Smart-UPS serial communication

[BillP]

This question was originally posted by Guenter on APC forums on 9/11/2013

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Hi,

I have a Smart-UPS 3000LCDRM2U installed and try to setup the serial connection to an old Solaris 9 system.

Same machine worked with an old Smart-UPS 3000 (without LCD) and the old PowerChute Plus software without problems until the UPS died.

The new UPS will not communicate with PowerChute Plus or PowerChute Business Edition 8-9.0.1.

I already tried baud rates 2400, 9600, 19200, but no communication established.

Do I need to enable the serial port at the UPS first?

And if, how?

I dont have direct access to the UPS, only remote access to the server, and I am not familiar with the setup at the UPS front panel!

Thanks for help

Guenter

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 9/12/2013

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Can you confirm what serial cable part number you have in use? Can you also confirm the exact model of the UPS? I am thinking it starts with SMT or SMX which definitely requires PowerChute Business Edition v8.5.1 or higher to support communications with SMT or SMX model UPSs.

I am not sure about other specifics on Solaris. Bill P. - anything else you could add?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Guenter on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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The UPS model is: SMT3000RMI2U

The serial cable part number is: 940-0625A

I have restartet the UPS and the server, the server serial device is ttyb which is configured in the software.

Also I tried several different settings on the serial interface on the server.

So far I know is the serial setting of the UPS 9600-8N1.

At the moment I am trying PCBE 9.0.1 (the last one for Solaris?), I can switch back to 8.5.1

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Guenter on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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The test with PCBE 8.5.1 has the same result: no communication.

I also tested the PCBE settings for SMT,SMX and also for Smart-UPS, which one is the correct one for this UPS?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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Hi,

The last version on PCBE to support Solaris 9 is version 8.0.1. Unfortunately your Smart-UPS is not compatible with version 8.0.1. Your option is to purchase our legacy communication card and then you can continue to run PowerChute Plus or install PCBE 8.0.1. I would recommend using PC+ since that is what you are familiar with. Here is a link to the cards web page Buy Legacy Communications SmartSlot Card - Technical Specifications and Information | APC

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Guenter on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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The readme.txt of the PCBE 8.5.1 stated this:

     The PowerChute Business Edition Agent is compatible with Solaris 9 and Solaris 10

Now you say the last version for Solaris 9 is PCBE 8.0.1.

What is correct now?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Guenter on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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Another question:

the firmware level of the new UPS is 8.3.

Is this ok for the legacy communications card?

Or is a firmware upgrade needed? I could'nt find anything about this.

I ask, because the customer is able to install the card and the cables, but not the firmware.

For this I have to drive some hundred kilometers.

Edit: firmware version

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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Yes, the firmware will be fine. Here is the LCC compatibility chart -> AP9620 Legacy Communications Card (LCC) Compatibility | FAQs | Schneider Electric US

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Guenter on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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Now I got it up and running!

It is still Solaris 9 and it is running with PCBE 9.0.1!!!

For any future records: What it needs for correct setup was:

1. Setup the eeprom for ttyb

# eeprom | grep ttyb

ttyb-rts-dtr-off=true

ttyb-ignore-cd=false

ttyb-mode=2400,8,n,1,-

!! reboot !!

2. Setup ttyb in SMC (Solaris Management Console)

Baud rate: 2400, software handshake, Initialize only

Thanks for your help and have a nice weekend!

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 9/13/2013

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Thanks for sharing what did work for you. That is strange since that UPS communicates at 9600..