Problems with 2 UPS units

[SmlBizAdmin_apc]

I have a problem with 2 different UPS units, each has a different server plugged into it.

#1. APC Smart-UPS 1500 with a server running Server 2012 R2 plugged into it and the latest version of the PowerChute Business Edition software installed (correct version for 2012 R2). This server has been connected to the UPS by both a USB and then a DB9 cable but the UPS does not show up in the APC Business Edition Device List Configuration window. The correct subnet is supplied and the IP of the management card in the UPS can be pinged and connected to via a browser where I've logged in and I believe configured it correctly. But it won't appear in the device list. It doesn't show up in Device Manager either. What needs to be done to get this UPS to show up and be managed in the PowerChute software?

#2. Server is an old Windows 2003 server getting decommissioned soon. But in the meantime I'm trying to manage it and the UPS it's plugged into. This UPS is an older one that does not have a management card in it. The UPS shows in Device Manager and when I run the PowerChute Business Edition Device List Configuration the server shows as a Discovered Device. I select it, click Add to add it to the Current Device List and click Apply. A message then appears in the window that it's preparing to add the server to the device list. But then that changes to the error that says it failed to apply the configuration profile to the server. I have no idea what is wrong and what to do to. There are no errors in the event logs of the server, I only get that error message in the APC software which doesn't provide any help.

Jonathan

[BillP]

Hi,

On 3/15/2016 4:32 PM, Jonathan said:

#1. APC Smart-UPS 1500 with a server running Server 2012 R2 plugged into it and the latest version of the PowerChute Business Edition software installed (correct version for 2012 R2). This server has been connected to the UPS by both a USB and then a DB9 cable but the UPS does not show up in the APC Business Edition Device List Configuration window. The correct subnet is supplied and the IP of the management card in the UPS can be pinged and connected to via a browser where I've logged in and I believe configured it correctly. But it won't appear in the device list. It doesn't show up in Device Manager either. What needs to be done to get this UPS to show up and be managed in the PowerChute software?

Is the system on the same network segment and the system running PBEServer? If not open the Device List Configuration Wizard and click on Configure discovery and add the network segment. If the system is in the same network segment the issue may be caused by a miss-matched user name or password. If the user name and password used for the PBEAgent does not match the PBEServer the PBEAgent will not be discovered. 

On 3/15/2016 4:32 PM, Jonathan said:

#2. Server is an old Windows 2003 server getting decommissioned soon. But in the meantime I'm trying to manage it and the UPS it's plugged into. This UPS is an older one that does not have a management card in it. The UPS shows in Device Manager and when I run the PowerChute Business Edition Device List Configuration the server shows as a Discovered Device. I select it, click Add to add it to the Current Device List and click Apply. A message then appears in the window that it's preparing to add the server to the device list. But then that changes to the error that says it failed to apply the configuration profile to the server. I have no idea what is wrong and what to do to. There are no errors in the event logs of the server, I only get that error message in the APC software which doesn't provide any help.

You should verify that you can log into the PBEAgent web interface. If there is a communication issue between the Agent and the UPS the Agent will fail to communicate properly with the PBEServer. You should also verify the user name and password match.  

[SmlBizAdmin_apc]

Bill, thanks for responding.

The same user name and password is used for all APC software on both servers and I've verified it multiple times, so that I can rule out.

All servers and UPS units are on the same subnet.

Per #1 I've tried adding the subnet multiple times to scan but it never finds the SmartUPS even though I can connect to and login to its web interface with no problem. The APC software just doesn't see it.

Per #2, I don't know what you mean by the PBEAgent web interface. If you're referring to the console that is installed as part of the Business Edition installation, then yes I have no problem logging into it. If you're referring to logging into something using a web browser, then I don't know what that would be. In scenario #2 I don't use a web browser for anything.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

On 3/17/2016 9:47 AM, Jonathan said:

Per #2, I don't know what you mean by the PBEAgent web interface. If you're referring to the console that is installed as part of the Business Edition installation, then yes I have no problem logging into it. If you're referring to logging into something using a web browser, then I don't know what that would be. In scenario #2 I don't use a web browser for anything.

All PowerChute Business Edition Agents have a web interface. The Agent is the piece of the application responsible for communicating to and from the UPS. You can access the interface from a browser (Firefox, IE, Chrome) by entering http://system IP address:3052 or https://system IP address:6547 The PBEServer only gathers information from the Agent/s. The PBEConsole is the GUI that displays the information gathered by the PBEServer. 

In most installations I recommend only using the web interface unless you are purchasing the Deluxe 25 node version to monitor 25 Agent from 1 central location.