SNMP w/smart-ups 750, OID for "replacebattery" always shows "ok" even w/battery out ??

[timinfl_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 8/24/2016

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I have been trying to monitor a group of UPSs using nagios.

SNMP works more or less if line power is off or output off, but determining battery health seems broken.

But if I query OID 1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.1.2.2.4.0, it always returns "1" regardless if the battery is plugged in or whether the battery is unplugged and the "replace battery" indicator is on and beeping.

I unplugged the battery to simulate a bad one.

Is the SNMP MIB broken? I have tried two different 750 units with same results.

[timinfl_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 8/24/2016

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Also strangely, the OID querty for .1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.1.2.2.1.0  ("upsAdvBatteryCapacity.0") reads 47 even with the battery unplugged...

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 8/24/2016

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Hi Tim,

Can you give me an exact model of the Smart-UPS 750? A response to .1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.1.1.2.5 or .1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.1.1.1.1 would be good.

Also, can you check the other interfaces beyond SNMP like web, telnet/ssh or local serial interfaces and let me know if the Network Management Card is reporting a correct status there?

Lastly, the sysDescr (.1.3.6.1.2.1.1.1) could be useful too to tell me what firmware you have on your UPS Network Management Card.

[timinfl_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 8/24/2016

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Models SUA750 and SMT750. Also tried a SMT1500, all same results, 1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.1.2.2.4.0 doesn't change if battery is disconnected either by removing or disconnecting the jumper.

I have many other SNMP OIDs reporting as expected on these units, like input voltage, output voltage, % charge, battery temp, etc.

I was trying to test my Nagios monitor to make sure it would warn us if the battery were bad, maybe I can't unplug the battery it to simulate a bad battery.

I was thinking that the "replace battery" LED could be detected through an SNMP query, based on this from the Powernet MIB description:

APC UPS :: Replace Battery
Monitor Type SNMP - QA Monitor
SNMP Object Type upsAdvBatteryReplaceIndicator
OID 1.3.6.1.4.1.318.1.1.1.2.2.4.0
Returns Indicates whether the UPS batteries need to be replaced:

1 = Batteries do not need replacing
2 = Batteries need replacing
Monitoring Condition Pass if not equal to 2
Monitor failure indicates that there is a UPS battery that needs to be changed. The UPS may not perform as desired should a power failure occur.

However, I'm not sure this value is really the same thing as the "replace battery" indicator LED on the front of the unit...

[timinfl_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 8/25/2016

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About the card, OID 1.3.6.1.2.1.1.0 reports:  

MB:v4.1.0  PF:v6.2.1  PN:apc_hw05_aos_621.bin AF1:v6.2.1  AN1:apc_hw05_sumx_621.bin  MN:AP9631  HR:08

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 8/26/2016

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Hi Tim,

Okay, thanks for the info. I expect the OID to work just as you expect. But, I also think what you're simulating is "battery disconnected" rather than battery needs replacing. That is why I suggested to check what the other interfaces report as the current alarm when you try disconnecting the battery. You'd need to have a self test that fails to get a replace battery indicator or replace battery message.

I am not sure if this will work and I can't try it today myself but you could try disconnecting the battery and then also running a self test afterwards to see if it triggers a replace battery and re-check the OIDs. I am not sure the UPS will refuse the self test because there is no battery or if it may trigger a self test failed. Depending on the UPS model, they also may act a little differently. I also cannot be sure without trying if the UPS will turn off so I'd proceed with a non-critical load if possible, especially if you force a self test through the UPS display versus issuing a self test command from the management interface or SNMP OID. Typically, UPS logic will come into play if you issue the command but using the front panel LCD will force a self test so in this scenario I'd be cautious of forcing a self test through the front panel as I am not sure if the UPS will force a self test still with no battery and then turn off. I can try this Monday if you prefer to wait for me. I have an SUA and SMT.

As a side note which may come into play later, 6.4.0 is the latest firmware version available for Smart-UPS with AP9630/31/35. Not sure if you want to upgrade (lots of security fixes) but we may need to give it a try if in the future we still see a problem when truly triggering a replace battery condition AKA failed self test.