Symmetra RM 6000

[Anonymous user]

I have faced problems while communicating with this UPS via COM-port.
There is no reply from it. I used putty/hyperterminal to connect it to the notebook. Ther connection settings were 2400, data8, stop 1, no parity, no flow control.
But I got no answer from the subj - neither login attemp nor any errors.

The UPS was connected with the USB-COM cable, also was used APC`s COM-cable (not sure about it). But no luck =(

So I've got some questios:
- Does the APC's COm-cable differ from the standart COM-cable?

- How can I fix this problem and get connected to Symmetra?

- And one little quiestion - what are the default network settings of the Network Management Card after it's reset. I am interested in IP-address and default gateway.

Thank You

PS If you need serial numbers, etc:

Hardware factory information
Model Number: AP9619
Serial Number: ZA0634021449
Hardware Revision: A10
Manufacture Date: 08/26/2006

But this info has been taken from the Network Management Card web-interface and I suppose, that it applies to the card, but not to the Symmetra.
And about the UPS, may be it is that
Model: Symmetra RM 6000
Firmware Revision: 213.143.W
Manufacture Date: 08/29/06
Serial Number: JD0636009100

[BillP]

My first thought is to start with swapping a spare MIM in this Symmetra RM first. Nothing else attached and then re-seat the Network Management Card and see what it says in its interface. Or, if easier, start with just the PowerView accessory and the spare MIM and that's it. Put the spare MIM in, make sure it lights up and see if the PowerView comes to life. This could also be a problem with the Symmetra Communications Card (SYCC? I think) - have you tried to swap that? It is the card on the back that actually has the DB-9 port on it. Essentially, we'll just have to work through it logically. I have never seen the "frame" itself cause this issue but it is likely one of the devices you've mentioned, except the RIM since it does not do much. I'd leave it out though to rule out it spewing information on to the communication bus though and just work on this item by item.

[gcc_apc]

Hi Angela,

Thank you for your quick reply.

As I wrote  in my post:

"I have swapped all the parts that can be swapped with another RM 6000; the MIM, RIM, NIC, PV display, and I get the same results."

I forgot to mention that I did swap the SYCC with the other UPS as well, and get the same response.  Everything works as expected on the other UPS, but on this problem one, I get no response from the UPS itself.  If I plug in the NIC, I get the username/password prompt just as if I telneted into it from another host.  But these parts that were swapped over to the other UPS work fine there.

On this problem UPS, when I plug in the MIM and RIM, two green lights show up near the front, just like on the other UPS.  Does that mean that they're working properly?

When I plug in the NIC (Network management card), and log into it, it shows "Serial Communication Lost".  This is with both NICs from either UPS.  But again, both NICs work fine in the other UPS.

Same story with the PV display; on the other UPS, it shows everything fine.  On the problem UPS, it shows "Please wait..."

Looking at the block diagram, it looks like the SYCC, the NIC, and the PV display all communicate with the Monitor bus through either the MIM or the RIM.  So it seems that the problem is in either the MIM or the RIM, but I've already swapped those.

Can you tell me what kind of active components are on the Monitor Bus (the "frame") that talks to these plug-in devices?

[BillP]

Hello,

Yes I know you swapped all of the items but I didn't know how methodically you had done it. I suggested one at a time as to rule out problems caused by combinations of problematic devices causing this.

When you swapped the PowerView display, did you try a new Cat 5 patch cable with it? That device could be faulty (or the cable) and also disrupt communications with the rest of the accessory devices. It is rare but it could also be a problem with a module (power, battery). I am skeptical on that but it could be I suppose.

This may require a frame replacement but the only thing that really helps the accessories talk to the UPS is the Symmetra communications card. So if you swap all of the components and the only thing the same is the frame, it'd have to be something in there and we don't really troubleshoot these beyond the frame level.

Putting the management card aside, if I were doing this and just had a spare PowerView and spare cat 5 cable connected to the spare MIM, and still nothing, I'd have to think this is at the frame level, assuming in this scenario you also replaced the SYCC with your spare.

[gcc_apc]

Hi Angela,

Perhaps I contracted my descriptions too much.

My first tests followed the steps described in the Schnieder Electric link; removed PV display, NIC, and tried to get a response through the SYCC.  That showed nothing.  Then I swapped the MIM with the other UPS, and still got nothing.  Then I added the PV display, and saw its response.  Then I added the NIC, and saw its response.  But all through this, I got nothing from the UPS frame.

