gateway : 10.218.44.1

Host Name : APC

Domain Name : example.com

1- System IP : 10.44.44.131

2- Subnet Mask : 255.255.254.0

3- Default Gateway: 10.44.44.1

4- Boot Mode : Manual

5- Advanced...

- Back, - Refresh, - Event Log

I am thinking we need to hopefully access this over the network and tinker with the firmware application files and we can probably fix it. If we have to do the firmware over the serial cable to fix it, it will just be long and slow.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

The status light was green before I set a manual IP. It is also green after setting an IP. It does not respond when I try to hit the web server.

Here is the info:

------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

Network started. Manual settings are in use.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

System IP : 10.10.199.49 MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 2B 0A FD

Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway : 10.10.199.1

Host Name : APC

Domain Name : example.com

1- System IP : 10.10.199.49

2- Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

3- Default Gateway: 10.10.199.1

4- Boot Mode : Manual

5- Advanced...

- Back, - Refresh

>

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Ok, what this tells me is that manual settings are not actually set/in use since it says Network Not Started, maximum retries reached (which relates to DHCP and/or BOOTP). Did you fiddle with the settings on this screen and play around with the DHCP cookie setting?

Here is what I suggest.

Log into it again, confirm it still looks the same as above and that the boot mode still says manual. Then, go back and press Esc until the main menu and press 4 for log out. Then, press the pinhole reset button on the display with a paper clip or similar to force a reboot. Go back to this menu and verify it says at the top "Manual settings in use" or similar. Then once they are, we'd want to try and log into it.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

American Power Conversion Network Management Card AOS v3.3.4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : Unknown Date : 01/09/2007

Contact : Unknown Time : 11:49:21

Location : Unknown User : Administrator

Up Time : 0 Days 0 Hours 1 Minute Stat : P+ N+ A!

------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

Network started. Manual settings are in use.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

System IP : 10.10.199.49 MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 2B 0A FD

Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway : 10.10.199.1

Host Name : APC

Domain Name : example.com

1- System IP : 10.10.199.49

2- Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

3- Default Gateway: 10.10.199.1

4- Boot Mode : Manual

5- Advanced...

Still no response from web server. Network appears to be working as I see the N+, but I still see an app error.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Hmm - do you have it on a peer to peer network directly connected or do you have this on a functional network? Can you reset it to defaults under System->Tools and re-configure? Before that, I'd make sure a proxy server isn't a problem, like in your browser settings. You can also try telnet if you have that capability.

That does look fine above per the screen.

A! means the application is not right and it isn't. Each APC management card has an APC Operating System (AOS) and an application file for what the management card is installed in (APP) - like a UPS, Rack PDU, etc.

Your firmware is mismatched - you should have AOS 3.7.4 and Rack PDU APP 3.7.4 and instead you have AOS 3.3.4 and Rack PDU APP 3.7.4 so hence the A! because AOS 3.3.4 does not recognize APP 3.7.4 and they don't work together. This is probably the result of a botched firmware upgrade previously.

So, we have two options - try what I mentioned first off and let's try to get the networking to work or the other option is to do serial firmware upgrades which might be a little more timely in the long term. Let me know how you'd like to proceed. What we will need to do is load the application file that goes with AOS 3.3.4 to get it back to where it should be, then we can try a firmware upgrade after to AOS 3.7.4 and Rack PDU APP 3.7.4.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

The botched firmware would have been my fault. When at first it would not work out of the box, I uploaded the 3.7.4 firmware via serial. I did not upload the app. I have just completed an update. This is where I stand.

I have verified there is nothing blocking communication. If I plug this same network cable in to a machine, I am able to remote to it without any problems.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

About System

Model Number : AP7901

Serial Number : ZA0635007831

Manufacture Date : 06/08/2007

Hardware Revision : B2

MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 2B 0A FD

Flash Type : AMD A29DL322DB

Press to continue...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Module Information

Description : Network Management Card AOS

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : aos Type : APC OS

Version : 374 Sector : 16

Date : 11/09/2011 Time : 11:45:09

CRC16 : 49C6

Press to continue...

Description : Network Management Card AOS

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : aos Type : APC OS

Version : 374 Sector : 47

Date : 11/09/2011 Time : 11:45:09

CRC16 : 49C6

Press to continue...

