command line interface outlet power timing.

[chazz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/3/2007

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Hello,

I have one of those power strips that you can control via telnet and web interface. I have a couple questions about the CLI.

first, when doing an "off" or an "on" why is that command limited to 8 arguments?
example: "off 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10" will power off 1-8 but will throw an error after that and 9 and 10 will stay on.

second, If the power off delay is set to zero why is there a delay between when outlets being powered off? if you did an "off all" all the outlets DO NOT turn off at the same time, they turn off sequentially like dominoes, hence making the power off delay grow as outlets are turned off. If you were to try to power them all off via the web interface they all indeed do turn off at the same time. Does anyone know what that timing is between outlets in the "domino" effect? can you use the CLI to make all the outlets turn off/on at the same time? (simulate a brown out)

I have seen this effect on firmware versions 2.7 and 3.3

Message was edited by: chazz

[chazz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/10/2007

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I am using a various range of models in the lab, but the ones i am currently playing with are
AP7960s one with version 2.7 firmware and one with 3.3

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Oscar on APC forums on 5/11/2007

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Chazz,

I tested this out in our lab. When you command all of the outlets to turn off, there appears to be a domino effect, but it only took a split second. It was as shuffling a deck of cards; it starts with the first outlet and may its way to the 24th. The delay wasn't much, as it happened fairly quickly.

I also tried turning off outlets based on arguments and came to the same conclusion as you did. There is a limitation on the number of arguments you can execute using CLI. The limit is 9 at a time, for example: off 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9" will power off 1-9. But if you try 1-10, it will be limited to 8.

The only workaround I've found is to setup outlet groups. This will allow you to turn on/off more than the limit amount of arguments that can be set.

Please see the attached document for more on CLI and our rackPDUs.

[chazz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/14/2007

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I was asking about the CLI arguments mainly as a curiosity if there was some kind of reason behind it. The important question here is the timing between the outlets powering on/off. What is that time?

You can shut off all of the outlets, or a group, at the same time from the web interface, but why cant it be done on the CLI? We certainly know that the PDU is capable of simultaneous switching, why the difference in functionality?

[chazz_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/3/2007

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Hello,

I have one of those power strips that you can control via telnet and web interface. I have a couple questions about the CLI.

first, when doing an "off" or an "on" why is that command limited to 8 arguments?
example: "off 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10" will power off 1-8 but will throw an error after that and 9 and 10 will stay on.

second, If the power off delay is set to zero why is there a delay between when outlets being powered off? if you did an "off all" all the outlets DO NOT turn off at the same time, they turn off sequentially like dominoes, hence making the power off delay grow as outlets are turned off. If you were to try to power them all off via the web interface they all indeed do turn off at the same time. Does anyone know what that timing is between outlets in the "domino" effect? can you use the CLI to make all the outlets turn off/on at the same time? (simulate a brown out)

I have seen this effect on firmware versions 2.7 and 3.3

Message was edited by: chazz

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by henry on APC forums on 5/4/2007

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chazz,

im curious to know as well. I like the delay when you turn ON outlets, but i cant think of a time where an "off" delay would make a difference. testing? power cycle?