Windows Console Could not connect to the APC PowerChute Business Edition

[BillP]

I have a Smart-Ups SMT3000 APC battery backup unit connected to my desktop computer with a USB cable. I'm running Windows XP SP3. I first downloaded powerchute business edition 9.0 from the product website. When I first installed the program hung. I finally got it installed but it wouldn't recognize my device. And after installing windows console I got the above message. I thought maybe was a problem with previous battery backup I had, etc. I uninstalled everything, including the APC device.

After restarting I decided to install the software from the CD that came with the unit. It had Powerchute Business edition 8.5. Installation went fine and now when I go to the Agent Web Interface my device is recognized and I can configure everything. But the CD did not come with the web console.

So I tried installing the web console from the downloaded verions of the software, but when I run it I get the message "Windows Console Could not connect to the APC PowerChute Business Edition Server". Does this mean that my unit will not work with Windows Console (is that why it did not come on the CD"?

Thank you.

[BillP]

Hello Anthony,

PowerChute Business Edition has three components and they are the Agent, Server and Console. The Agent is the one that communicates with our UPS while the Server is the one that manages and talks to the Agents. The purpose of the Console is to provide users with Graphical User Interface for easy navigation and configuration. PCBE Agent has it's own user interface via Web, PCBE Server is a background process that runs on the PC. Since this is a background process, it does not have a user interface and this is where PCBE Console enters. PCBE Console is the one responsible for showing what is configured on the PCBE Server and what are those Agents it manages.

Here is a link that will give you almost all the documentation that we have for PCBE 9.0 - [http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SFPCBE90&tab=documentation|PowerChute Business Edition 9.0]

[BillP]

Thank you I understand all that. But when I downloaded version 9 from the website it would not communicate with my UPS. Not sure if I did something wrong but it did not work. So I uninstalled and used the one that came with my CD (version 8.5). That works fine but it did not come with the console. If I just install the console from version 9, I get the message in my original post and it will not connect. I suppose I can try again and uninstall v8.5 and reinstall v9 to see if it works this time. But I dont think I did it wrong first time.

Any reason why version 9 might not work with my UPS? or why the console from version 9 doesn't work now (as I have v8.5 installed and web interface works fine)?

Thanks.

[BillP]

From my experience I was able to use PCBE Agent 8.0 and PCBE Server and Console 9.0 and I was able to add the Agent on the PCBE Server. Upon installation, can you post a screenshot of the error that you have encountered? Have you also tried installing it on a different PC? Can you provide as well the part number of the cable that you are using as well as the firmware loaded on your Smart-UPS?

[BillP]

I have not tried installing on another computer yet. I will try that as soon as I get a chance. I'm not sure of the part number of the cable. It's the USB cable that came with the UPS.
My firmware is 650.UPS 04.0 / COM 01.2.

Here is a screenshot of the error I get when I launch the console. It installed fine. I get an error trying to connect. The Agent Web Interface works fine, and I made sure the PBE agent service is running.

Thank you.

Message was edited by: magicant

[BillP]

Thanks for the update.

Let us check if you have APC PowerChute Server installed on the PC and running. Can you please open up the Services Window and see if you could find APC PBE Server running on it. In order for the Console to detect the PCBE Server, it should be running on the PC.

[BillP]

Yes it is running.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

During the installation of PCBE Agent and Server, it asked you on what username and password you would use for both and they should be the same. After installing PCBE Server it will load the configuration profile wherein you will need to add the PCBE Agent that you would llike to manage, did you encounter any problem on this step? Where you able to add the Agents on the Server? Have you tried reinstalling PCBE Server?

Also, please make sure that the ports listed on this kbase http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2790/kw/pcbe%20ports