Please help me chose between SMT 750c and SMT 750 with Network Management Card 2

[BillP]

Hi

Are there feature differences between the newly released SMT 750c (with SmartConnect) and SMT 750 with Network Management Card 2 (APC-AP9631)?

Looking at the specs of both, it seems like an SMT750 with an AP9631 has more features than SMT 750c with SmartConnect. Am I missing anything here? 

Thanks and advance. 

Best Regards

SMK

[BillP]

Hi,

The SMT750C with SmartConnect allows you to view the status of your UPS through a secure web portal. You can configure automatic notifications, you will received firmware updates, view events, view historical events and view the UPS status.  

With the SMT750 with AP9630 can configure automatic notifications, view events, view historical events, view the UPS status, view historical data i.e voltages, and manage / configure the UPS.  

[voidstar_apc]

I should add: SmartConnect is a cloud-based solution -- you connect to Schneider's servers to manage your devices. The AP9631 is a local solution -- you connect directly to the device to manage it.

[r__k_apc]

Hi - follow-up questions on the above. Trying to understand the options for internal (non-cloud based) management over IP of the SMT750/750C models. The price point is attractive but I need to make sure I get what I need for management - I am upgrading from wall-mount BH500NET. This is a home office/lab scenario, not a remote branch or point-of-sale scenario.

1 - if I purchase the SMT750C, but not an AP963x card, I am really limited to only what I can do via the cloud portal, which is not bad but - there is no local IP management interface (including SNMP and APCUPSD/NUT, unsupported by APC) that I get that can can function locally. I want to be able to automatically shut down several remote (not connected to the UPS) Windows servers, desktops and ESX machines, via APC or freeware agents installed on each. As I read the specs, I cannot do that with cloud only management, regardless of what client I want to use.

2 - however if I purchase an AP963x card:

2a - do then still need to buy the SMT750C, or can I buy the SMT750 only?

(I do not need and cannot enable vendor cloud connectivity for UPS management in my environment, that's the point of this question, how will my internal management be affected if I purchase the SMT750/750C but cannot connect it to the cloud)

2b - if I still have (or choose) to buy the SMT750C, can I disable the cloud connectivity and use the SMT750C via the local AP963x card *only*, and not have any local management features affected or disabled?

2c - Does the AP963x card include a 5-seat license for Powerchute?

Thanks

P.S. my username is r__k (r, 2 underscores, k) - not sure why it displays as just R

P.P.S I found this thread:

http://forums.apc.com/spaces/5/smart-ups-symmetra-lx-rm/forums/general/82774/what-are-pros-and-cons-...

which I think answers /confirms my #1 above, but would still appreciate advice on 2a,b,c.

[voidstar_apc]

I think Bill would know more about the cloud options, but in case he's on vacation I can answer your questions about the non-cloud stuff:

2a: Any SmartUPS including SMT750 and SMT750C will work with the card and provide safe shutdown.

2b: The cloud feature has it's own ethernet jack painted in green with a cloud icon on the back of the unit. To avoid using the cloud, leave it unplugged. The AP963x cards have their own ethernet jack. UPSes that have an embedded version of the card will have ethernet jacks that aren't painted green.

2c: PowerChute Business Edition (PCBE) comes with a free 5 seat license, however you won't need it with the card. Instead you install PowerChute Network Shutdown (PCNS) on any computer you want to shut down safely, or use APCUPSd. PCNS is free and there are no seat limits.

Regarding username display: for some reason the forum is configured to show first names. I promptly changed my first name to my username.

[r__k_apc]

Thanks for the reply - so to confirm, the AP963x management card functionality is full and the same between the SMT750c and the SMT750, and this is true regardless of whether I am using the SMT750C cloud functionality or not.

Turning the question upside down, do you know (if the AP963x is installed) if the SMT750C has both the cloud functionality and the AP963x functionality simultaneously, or does the AP963x install somehow then impact the cloud functionality.

Thanks

[voidstar_apc]

Yes, the AP963x provides similar functionality between the two UPSes. The SMT750c is newer so there might be differences just because of that -- one difference that comes to mind is they improved the firmware upgrade process on the newer models.

They should be totally separate, ie, SMT750c + AP963x gives both cloud and local NMC functionality. But I haven't tested the cloud stuff so I can't say for sure. I'm more of an NMC guy.

[r__k_apc · Accepted solution]

I guess that's enough for me to make a decision (SMT750C + AP963x).

Many thanks for your help.