Setup UPS for long-lasting outages

[Anonymous user]

Hi all.
I am planning to install a small BX700UI in a remote site to keep the network equipment and a thin client alive during power outages.
Over the past few months there had been cases when the power didn't come back for several hours.
I currently have a low-level UPS that will not automatically restart when the batteries are completely discharged.

The thin client runs linux so it will be automatically shut down by apcupsd when the outage lasts longer than 4-5 minutes.

However when it comes to the router and switch, there's nothing I can do to control them.
My fear is that they stay on until the battery is completely empty and cause the same problem as I am experiencing with the current UPS.

Is there any way to prevent that? Can I set a minimum battery charge level that will cause the UPS to stop providing power to outlets until the power comes back on?

Thank you.

[BillP]

Hi,

Can the router and switch be controlled - powered down via remote script? If so you could script APCUPSD to send shutdown commands to each and have them power down gracefully. If you cannot script the shut down but would like the UPS to power down prior to battery depletion it may be possible to implement APCUPSD Killpower and have the UPS powered down. Below is from the APCUPSD User's Guide

Killpower feature is implemented on Unix systems by first requesting a system shutdown. As a part of the shutdown, apcupsd is terminated by the system, but the shutdown process executes a script where apcupsd is recalled after the disks are synced and the machine is idle. Apcupsd then requests the UPS to shut off the power (killpower).

I am not familiar with the implementation of Killpower on Linux / Unix so I suggest you contact the APCUPSD forum for assistance. 

If you cannot set up a shut down script or Killpower another option would be to deploy a Smart-UPS SMT 750 or 1000 with a Network Management Card. With the SMT and NMC you can configure the UPS to power down the outlet group/s and restore AC when it returns.

The below screenshot is from a SMT with a NMC 9630. You can configure a power down delay, how long to stay off after the outlets have powered down, when to power back up, and load shedding. 

Another feature of using a Smart-UPS SMT and NMC is depending on the version of Linux you may be able to install PowerChute Network Shutdown on the OS. Or you could continue to utilize APCUPSD and have it communicate over the network instead of Serially or via USB. If connected over the network with PCNS you can configure load shedding. I have not tested APCUPSD with load shedding but my assumption is it should work when configured with the NMC and APCUPSD - PCNET comm.  

[voidstar_apc · Accepted solution]

If it were me, I'd take the battery out of whatever UPS you get and see if it can turn on. If it can turn on without a battery then it should be able to charge a discharged battery.

Otherwise like Bill said, the current SmartUPS' have a "runtime remaining" load shedding option that does exactly what you're asking for. And current SmartUPS' can turn on without a battery.