Two network cards (for temp monitoring) in one UPS?

[Anonymous user]

One server room, one UPS

3 servers on one network, 3 servers on another,

Years ago we had a APC matrix 5000(?) which had one networked environmental card installed in it, and another card installed by using the UPS's serial port and a official APC "expander box". I don't think APC do these boxes anymore.

Anyway! I have read threads saying you can install two NMC in APC UPS, but as there is only one slot with no expansion facilities, I don't see how.

We will be looking at a rack mounted UPS at around 3000VA

I would appreciate any advice!

[BillP]

Hi John,

You don't really have a clear question that you are asking so my answer is based on what I think you are asking, if I'm wrong just disregard my advice.

It sound like you want a network card to monitor a single UPS over the network which also has the ability to monitor the environment. Now depending on the UPS you will be getting APC do have cards that do both network comms / graceful shutdown of servers while at the same time monitoring the environment and can give you notifications about the environment. Like I said it depends on the UPS you are getting, if you went with a newer model 3000 UPS you would have to look at getting a AP9631 network card which will give both network and environmental monitoring. If you were to get an older 3000 like SUA3000 or SU3000 you can look at getting a AP9619 network card as it has the same features with the added feature of input/output contacts. You might be able to still get some more info on both card on APC's website

[BillP]

Yes, this can be done assuming your network communication is set up properly. The card has the capability to talk to different subnets for shutdown.

Refer to this document (which is on a slightly different topic but it does talk a little about clients on different subnets and how that can work)-> http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/BKIR-6QWKC5/BKIR-6QWKC5_R2_EN.pdf

[Anonymous user]

Sorry I was not clear.

We wish to know if a single UPS can be connected to two seperate networks in order to send servers shutdown messages if 1) the temperature is above a certian limit, or 2) the UPS is on battery.

I have read on this forum that it is okay to have two network cards in a UPS (one for each network) , but I dont know how you can do this when there is only one slot.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

I believe you should be fine using a single UPS with a single network card to initiate shutdowns on servers over the network or several network segments as long as you config it correctly. These shutdowns can be done for when the UPS is on battery but I am not 100% sure about over temp. According to another post on the forums they said you can initiate the shutdown the systems by setting the thresholds on your card and then setting PCNS to initiate a shutdown when it gets a notification from the network card.

http://forums.apc.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/8854-1232/PCNS%20-environment.JPG