SU3000RMXL3U NMC2 problems

[MarkC_apc]

I cannot communicate with the an AP9630 card thru it's IP address on a local network.  I can use smart protocol (without the card) and access the "console" with the card.  It is properly configured with IP, Gateway and mask addresses.  I've not had such a problem with any other models (SUA, SMX, SURT).  Am I missing something with this older model smart ups?  I've attached the console "dump"

[Terry_Kennedy_apc]

The APC website is reporting "Down for maintenance" right now, but I'm pretty sure the latest official firmware for the AP9630 is still 6.2.1 and your dump shows 6.3.3. If APC gave you a beta version for some reason, you should ask them for the release notes to see if there are any potential issues.

Other than that, check to see what the link status LED on the card says - do you actually have a working physical layer Ethernet connection? Then try a ping to the IP address you assigned to the card - 192.168.254.17. Lastly, try a traceroute to make sure everything is actually on the same LAN (or, if not, is routed properly).

[MarkC_apc]

Thanks Terry - I was able to restart the NMC, reset the router, repeater and signal amplifier and all seems to working fine.  I don't know that anything was changed, but the SU3000/AP9630 now communicates with my remote computer.

[BillP]

Hi Mark,

Did I give you a beta or someone else? I am glad it is working now. Either way, this beta does not have any issues related to what you were seeing as far as I know.

[MarkC_apc]

I received a beta copy to check the "polling" capabilities while accessing the NMC data logging via the web interface that MS Excel provides in it's later versions.  The AP961X cards log out at whatever delay the user selects even if it has been "polled" by Excel in the interim.  The beta for AP963x will NOT log out if you set the Excel "polling" less than the NMC setting (up to 10 minutes I recall) and so continues to send new data - especially convenient in the "log in new window" URL.  As you know, I'm into the solar inverter usage, so the continuous monitoring of amps/volts/watts/VA is extremely important to me for battery consumption.  Excel has made this quite easy.  I do wish the AP961X versions would be updated to the same level of "polling" capabilities.

As always, you-all (y'all here in TX) do a great job of support to us users!

Mark

[Terry_Kennedy_apc]

Now I remember that issue with timeouts that you had mentioned a while ago.

I know you have a solution, but I'd still suggest SNMP as a way to get the data into your computer from the UPS. Another alternative would be to configure the UPS to upload its logs to a FTP server, where you can collect the data and feed it into Excel. This configured in the [DataLog] section of the config.ini file.

I mention those alternatives because I don't expect the NMC (as opposed to NMC2) to get a lot of future software updates. APC has a number of active (currently sold) products that still use the NMC platform (AP79xx RPDU, AP77xx ATS, etc.) but the only active product that uses the UPS app on the NMC platform is the AP9618. I suspect the AP9618 is "living on borrowed time" since the only thing that prevents it being replaced by a NMC2 product is the integrated modem.

[MarkC_apc]

You are likely spot-on with your assessment.  If the ftp server approach can be handled totally within an excel macro, it could be a solution that would work as the data extraction/analysis must be able to "set and forget".  Extracting log data using SNMP appeared to be a development project that I will need to learn (eventually), but too many other priorities currently to get the automated system working (high gain antenna, repeaters, wifi routers, etc, etc.).  My solution has been quite simple - buy what is considered non-working equipment that has an AP-963X card and swap them out as I can.  The beta release is a really nice interface also - great job!

THX

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi Terry,

FYI, yes, you're accurate. AP9618 is slated to be discontinued later this year/early next year as AP9635 NMC2 (which has a modem and Modbus TCP and serial) will start supporting the Smart-UPS and Symmetra 1 phase firmware apps. Currently, AP9635 is only supported by some of the larger 3 phase UPSs.