Server 2012 driver for network connected APC Smart-UPS RT 3000VA

[Anonymous user]

Can anyone tell me where I can find a server 2012 hyper-v driver for a network connected APC Smart-UPS RT 3000VA (SURT D3000XL1)?

If possible I would prefer to use simple windows tools for providing the shutdown mechanism rather than Powerchute as this is only a single server site.

Thanks,

[BillP · Accepted solution]

You are using the RJ-45 to DB-9 serial cable, correct?

If so, I think part of the problem with using Windows is Windows 2012 does not support serial connection for native OS support. There is no need for any special drivers.

Native serial shutdown on Microsoft Vista and Windows 7. | FAQs | Schneider Electric US

[BillP]

This UPS should come with only one communication cable - the serial port on the UPS is an RJ-45 connector and the other end should be DB-9 serial.

The UPS does not ship with a pre-installed UPS Network Management Card (which contains its own interface for remote management) but one can be added - do you know if you added one and if perhaps that is what is connected via network cable to a network hub/switch?

Depending on what is really hooked up, there would be 1 of 2 solutions to it. The knowledge base article I linked is valid if it is really the RJ-45 to DB-9 serial cable in use and if you have a UPS Network Management Card installed, the intent is that you'd install PowerChute Network Shutdown on your server to communicate with the UPS Network Management Card over the network for graceful, unattended shutdown.

I think the first step is to very truly what is connected so we can decide the best option for you and how to accomplish it.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the info on that connection Angela.  In that case I suspect this UPS has a Network Management Card installed.

The UPS is physically located next to the server and this is a single server site so it would be possible to remove the network management card and use the serial port if that is easier.

[BillP]

You can do that (which will require PowerChute Business Edition Agent) with the APC serial cable - OR just use PowerChute Network Shutdown on the server as I noted. The Network Management Card is much more powerful than Business Edition depending on what you need or want - like if you want to manage the UPS remotely via web, telnet, etc.

[Anonymous user]

In which case where do I download PowerChute Network Shutdown?  Do we definitely need to install this, is there no built-in windows UPS driver that we can use instead?

[BillP]

You only use a driver potentially when using a USB connection and as I noted, this UPS does not offer USB - only serial communications with PowerChute Business Edition. With a UPS that offers USB, Windows has a built in driver that typically works without issue for that case (or, we have the APC driver still with PCBE for that too).

To download any software, start here -> http://www.apc.com/tools/download/index.cfm and select Software Upgrades - PowerChute Network Shutdown.

You'll need to know the IP address and administrator user name of your UPS Network Management Card (apc by default) to get through the install process of the software to make sure it is communicating with the UPS.

[Anonymous user]

So if I have understood correctly we have three options of how to connect this then:

1. Serial cable via serial to USB adapter and hope the UPS is then detected natively by windows?
2. Serial cable direct to server and install PowerChute Business Edition Agent
3. Network connection via Network Management Card an install PowerChute Network Shutdown

I assume the software has to be installed on the hyper-V partition rather than a virtual machine.

What I don't like about installing any of the software is this requirement of needing Java installed.  I really don't like the idea of having Java installed on a hyper-V hypervisor partition, well don't really like it on any server.

[BillP]

Hi,

Scenario 1 will not work. Windows native shutdown will not communicate with the UPS when connected to via serial. Even using a USB to serial converter it will not work.

Both scenario 2 and 3 will work but as noted you will need to install Java. If you don't want to install a system wide version of Java PowerChute will install what we term a private version that it will use. The private version gets installed into the PowerChtue folder.

Another option would be to install APCUPSD and using the serial cable or USB to serial converter to communicate with the UPS.

My recommendation, since the UPS has a Network Management Card I would use PowerChute Network Shutdown using the private Java.

[Anonymous user]

Haven't actually got the thing in front of me but from what I remember there is a network (RJ-45) cable coming from the UPS and connected via a network hub to the server.