Web Management Card Compatibility w/ SU1400?

[Anonymous user]

Hello all,

I have 3 UPS that I have had for well over a decade and they run almost perfect (one has no fan). I've had to replace a total of 5 battery packs (2 times for 2 units and once for a third unit) but other than that these things work great.

All 3 units are SU1400RM3U units with Smart Card Slots but alas no smart card units installed.

I am wondering what smart cards, old and new are compatible with these units. For example would an AP9619 be compatible?

Is there a list some place that can tell me which I can use?


Also,I can console in to the UPS at will but I don't know any of the commands. Is there a command reference some place? I probably won't need it if I can find some cheap used management cards, but it would still be nice to know.

[Anonymous user]

Time to upgrade!

Thanks for the support 🙂

[BillP]

you can use AP9606, AP9617/19\8/19, or AP9630/31 with this UPS.

the UPS uses a proprietary communication protocol that we can't provide to you directly so its recommended you use PowerChute Business Edition via serial cable or look into obtaining one of the network management card model numbers i listed above.

[Anonymous user]

Thank you for the response.

I am not sure I understand the answer about the communication protocol as I am was looking more for command line reference rather than any insight into the protocol itself or how it works.

I assume I won't need any commands to initialize a management card? Just plug it in, let DHCP assign an address and browse it with a web browser? I did find that the default username and password are both apc (lower case). I also found the document here: http://emea-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7879/~/network-management-card-password-reset-procedu...

It mentions that I need to serial in and press the reset button to reset a password. What if I want to reset the card to factory defaults and not just reset the password?

Also, what cable is proper for the SU1400RM3U? I've had these things for so long that I don't know if I even have the serial cables any more. I have plenty of DB9 cables (Null and straight) but I've read that there is a special pin-out for some of these devices.


Thanks so much for the support. All of my APC products give me so little trouble I never really had to learn how to maintain them.

[BillP]

oh sorry - the network management card user manuals, depending on which one you get, provide the instructions on configuration.

basically, you log in via the serial cable and log in with a username and password (by default apc/apc) and then you can configure your network settings. AP9606/AP9617/18/19 have a menu driven interface and AP9630/31 has a command line interface now.

the cable you need if using the AP9606/AP9617/18/19 is 940-0024 or 940-1524 which comes with the UPS or is also shipped with an NMC if purchased new. the AP9630 or AP9631 comes with 940-0299 cable. generally, for all APC devices, you need to use a specific APC cable because we have proprietary pinouts.

here is a helpful kbase: http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3061

that will help get you started once you decide what card you'll get with cables, etc. in order to reset a card to factory defaults, if AP9606/AP9617/18/19, you'll need to go through a password reset to gain access and wipe the card. the card boots into DHCP/bootp modes by default but with a vendor cookie requirement (mentioned in that kbase). NMC2 (AP9630/31) boots into DHCP only with no vendor cookie required.

i hope that helps get you started.

[Anonymous user]

Looks good. Thank you very much. I ordered 3 cards for my 1400s and a cable (just in case). It seems all the Option 43 method, Windows IP Configuration Wizard and the ARP trick all require a card that has not been configured in any way. If it has none of these methods will work. The only sure method that will work configured or unconfigured is the serial cable.

I believe the steps will be:

1. Reset the password to default by pressing the reset button on the back of the card. When it begins to alternate flash, press it again. This will reset back to factory username and password of apc.

2. Terminal in via the serial cable and settings of 2400 bps, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, and no flow control.

3. Set the boot mode to manual.

4. Set the TCPIP address.

Done and done.

Question: On the first generation cards, the AP9617 in particular, do you utilize the tcpip command or is it completely menu driven? I know the second gen cards have command line, but how do you set the IP address on the first gen cards? The instructions just say to "Set the system IP, subnet mask, and default gateway" but it doesn't say how you do that exactly. It does tell you what to choose to get there, but not much further other than the Ctrl-C to go the main menu and logout.

[BillP]

when you log in to AP9617 (NMC1 based), you will be presented with the menu driven interface. the main menu has four options: Device Manager, Network, System, and Logout. You'll go to Network->TCP/IP-> Boot Mode and then once your boot mode is manual, then you will have options to change your IP, subnet mask and default gateway as you eluded to.

[BillP]

Hi Root,

The AP9617/18/19 utilize a menu driven interface. Once you gain access on the card using any Terminal Emulation program i.e. HyperTerminal or PutTy you will see different options. For example, if you want to set an IP on a card you will choose 2 for Network and then 1 for TCP/IP.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks to the both of you, that's what I had anticipated. I got the cards today, just waiting on the cables. Hoping things will go smooth. I'm starting to upgrade my other UPS systems as well so I'm sure there will be more to come.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for all the support so let me return the favor.

