Monitoring more than one UPS

[gadz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/1/2009

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I have a SmartUPS2200RM with an expander card adding a further 2 basic signalling serial ports. I am adding more servers to the rack (giving a total of 6 physical servers) and have calculated I need a second UPS so I'm thinking about getting another SmartUPS2200RM. As each server has a redundant power supply I intend connecting all the primary power supplies to one UPS and the secondary power to the other UPS as this would give some additional redundancy to my systems, not much I know but I've had UPSs expire on me in the past without warning. I'm not too sure on the best way of controlling the shutdown of the servers in the event of a general power failure as ideally I'd only want to shut down the servers when the both UPSs have gone to battery power. Is there any software that allows me to monitor both UPSs?

[gadz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/1/2009

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I have a SmartUPS2200RM with an expander card adding a further 2 basic signalling serial ports. I am adding more servers to the rack (giving a total of 6 physical servers) and have calculated I need a second UPS so I'm thinking about getting another SmartUPS2200RM. As each server has a redundant power supply I intend connecting all the primary power supplies to one UPS and the secondary power to the other UPS as this would give some additional redundancy to my systems, not much I know but I've had UPSs expire on me in the past without warning. I'm not too sure on the best way of controlling the shutdown of the servers in the event of a general power failure as ideally I'd only want to shut down the servers when the both UPSs have gone to battery power. Is there any software that allows me to monitor both UPSs?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Anonymous on APC forums on 6/1/2009

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Hi:

This can be accomplished very easily with PowerChute Network Shutdown. It is an easily setup custom installation which tells the servers to communicate with both UPS's, and not shutdown until both meet the criteria to do so. This software is free, but will require a network card in each of them. (AP9630, AP9631, AP9617, AP9619 will all work). If you use this method you will no longer need to use serial or your interface expander card at all, and can hook up as many servers as you'd like.

Thanks.

[Erasmus_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/1/2009

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In terms of monitoring both UPS', one of your solutions would be PowerChute Business Edition. This comes in either a free single-node agent version, or a Deluxe edition that allows for monitoring of all serial UPS' via one designated server. Setting up a redundant shutdown with PCBE isn't practical however, because each "agent" on the servers looks at only one UPS.

PowerChute Network shutdown requires one of our network management cards (AP9617, etc) to be installed in each UPS, but allows for highly configurable redundant shutdown options, and the NMC's themselves allow the UPS' to easily be remote controlled. Using NMCs/PCNS is by far the best option with a multiple UPS/server configuration.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Anonymous on APC forums on 6/1/2009

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Whoops, we both responded at the same time... but you get the idea. =P

[gadz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/8/2009

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Thanks CMFR & Erasmus, wanted to give you both 'Correct' points but not sure the system would let me so marked both Helpful to split the points, hope this is ok for you.
Thanks again.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 6/19/2009

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FYI, in regards to your question about the AP9630 vs AP9617..

the AP9630 is the replacement for the first generation AP9617 network management card. the second generation AP9630 network management card includes upgraded hardware which improves processing speeds and it also has increased security. the card also has newer firmware which is still user upgradeable and allows for new features to be added in the future to take advantage of that new hardware.

other than that, they both perform the same functions such as SNMP, email, syslog, etc

hope this helps!

[voidstar_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/19/2009

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Since the AP9617 is being replaced, I believe it is also less likely to get software updates than the AP9630. The AP9630 is quite a bit faster too.

[gadz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/22/2009

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Situation so far:

APC released a version of Powerhute Network Shutdown that runs on Win2008 with Hyper-V though unlike all the other versions it cannot been downloaded but has to be ordered via my reseller, and they cannot give me an eta, which begs the question has it been released.

In the meantime, I have got hold of a copy of Powerchute Business Edition v8.0 which will load to Win2008 with Hyper-V and am using that as an iterim solution, haven't got a lot of confidence in it but it's the best of a bad job.

I placed an order with my reseller for an AP9630 and was told it was end of life and offered an AP9617!

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 6/22/2009

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[here is the link to where you can buy Powerchute Network Shutdown for Hyper-V with all the part numbers you need to know|http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=127]

the reseller must be mistaken and has things backwards. if anything, AP9617 is end of life and AP9630 is the replacement. [here is a link to the network management cards|http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=98]