------- System ----------------------------------------------------------------

1- User Manager

2- Identification

3- Date/Time

4- Tools

5- RADIUS

6- Modem

7- About System

- Back, - Refresh

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Hi Brian,

Can you confirm what you see now - is AOS 3.7.4 active or AOS 3.3.4 - (you can tell by what you see on the top right hand corner of the screen when you log in). Whatever this number is now, you need to load the APP that matches it.

In your latest posts, it looks like you have two AOSs v3.7.4 - if that is the case, I would try to put 3.7.4 rpdu APP on there. It appears 3.3.4 got overwritten.

Let me know if you find anything different. Don't worry - we'll get it going!

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

Network started. Manual settings are in use.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

System IP : 10.10.199.49 MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 2B 0A FD

Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway : 10.10.199.1

Host Name : APC

Domain Name : example.com

1- System IP : 10.10.199.49

2- Subnet Mask : 255.255.255.0

3- Default Gateway: 10.10.199.1

4- Boot Mode : Manual

5- Advanced...

-----------------------------------

American Power Conversion Network Management Card AOS v3.7.4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : Unknown Date : 01/09/2007

Contact : Unknown Time : 12:46:54

Location : Unknown User : Administrator

Up Time : 0 Days 0 Hours 6 Minutes Stat : P+ N+ A-

------- Control Console -------------------------------------------------------

1- Device Manager

2- Network

3- System

4- Logout

- Main Menu, - Refresh

>

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Angela,

Like the idiot I am, I jumped the gun and loaded the APP for 3.7.4. I mis-read your message. How do I go back down to 3.3.4 for both APP and everything else? Where do I find the necessary files?

Thanks,
Brian

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

The initial login screen shows:

User Name : apc

Password : ***

American Power Conversion Network Management Card AOS v3.7.4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : Unknown Date : 01/10/2007

Contact : Unknown Time : 06:47:11

Location : Unknown User : Administrator

Up Time : 0 Days 18 Hours 0 Minutes Stat : P+ N+ A-

------- Control Console -------------------------------------------------------

1- Device Manager

2- Network

3- System

4- Logout

- Main Menu, - Refresh

>

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Ok, I would put rpdu v3.7.4 on next and see what happens.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

I put 3.7.4 on there. This is where I'm at:

User Name : apc

Password : ***

American Power Conversion Network Management Card AOS v3.7.4

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name : RackPDU Date : 01/10/2007

Contact : Unknown Time : 08:58:47

Location : Unknown User : Administrator

Up Time : 0 Days 0 Hours 8 Minutes Stat : P+ N? A+

Switched Rack PDU: Communication Established

------- Control Console -------------------------------------------------------

1- Device Manager

2- Network

3- System

4- Logout

- Main Menu, - Refresh, - Event Log

>

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Can't get the network to come up. Will not get a DHCP address, and when I assign a manual, it does not respond.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Ok, that looks right for the firmware stuff. Now, we need to get the web working - what is the Network set to now - I see N?

Did you want to try DHCP/Manual TCP/IP settings again? Had you tried to reset this to defaults per one of my earlier suggestions (which perhaps wiped everything out)? If not, that would be our next step under the System->Tools menu in an attempt to get the web interface working (or any of the network interfaces).

If web does not work, you could try FTP.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

I did a reset. DHCP does not grab an address.

4- FTP Server

5- Telnet/SSH

6- Web/SSL/TLS

7- Email

8- SNMP

9- Syslog

10- ISX Protocol

- Back, - Refresh, - Event Log

> 1

------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

Network not started. Currently making a DHCP request...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 2B 0A FD

* A cookie is required in the vendor options to accept a DHCP offer.

1- Boot Mode : DHCP only

2- Advanced...

- Back, - Refresh, - Event Log

>

Setting a static IP does not work either. It will not respond to anything.

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Under #2 in TCP/IP settings, you do need to probably change the option for the vendor cookie to NOT be required to accept an offer. Then press accept changes at the bottom of that menu and confirm it says success, and then press ESC until you get back to the main menu and log out and let it reboot one more time.

I imagine you are not using or familiar with option 43 for DHCP (called a vendor cookie) - especially if you're using this on a home network or small network. This prevents a lot of users from getting a DHCP address if not set up properly but it can be disabled as I instructed.

If that still does not work, I am not sure what else I can do or what could be wrong with it. I can offer to look at it if you wanted me to look at it and ship it back to me (in Rhode Island @ APC headquarters) but so far, everything sounds goods and looks good in the menu (besides DHCP cookie).

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Angela,

What is your fee?

Thanks.