There is a possible mistake in the documentation. The discrepency could be a firware issue, but it may be worth noting the difference as it's crucial.

The document here: http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/7879/related/1 explains how to reset the username and password temporarily to apc/apc.

Step 6 as it refers to the 9617 card at least on my 3 cards, does not work as described.

6) Press the Reset button. The Status LED will flash rapidly while alternating between orange and green. *If you are using an AP9606, proceed to step 7. Press the Reset button a second time immediately while the LED is rapidly flashing - which will cause the LED to then go off - in order to reset the User Name and Password to their defaults temporarily (the default User Name and password are both apc).


However, on my 3 9617 cards, pressing the reset button does not flash rapidly, does not alternate between orange and green, or anything like it. In fact, pressing the reset button simply lights the orange light while the card resets and then it goes back to green once the reboot is complete. No amount of pressing a second, third, fourth or more times will reset the user name and password. The procedure I found works is:

1. Attach to the card via serial with settings of 2400 BPS, 8 data bits, No parity, No flow control, and 1 stop bit.
2. Press enter to display the username prompt.
3. While the username is prompt is still displayed, press the reset button. (Press it ONE time and ONE time only)
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds for the card to reset and press enter again to re-display the username prompt.
5. Once the username prompt re-displays, you can now use the default apc/apc username/password combination. You have a total of about 25-30 seconds to get it done after pressing the reset button.

The above steps work perfectly every time for my few 9617 cards.

[BillP]

what firmware do you have on that card? i could update the instructions if you are using older firmware. i have done the password reset procedure probably 100 times at this point and have never had an issue with the instructions that I can remember.

[voidstar_apc]

Rootuser is right, the card is designed to toggle between sneaky login and normal login every time the reset button is pressed. apc/apc only works during sneaky login.

So the first time you press the button, the card will reboot and do normal login and the lights won't flash alternating. But if you press reset again, the card will allow apc/apc for a short while and the lights will flash alternating. And if you press it a third time, it'll do normal login. And a fourth time, sneaky login, etc.

[BillP]

if i press the button once, i see alternating LEDs and then i push the button a second time when that happens and do not see the alternating LEDs which then when its finished booting, allows me to enter in with apc/apc. am i misunderstanding?

[Anonymous user]

The firmware revision listed in the Web interface is 72.11.D

When I press the button once I do not see alternating LEDs. When I press the button once, the orange light turns on (no green lights at all), then it begins to flash, then it stops for about 10 seconds (no lights at all) then the proper green lights come on as it does it attach to the switch/hub. At no point in time, no matter how many or how few presses, do the lights EVER alternate between green and orange.

This could be a firmware issue that they changed during some revision, however all of my cards exhibit the exact same characteristics and they all are the same revision in the Web interface.

The above procedure I gave works every time. I have done the procedure at least 30-40 times at this point and it works without fail on any of my three cards.

[BillP]

that is the firmware of your UPS. if you don't mind me asking further, do you have a blue background with tabs at the top of your web UI or is the navigation along the left hand side?

if you see an administration tab at the top, click on that, click on and click on about on the left hand side and let me know the AOS and app version.

if its an older firmware, look under Help->About system on the left hand side and check the AOS and app version.

this makes me very curious.

[Anonymous user]

Name: aos
Version: v2.1.0
Date: 06/04/2003
Time: 16:22:58


So uhm yeah.... a bit outdated but probably worth mentioning in the documentation.

Message was edited by: Rootuser

[BillP]

yes, that is probably 8+ years old at this point.

if you're interested in updating, we are at AOS 3.7.3 today and sumx application 3.7.2 which should be available download with instructions here -> http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/768/

[Anonymous user]

What does upgrading the firmware buy me at this point? Is there a list some place that shows all the firmware revisions and what issues they address? I know the interface changes, but I am wondering if it's worth it since I use these mostly to condition power and do a straight battery backup in case of power outage and I cut over to generator.

I would like to see a changelog if it's available some place.

Message was edited by: Rootuser

[BillP]

i do not have one single change log from 2.1.0->3.7.3 because there was probably at least 10+ revisions in between there over the years. if you don't want to upgrade, thats fine but I am sure there were many bug fixes included. big enhancements i know of include SNMPv3. if you are just using it for the basics then you won't get any new major features.

[Anonymous user]

Good point.

Does newest latest and greatest firmware support IPv6? I will definately upgrade for that,E

[BillP]

not on AP9617/18/19 and unfortunately since those cards are discontinued for the most part, they never will support IPv6. On our AP9630/31/35 NMC2 devices and devices with an embedded version of NMC2, we have supported IPv6 for about two years now.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

no problem 🙂