snmp communication during outage

[Anonymous user]

We have an APC Symmetra LX 16000, which we're monitoring
with an open source package (Network UPS Tools, aka 'nut').

I understand that APC probably doesn't support this package,
but I don't think my issue has anything to do with the
monitoring software, so I've decided to seek help here.

This software supports SNMP communication with our UPS (as
well as many others), so we're using SNMP to monitor
the UPS remotely.

So far, we're able to connect to the UPS and gather
information (ups.status, output.L1.current, etc.), and
we're getting correct results.

The problem we're having is that when the UPS looses
utility power (by way of us throwing the disconnect
switch that feeds it), we're not getting the expected
ONBATT event that the UPS should send when polled by
the monitoring software.

Instead, the UPS (or perhaps more accurately, the SNMP card)
appears to go completely offline, and the software reports
a COMMBAD event, indicating that the UPS is no longer responding
to polling requests.

So our question is, is it possible that the SNMP card
no longer communicates when the UPS is on battery?
(which would seem highly unlikely...)

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[voidstar_apc]

The network card (NMC) should continue communicating -- to verify this, try accessing the NMC's web page. If you can't, plug a laptop into the same hub/switch as the NMC and try again. Make sure the network equipment is on battery backup so it doesn't lose power.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

hi voidstar - thanks so much for your quick response.

we agree, and can't see any reason why the NMC should

stop operating during an outage.  we also thought of

refreshing the nmc's web page during the test, and

it seemed to respond normally.

we're going to try to approach this from the software

side of things.  will report back any findings.


thanks again.
rm.