Today, I repeated the tests, and got different results.  I am getting a frame response to the Y, "x", and "-" commands where I was not before.  I was able to execute the reset sequence described in the Schneider Electric posting, but plugging the PV display in, it still says "please wait".  So I swap the MIM with the other UPS, and it shows the MIM is not working.  With the other MIM installed, this UPS seems to be working again.  So it seems the problem was with the MIM all along, and I was not getting consistent responses from it.

Now it is more disturbing that this failed MIM is in fact a replacement unit for the UPS when its original MIM failed a few years ago.  The first one kept displaying an overload condition, when the UPS was at less than 50% load.  I still have that unit, so I installed it.  It established serial communication, but would occasionally report the false "overload condition".  But a few hours later, it also lost serial communication, just like the other one.  So I'm concerned that something in the frame may be slowly burning up these MIMs, or I just got very unlucky with them.

Is there another test I can perform to check the health of the frame?

[BillP]

Hi again - I don't think so unfortunately. There could be a problem at the frame level causing this as you suggested but we don't replace items on this at the component level. I agree it is sketchy you've had to go through two MIMs but they just connect to the UPS which contains the backplane. When you moved the second MIM from this troublesome frame, did it start working again in the original, good UPS?

Do you have the serial number of the frame - just the first six characters of it will do? How old is it (which the serial number can tell me)? You can purchase just a frame, which from us anyway, would come with a MIM and RIM that was tested with that frame. The part number of just the frame is SYHF6KT.

I think the cost of a MIM and frame are very similar surprisingly based on what someone told me so if you have to replace the MIM, it may be a good idea to consider comparing the price of the entire frame.

[gcc_apc]

Hi Angela,

I am not physically near the unit today, so I can't look at its data plate for the serial number.  But I can connect to the NIC remotely, and see that the unit was built in 2001, which was probably when we bought it and put it into service.  The other information:

        About System

        Model Number      : AP9606       Serial Number     : WA0133005223
        Manufacture Date  : 08/22/2001   Hardware Revision : J12
        MAC Address       : 00 C0 B7 A4 06 AE
        Flash Vendor      : AMD

so it's been working for a while.

The cost of the MIM was something like $550, which was why I was reluctant to just buy another one and stick it into the frame that is suspected of eating two of them already.  But if APC sells a frame with a MIM and RIM for not much more, I'll definitely check it out.

Yesterday I tried the original MIM (the one reporting overload) again, and it was able to establish communication with the frame (and continued to report sporadic overload conditions).  Since I was facing the prospect of buying replacement hardware anyway, I tried some fixes myself.  I noticed that the microcontroller contains an ADC, and guessed that if it was defective, it may be misreading voltages and giving the errant overload conditions.  So I swapped it and the associated PROM chips with the unit that did not communicate.  It seemed to have worked; it's communicating with the frame, ran and passed self-test, and it has not reported any overload conditions since I installed it last night.  I'll see how long this lasts, and if it fails again, I'll look at buying a new frame.

thanks again for your assistance,

Eugene Chu

[BillP]

You're very welcome for the information. And you have a nice AP9606 there 🙂 I agree the frame is probably just as old.

I am glad to know you're able to play with this stuff in order to repair it since it is way over my head

Please let me know if I could answer any other questions for you after you monitor it for a bit to see if your fix worked.

[Anonymous user]

I have faced problems while communicating with this UPS via COM-port.
There is no reply from it. I used putty/hyperterminal to connect it to the notebook. Ther connection settings were 2400, data8, stop 1, no parity, no flow control.
But I got no answer from the subj - neither login attemp nor any errors.

The UPS was connected with the USB-COM cable, also was used APC`s COM-cable (not sure about it). But no luck =(

So I've got some questios:
- Does the APC's COm-cable differ from the standart COM-cable?

- How can I fix this problem and get connected to Symmetra?

- And one little quiestion - what are the default network settings of the Network Management Card after it's reset. I am interested in IP-address and default gateway.

Thank You

PS If you need serial numbers, etc:

Hardware factory information
Model Number: AP9619
Serial Number: ZA0634021449
Hardware Revision: A10
Manufacture Date: 08/26/2006

But this info has been taken from the Network Management Card web-interface and I suppose, that it applies to the card, but not to the Symmetra.
And about the UPS, may be it is that
Model: Symmetra RM 6000
Firmware Revision: 213.143.W
Manufacture Date: 08/29/06
Serial Number: JD0636009100

[Erasmus_apc]

Here's the procedure for logging into the Network Management Card, just so you have it for your use:

*From APC KBASE 3061:*


Hyperterminal is a built-in function on most Windows operating systems. Before using hyperterminal, any >services using the com ports must be stopped. For example, if you are running a serial version of APC's >PowerChute software, the APC UPS service must be stopped prior to running Hyperterminal. Then, follow >these instructions:

**Please note that if you have the scroll lock on, Hyper-Terminal may not communicate properly with an APC >UPS or
accessory.

