SUA1500 and USB monitoring using powerchute: Unknown device error

[cbkschroeder_apc]

Hi. Thanks for reading my post. I'd like to pick some brains regarding the issue I'm having.

I've got Powerchute Business Edition 9.1.1 installed on my Windows XP (yeah, I know, it's what I have to have) machine. I've also got two APC UPSes: an SMT1500 and an SUA1500. The software works beautifully to monitor the SMT using the USB interface. The software reports, unfortunately, that it does not recognize the SUA when I attempt to monitor it via its USB interface. If I hot-swap the very same USB cable between the two UPSes, the software works with the SMT, but doesn't work with the SUA. Same behavior appears if I reboot connected to either UPS without hot-swapping the cable.

Any ideas? I'd love to be able to use Powerchute with the SUA. Thanks!

[BillP]

Hi Christian,

Any instance of PowerChute (personal or Business Edition Agent) can only monitor one UPS (one interface) at a time. Am I correct in saying you're trying to use this single PC to monitor both UPSs simultaneously? If so, it won't be possible unfortunately with just Business Edition. Bill P. might know more but it might be possible to monitor both - maybe using PowerChute Business Edition with one and another software like apcupsd with another.

[cbkschroeder_apc]

Hi Angela! Thanks for the quick reply.

It's my fault I wasn't clear on that: I'm only using Powerchute to monitor one or the other UPS at any one time. I don't need to monitor both simultaneously.

[BillP]

Ok, I think the problem is that SMT is a Micro-link communication UPS and SUA is a UPS-Link. I believe when you install PowerChute Business Edition agent, whatever UPS you have installed/connected at that time, it will figure out which type it is - if you have a UPS-link or Micro-link communication UPS - and installs a different version of the PowerChute Business Edition Agent for monitoring.

I will have to see if Bill has any other comments on what to do about this or if it is going to be a pain and require an uninstall/install each time you change the UPS type 

[cbkschroeder_apc]

On 1/16/2015 1:57 PM, Angela said:

going to be a pain and require an uninstall/install each time you change the UPS type

Hey, that's what VMs are for, right?

That information actually helps me out a lot. It gives me somewhere to go regarding investigations. Indeed, if Bill DOES have any thoughts --- simultaneously installing both capabilities, perhaps? --- that would be great. If it has to be one or the other, then even if I can get into my UPS occasionally, it'll get the job mostly done. The SMT should get constant monitoring, but the SUA can be set up the way I want it and then left to sit. Presumably the UPS will remember its settings once Powerchute sends them over, so I can then disconnect and expect that the behaviour will be as I set it to be.

Thanks!

[BillP]

We just chatted. The only idea he mentioned was that apcupsd has a monitoring feature that defines one UPS as the "host" and one as the "client" that helps in supporting the graceful shutdown process for each system. We aren't sure if you can get the monitoring details through this though (voltages, etc) versus just supporting graceful shutdown. Neither of us have actually set it up or tried it though if you want to give it a look. But he did confirm what I said about PowerChute uninstall/reinstall.

[cbkschroeder_apc]

I'll play with the uninstall/reinstall and let you know. You've now got me quite curious! Thanks again.

[BillP]

Christian,

Unfortunately the only solution is to uninstall and reinstall the PowerChute Agent. When installing PowerChute Agent when attached to the SMT the Agent version installed is 9.1.1. When installing and attached to the SUA the Agent installed is version 9.0.3.

You could uninstall PowerChute and install APCUPSD. If running that application when you want to switch between UPS you should stop the service, swap the USB cable and then restart the service. NOTE: APCUPSD does not display the outlet group info like PowerChute does but it will allow you to switch between UPS without installing and uninstalling.

[cbkschroeder_apc]

Hi Bill,

Well, I installed Powerchute on an XP client with a 7 host using Virtualbox while the SUA was plugged in. It worked great and allowed me to make the changes I needed in the UPS without uninstalling Powerchute in my main machine. Basically, I just wanted to change turn-on delays and battery charge thresholds for turn-on. Presumably the desired behaviour now set in the UPS and I can leave the UPS unplugged from USB going forward, correct?

Thanks for your help! This forum and the speed with which you provide help is a dream!

[BillP]

Hi,

Yes. The settings are saved on the EPROM of the UPS.

[cbkschroeder_apc · Accepted solution]

OK, thanks very much!