SMT1000I USB coonection/comms not working? Correct Serial cable? Firmware update

[Aficionado]

SMT1000I
FW 9.03 ID:18

Usb B -to- USB A cable
plugging into several usb ports..... does not make it appear under lsusb
modbus enabled/disabled makes no differnece.

ressetting UPS to factory defaults makes no difference

firware update tool does not see it either
Communication/control is supported over usb B -to- Usb A correct?

Please advise, I am stumped (UPS Newbie)

would updateing to firmware 15 solve the issue? (ID:18 syas it supports FW update over USB)

is this the correct RJ45 to serial cable?
https://www.apc.com/us/en/product/AP940-0625A/cable-ups-communications-smart-signalling-6-2m-db9-to-...

Is rj45 -to- usb not compatible?  I have no serial ports

I have no serial ports, could it be converted back to usb A on the other end? (if usb A -to- usb B does not work?

[Teken]

You’ll need to restate what the actual problem is and your ultimate goal as I have no clue what you’re asking or saying.

Regardless, the link you provided is the correct RJ50 to Serial cable.

You can use a serial to USB adapter if you don’t have a computer that has this legacy port.

This is a proven model that works to convert the signal correctly once the USB Driver has been installed:

https://a.co/d/hv4g3Vf

Lastly, insure your environment meets all the requirements and prerequisites before you attempt a UPS firmware upgrade! ☝️

If the hardware is under APC warranty this procedure should be done over the phone live with APC Technical Support.

Have a back up and exit plan should things go bad.

If the hardware is (Not) under warranty you better understand the risks of upgrading the UPS firmware. 🤦‍♂️

Questions Ask . . . 👍 

[Aficionado · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the feedback

TL;DR - 3 out of 4 faulty usb b-to-usb a cables were the issue. fourth one finally worked. all is well now

I realise now that It could have been a clearer post....was done in haste amidst troubleshooting and frustration

The ultimate goal was to ewstablish communication with the computer and ultimatlet begin setting the ups up. but the communication was not happening
This model has rj45, usb as ways to connect and communicate with Server/computer (and optional NMC for Management)
Whilst plugging in the usb B to usb A cable into the computer it would not show up or be recognised
I had tried several times and ways to do so, as mentioned (rather confusingly I admit) in my initial post
I had also tried plugging it into a windows machine to see if it was being picked up and nothing

The firmware tool was just a way, I thought, I could test to see if it actually communicates with the machine, just in case for some reason it wasn't being picked up by the other means

The question about the serial cable was to confirm the model so I could find one and troubleshoot the connection issues through that also, to eliminate guesswork

Alas.....in the end it was faulty cables............I had tried THREE (yes 3) separate usb b-to-usb a cables before posting here and they all apparently failed.

As a last attempt I sourced a fourth one and it all showed up on the host machine as expected.
1 out of 4 cables...never came across those odds ...the 3 duds have been disposed of

Regarding the firmware update....followed the instructions and everything went smoothly . I am now on FW 15.0. (I had already done this before your response, judging by your warnings it seems I got lucky that it all went well - hardware is not under APC warranty)

Thank you for the insight and info

[Teken]

The three cables were not defective they simply did not have the data cable present! ☝️

The market is filled with power only vs data & power USB cables. This problem has existed since the USB standard was introduced.