Microlink documentation

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

we are using a few SMC1000 units and cannot get PowerChute BE  to run (does not work with Debian on ARM architecture). Unfortunately these units are not fully supported by apcupsd yet, due to the fact that APC has not released any information about the Microlink protocol used in newer units.

Are there any plans to publish any details on Microlink so that people also have a chance to actually use the Smart features of SMC units? Probably some sample code or documentation for the apcupsd developers would be sufficient.

Right now we are pretty much lost with the SMC units - they apparently don't support Modbus, they don't support legacy addon-cards and PowerChute does not support Debian Linux on ARM servers. This is all very messy.

- Fred

[BillP]

Hi Fred,

I can't solve every issue here based on my area of expertise and role but what I do know is that we do not have plans to release Micro-link specifications and Modbus is the interface we have decided to provide to apcupsd. Someone is helping me to find out if we will be adding Modbus to SMC units to help with apcupsd since you pose a valid quesiton.

One suggestion though for this situation was to use the generic USB power summary info that should be available. Are you cable to check into that or have you already and received undesirable results?

[Anonymous user]

Thank you for your reply. Adding modbus support to SMC units would definitely help here, as it is well documented and properly supported by apcupsd on all platforms.

Right now we are actually using the generic USB HID power interface, but this has some major drawbacks, such as:

• Current load cannot be displayed → important for planning and monitoring
• No support for runtime calibration after battery replacement
• Date of battery replacement cannot be set/viewed → important for planning and monitoring

So if you have any news on Modbus support for the newer SMC units, please let us know. In fact we purchased the units due to an old sales document which stated that all newer Smart-UPS units have Modbus support through a firmware update.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi Fred,

Unfortunately, I confirmed SMC1000 won't be able to support Modbus through firmware upgrade. I believe any newer SMC models that contain a C at the end of the SKU will/do and SMT and SRT models.

I understand your concerns on the USB power summary too which I relayed to some folks.

You said you purchased these due to finding some possibly older documentation stating that SMC units supported Modbus? I couldn't find anything specifically online at this time that would be incorrect or could mis-inform users but please share if you did find something so we can sort that out and make it right on the doc and with you.

I think ideally, an SMT would be best and has more features for your situation (needing the Modbus and no PCBE software available) but I am not sure what you think and if its feasible to even consider an SMT at this point if these are already installed and if what is missing is critical and needs to be resolved, all things considered.

Sorry I don't have better news! Let me know if you have any questions.