How can I use an SSH private/public keypair with the AP9630 management card?

[andyt22_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 3/18/2013

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I want to be able to log into a AP9630 UPS management card using a SSH private/public keypair instead of having to type in a password every time - is this possible? I have tried to scp an SSH public key from a Linux PC into the /ssh folder on a AP9630 but I keep getting 'connection lost' messages even though I can log into the system via SSH.

The reason I want to do this is if a server room temperature exceeds a certain threshold, a script running on a thermal monitoring PC will log into a UPS via SSH and shut it down, removing power from the servers, etc that the UPS feeds power to. If this is not possible via SSH, is there any other way I can get the UPS to power off unattended?

Thanks, Andy  

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 3/18/2013

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i don't think so - you can use the keys in general but i don't believe there is a way to get around the password requirement for authentication. might I suggest SNMP instead and doing a SET? you could do some type of CLI SNMP such as snmpset maybe.

[andyt22_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 3/18/2013

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Thanks, I have never used snmp before so I will look into this.

The problem I have is if there is a power failure, even a brief one, the cooling systems will stop and will not restart when power returns as they have to be manually restarted. Meanwhile, the entire server room is on multiple UPS units and will continue creating heat so I'd rather shut down everything by removing almost all power, as some servers will shut down but not power off.

Andy

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 3/18/2013

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I am not sure if this is an option either but with an AP9631 network management card, it has an ambient temperature probe that comes with it that could be used to gracefully shutdown any PowerChute Network shutdown clients when there is a temperature violation (meaning any violation - too hot, too cold) and then the UPS itself after that's done. I am not sure if that would work for you if you replaced the AP9630's. scripting may be just as easy for you also and save money.