Connect UPS to serial port using Smart-signaling cable (940-0024)
Run HyperTerminal
Configure port settings to: 2400 bps, 8 databits, no parity, 1 stopbit, and no flow control.
Save changes.
Press enter to display username prompt.
Use "apc" for username and password.
You are now in the control console.
Choose "Network"
Choose "TCP/IP"
Choose "Boot mode"
Change Boot mode to "Manual"
Set the system IP, subnet mask, and default gateway.
Accept changes.
Press ctrl-C to return to main menu.
Log out of console to save changes.
Now, you can remotely log into the NMC using web access or Telnet.

APC's 940-0024 comm. cable does differ from a regular serial cable. Our pinouts are proprietary and you need to use our 940-0024 cable.

Can you try a different cable, verify the comm port you used for the terminal session, or possibly try a different computer? Please make sure no other programs that scan, poll, or use a serial port are in use.

The NMC does not have a "default IP" or gateway. By default it is configured for DHCP/BOOTP so it should pick up an address from your network.

[BillP]

hi

Yes - APC uses a proprietary serial cable pinout. This should have shipped with the UPS. Using any other cable will NOT work and may even drop the load to the UPS in certain conditions.

You will need the APC cable which has the part # engraved on one of its connectors - [940-0024|http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=940%2D0024] or 940-1524 (15ft version).

Your port settings are correct. 2400, 8, N, 1, No Flow control. When you establish communication, press enter a couple of times and you will be presented with a username/password prompt for the management card. The default username is apc and so is the password, all lowercase. The card, by default, is set for DHCP/BootP for a boot mode. To obtain a DHCP address though, by default, option 43 needs to be enabled on your DHCP server which is a DHCP cookie. If you dont have that enabled, it will not get a DHCP address. You can disable that once you gain access via the serial console.

Take a look at [this link for documents on step by step configuration help|http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=AP9619&tab=documentation] and let us know if you need anything else!

[Anonymous user]

The card, by default, is set for DHCP/BootP for a boot mode.

The network management card was reseted, but no IP-address was got. And there was no mention about UPS's MAC-address in the DHCP-server's logs =(

Is there any other advice, except using the serial connection?

[Anonymous user]

Does your dhcp server have our vendor specific cookie set under option 43? It should look like this in your server: OPTION 43 = 0x01 0x04 0x31 0x41 0x50 0x43. There is a way to turn the cookie off, but unfortunately you can only do so through the telnet or terminal interfaces. Just to verify, how did you reset the network card?

[Anonymous user]

That was not right - after reseting the network card (that was done by pushing the small button throught the narow hall in the card's rack) only login/password are being reset. The TCP/IP setting do not change - I will have to do it via serial cable =(

This information was got from the APC's support answer.

[voidstar_apc]

My understanding is that the small button resets the card, but doesn't change any settings including the password. I would expect your password to remain unchanged. However, after you reset the card, you have a short period of time where apc/apc will be accepted for the username and password only on the serial port.

So, I think no matter what you do, you'll have to use the serial port.

If you're curious about APC's serial ports, check out this knowledge-base article: [http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1481]

[BillP · Accepted solution]

A few questions for you:

1) Has this or any APC SmartSlot card EVER worked in this Symmetra RM 6kVA?

2) What LEDs are displayed on the Network Card's RJ45 port? One corner would be amber if a 100Base-T connection is established, and the other corner would show status by combination of green/amber LEDs. What do you have in these two corners?

3) Have you tried the other SmartSlot on the back of the Symmetra (there are 2)? These cards are hot-swappable in the Symmetra, so simply move the card to the other slot and test.

4) Have you tried to establish communication with the Symmetra's Intelligence Module?

To do this, use the same connection settings specified above, but before you press any other keys, type shift-y (to send a capital "Y" character). The Symmetra should reply with SM to confirm that your serial connection has reached the Intel Module. You can now press control-A key combo which should return the UPS name of "Symmetra".

This step will prove that the Symmetra Comm Card (SYCC) which is providing you this serial interface is working.

Usually, after establishing connection, you can press the enter key a few times and normally you would get a username prompt from the Network Management Card.