USB communication problem from 2009 — any update?

[Anonymous user]

Looking for updates on something that was discussed here in 2008/2009 . . . .

There was a thread in this forum ("Communication Lost in a Smart UPS 1500 with USB") about a problem several people were having, in which an APC UPS would stop talking to its server. The problem could be cleared up by unplugging the USB data cable and plugging it back in, but this was only a temporary solution until the next time the problem would show up (and obviously not feasible at all if the server was far away).

An APC person said it appeared the problem had to do with a USB 2.0 protocol issue, and that a workaround could involve either reconfiguring the server's USB ports down to the old, slow 1.1 protocol, or using an RS232 serial cable instead of a USB cable. Not surprisingly, several frustrated users proposed the even more permanent solution of abandoning APC and switching to some other UPS manufacturer. (!!)

Anyway, I wanted to find out whether this problem has been fixed in newer APC UPS'es, or if it still affects APC's new products today. I'm having a problem that sounds suspiciously like this, with a Back-UPS XS 1500 (manufactured in 2006, battery replaced last September), connected to my desktop running Ubuntu Linux (Maverick), and using the "apcupsd" monitoring software. Since APC's products appear to be the best supported UPS'es for Linux, I'm hesitant to switch to a different manufacturer for my future purchases if I can avoid it.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

i have not heard of any issues with the next generation SMT/SMX models of Smart UPS and USB communication loss but i cannot say i have tested it extensively.