SUA3000R2X180 serial port db9 with AP9630 NMC

[MarkC_apc]

Tthe serial connection only works (with hyperterminal) while the NMC is installed.  This is a 2011 unit and the NMC appears to have the original software interface (not upgraded).  I do have to "exit" the console before the NMC can log in.  I can log out of the NMC and the serial port works.  However, If I removed the NMC (don't really want it installed in this UPS), I lose communications - will not log in to the serial port.  I'm using the same parameters in both cases of 2400 baud, 8 bits, 1 stop, none.  I've totally restarted the unit as I shut it down completely (fan off) before removing/installing the NMC.

[BillP]

Hi,

What exactly are you trying to achieve by hyperterminal-ing into the UPS without the NMC?  When you do, you will see a blank screen.  To confirm it is working, issue the "Shift-Y" command once the connection is established.  If you receive a response of "SM" it is working.  Your terminal settings of 2400,8,none,1,none are correct.

[voidstar_apc]

The serial user interface is provided by the NMC, so removing the NMC removes that interface. As Jordan alludes to, there is also a machine interface which allows the UPS to communicate with PowerChute on a PC. The machine interface does not require the NMC.

[MarkC_apc]

I'm familiar with the "smart protocol" - what I did not realize was when accessing the "console" a NMC is required.  This is true for the SURT line also?

On 6/5/2015 12:00 PM, Jordan said:

What exactly are you trying to achieve by hyperterminal-ing into the UPS without the NMC?

The features of the "console" is enough for my use (renewable energy), so I thought I could save a NMC for another unit.  I don't think the smart protocol will suffice!  Not a big deal as the AP9619 is highly available on ebay.

Thanks,

Mark

[voidstar_apc]

If it helps, the NMC talks to the UPS using the smart protocol. The NMC's serial console is a user interface on top of that. Other software, such as apcupsd, also speaks the smart protocol.

[MarkC_apc]

Since I don't use these as a critical power backup for valuable data, etc, I never saw the need for learning apcupsd - plus it seems it could be a full time job keeping up with it (Apcupsd-user forum).  However, there is a very helpful person on the forum (Ted) that I've received help from.  What is useful for me is the data logging - which appears to be extracted via smart protocol and stored by the NMC into it's memory and displayed by it's programming?

I've read that the newer SMX line uses a different machine language protocol?  The "console" seems the same (AP9630,31), but the smart protocol is not available via the serial connection?

Thanks for the "education",

Mark

[MarkC_apc]

Jordon;

I've installed a AP9619 into the slot and tried to configure the IP address using the arp command with the MAC address.  I'm not having any success.  This has worked on all SURT models in the past.  Don't think I've tried before on a SUA model.  A AP9630 card that had been previously configured communicated fine in this SUA unit. I've tried with the serial cable both connected and not.  I've been careful to completely shutdown the unit (click,fan off) before removing/installing the NMCs.

Any suggestions?

[voidstar_apc]

Logging is performed by the NMC, using data provided by the UPS over the smart protocol. And yes, the newer SMX, SMT, SMC UPSes use a different protocol on the serial port which is an RJ50 connector rather than DB9.

[BillP]

Mark,

Knowledge base document FA156064 will help you configure the AP9619 on the SUA Smart-UPS. If ARP is not working you can use serial communications or the configuration wizard. 

[MarkC_apc · Accepted solution]

The linked instructions are what I use to configure NMC's - specifically the serial communications thru the console, or the dos/arp method.  However, this SUA would not respond to the serial communications, although correctly configured (2400,8,1,none), and would not accept the arp command configuration.  Interesting that I have configured several cards with my SURT3000XLT using both methods.  I'm going to install one that is already configured in the SUA3000 today to confirm it works OK.

Thanks,

Mark