Connecting USB-to-Serial cable to UPS SUM1500RMXL2U shutdown UPS?

[Anonymous user]

We have UPS deployment going on right now. We are asking the tech to go to branch offices to install UPS SUM1500RMXL2U and configure the UPS with IP address. We ask the tech to bring laptop with serial port or use USB-to-Serial cable to connect to UPS to configure IP address.

I receive report from some tech stating that when they connect USB-to-Serial cable to UPS, the UPS goes offline. I connect USB-to-Serial cable to couple UPS in my office and I can configure the IP address just fine.

Anyone knows what may causing the UPS goes offline when USB-to-Serial cable is being used to configure IP address?

[Anonymous user]

We have UPS deployment going on right now. We are asking the tech to go to branch offices to install UPS SUM1500RMXL2U and configure the UPS with IP address. We ask the tech to bring laptop with serial port or use USB-to-Serial cable to connect to UPS to configure IP address.

I receive report from some tech stating that when they connect USB-to-Serial cable to UPS, the UPS goes offline. I connect USB-to-Serial cable to couple UPS in my office and I can configure the IP address just fine.

Anyone knows what may causing the UPS goes offline when USB-to-Serial cable is being used to configure IP address?

[Techie_apc]

Indo,

APC recommends to use to use the 940-0024C or 1524C cable. Never use a different cable or USB to Serial cable. Doing so can result in the UPS turning off or rebooting. The configuration cable is wired specifically to the pinouts of the UPS’ serial port.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

the USB-to-Serial cable is not APC cable.* and you are correct about the USB end connect to PC and the Serial end connec to Serial port on UPS.

Laptop these days no longer has built-in Serial port so we connect USB-to-Serial cable to laptop and connect the APC Serial cable on the other end. I don't know what USB-to_RJ45 cable that come with UPS use for.

On the manual, one of the option to configure UPS with IP is to connect UPS to network that provide DHCP. However I never have success in doing that. I was told that after 3 times unsuccessful attempt to obtain IP address, the UPS is locked and the IP can only be configured using Serial cable?

Please let me know if you guys have suggestion to configure UPS IP rather than using Serial cable.

[Anonymous user]

Hi JonPro,

How can I reset NMC back to factory default configuration if I don't know what IP address setup on the NMC?

Thanks,
Indo

[BillP]

Indo Manna,

Yes you are correct, 940-0024 and 940-1524 are APC Smart Signaling Cables Serial-to-Serial. We have the same UPS here in the laboratory and looking on it, the UPS does have a Serial and a USB port but it looks like an RJ-45 port.

You've mentioned that they've used USB-to-Serial, I guess the Serial goes to the UPS and the USB goes into the PC. Are these APC cables as well? To check if this is an APC cable it should either have 940-0272 or AP9833 on it.

[BillP]

Indo,

The USB-to-RJ45 cable that came with the unit is the one that you'll be using in the event that you want to use USB instead of Serial. Quick question, did they tried using this cable to communicate with the UPS? If they did, advise them to perform a braindead on the UPS I'll provide the link on how to do a braindead below. If you can't tell if they did use this cable I suggest that you perform the braindead and then try to re-establish communication with the card.

Going back to the network management card issue, I believe the UPS comes with an AP9619. Where you able to get the MAC address of the card, if you have it you can try using ARP to set an IP address on it. Regarding DHCP, the default settings of our card looks for a certain cookie or Vendor ID on your DHCP server this is what we call option 43, let me know if you have any knowledge on how to put it so that I can give you the key. Please be advised that if the cable that you're using does not work with our UPS, you'll need to get an APC cable.

There are different ways to configure and set an IP address on our management cards and like what I've said the links are provided below.

APC Knowledge Base Articles
Braindead Procedure -- [Whydoesn't the serial communications work on a Smart-UPS SUA model when USB communications has been tried first?|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2950]
Configuring an NMC -- [How do you make a Network Management Card communicate on a network?|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3061]

[Anonymous user]

Hi JonPro,

Yes. I know option 43 on my DHCP server and I can set that up. Please provide the key and thanks for your help.

Thanks,
Indo

[Techie_apc]

Indo,

You can follow the below K-base document instructions to reset the NMC to its factory defaults.
http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=7879

I hope that this helps.

[BillP]

Hello Indo,

I just sent you an e-mail on the address that was on your profile regarding the Option 43 that needs to be set on your DHCP server. Regarding your second question I would like to ask first if you have the ability to access your NMC using either HyperTerminal or PuttY. If you do all you have to do is to login to the NMC and then choose the following options:

Once you are on the control console choose 3 (System) and then 4 (Tools) and then you can choose the following.

2 (Reset to Defaults) --> This option would reset all of the settings on the card
3 (Reset to Defaults except TCP/IP) --> If you choose this and you an IP assigned to the card it will leave the IP settings but will reset the other settings
4 (Reset only TCP/IP to Defaults) --> Only the IP settings will be set to defaults.

[BillP]

Indo,

There is another way for you to reset it but you need to know what is the IP address of the card since you need to be logged in either thru TelNet or Web interface.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks, Techie. The cable that you mentioned is the cable that came with the UPS, correct?

[Techie_apc]

Yes, the cable ships with the UPS.