DCE device configuration

Configure settings at one or more monitored APC SNMP devices. Note: You cannot use this option to configure settings for non-APC SNMP devices, NetBotz Appliances and their monitored devices, and some older APC SNMP devices. Configuration Type display options These options, and the Configuration Status view, are used by the APC SNMP Device Configuration wizard: User configuration for NMC v6.0.0 and higher: Configure user management options on devices with firmware v6.0.0 and higher, excluding v6.0.6 - v6.1.1. All other APC SNMP devices: Select one or more monitored APC SNMP devices and configure them to use settings shared with a selected APC SNMP device, or settings saved as a template. The "Configuration Type" display is available only when at least one monitored APC SNMP device has firmware v6.0.0 and higher, excluding v6.0.6 - v6.1.1. Otherwise, the "Select a Configuration Action" display is immediately available to configure all other device configuration settings. Note: You must upload a .csf file directly to the device to configure users on devices with firmware v6.0.6 - v6.1.1. See FAQs on www.apc.com for more information. User configuration for NMC v6.0.0 and higher option Select Destination Devices display Select the destination devices you want to configure user management on.  All the APC SNMP SNMPv1 and SNMPv3 devices monitored by the Data Center Expert server with firmware v6.0.0 and higher, excluding v6.0.6 - v6.1.1, are listed. Click "Device File Transfer Settings" to manage the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure Copy (SCP) access values for the APC devices. User Configuration display Use this display to select the user management actions you want to configure on all the devices you selected. For specific information about how to configure user actions, see the user guide for your device. Create/Modify User: Configure the settings for the user you want to create or modify. You must configure this action individually for each user. Once you specify the username and password, check the box to configure each option. When you modify a user that already exists on any destination device, all the settings you select, including the password, will be overwritten. Element Description Username The name of the user Password/Confirm Password Specify the password for a new user or enter a new password for an existing user if you want to change it. The password is case-sensitive, with a 64 byte maximum (64 ASCII characters, fewer for multibyte languages). Role Specify the user role: Administrator, Device, Network only, or Read only Description Additional notes to describe the user. Date Format The date format to display in the device user interface. Language The language to display in the device user interface. Note: This setting will not take affect if the language you choose is not installed on the device. Units The units, Metric (the default) or US Customary, to display in the device user interface. Session Timeout (min) The amount of time (in minutes) before the user is logged out due to inactivity. Serial Remote Authentication Override Specify whether the user can login serially and override a logged in user, even when the device authentication method is set to RADIUS. Event Log Color Coding Specify whether text in the event log is color-coded based on event severity. Log Export Format The format of the event log when exported: Tab (the default) or CSV. Enable User Specify whether the user has access to login in to the device. Advanced Options Enter command line parameters to configure additional user options. For example, to configure the role Outlet, enter -pe "Outlet" in this field. For more information, see the Command Line Interface manual for your device at www.apc.com. Modify Super User:  The name of the super user cannot be changed. The current password for the super user is required.  You can enter a new password for the super user if you want to change it. Otherwise, leave the field blank. Modify Default User: Additional configuration options to modify the default settings used when a Super User or Administrator for the device creates a new user: Element Description Login Attempts The number of incorrect login attempts a user is allowed before the system disables the account. Require Strong Passwords Specify whether new passwords created for users require additional rules, such as: at least one lowercase character, one uppercase character, one number, and one symbol. Require Password Change (days) Select the duration (in days) after which the user is required to change the password, 0-365. A value of 0 days (the default) disables this option. Standard device configuration settings option Configure devices using a monitored APC SNMP device's settings, create or edit a template, and configure devices using a saved template. You use the "APC SNMP Device Configuration" wizard to: Select the APC SNMP device or configuration template you want to use as the source of your configuration activity. Select destination devices. See also Mass Configuration of APC Network Management Card type devices Device Configuration Status view Changing the protocol used to monitor APC SNMP devices

Manage the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure Copy (SCP) access values for APC SNMPv1 and SNMPv3 devices. Keep the access list up to date to comply with the latest cybersecurity requirements. See New cybersecurity requirements in NMC3 Note: Functionally identical versions of this display are used by the "SNMPv1/SNMPv3 Device Discovery," "Apply Firmware Updates," and "APC SNMP Device Configuration" wizards, as well as by Device File Transfer Settings, an SNMP Device Communication Settings option in the Device menu. A change saved in one display is reflected in all.   To use FTP for APC SNMP device access, FTP server access must be enabled at that device. To use SCP for APC SNMP device access, Secure Shell version 2 (SSHv2) console access must be enabled at that device. Element Description List Lists the access settings the Data Center Expert server can use for FTP or SCP access to its monitored devices. Username: The username used for access to a device. Note By default, the Data Center Expert server can download firmware via FTP only to devices that use apc (lowercase) for the username and password. The credentials used for device access are identified in the "Edit Device File Transfer Settings" display. IP or IP Range: The IP address, or range of addresses, at which the access settings support FTP or SCP communication. FTP Port: The port used for FTP access to a device. SCP Port: The port used for SCP access to a device. Timeout: How long the server will wait before it considers that an attempt to access a device has failed. Retry Limit: How many times the server will try to access a device, after the initial attempt failed, before it stops trying to access that device (1, by default). Protocol: The protocol the transfer settings set will use to access devices (FTP only, SCP only, or Try SCP, fall back to FTP). Add Click to add an access setting to the list. Edit Click to edit a selected access setting. Remove Click to delete a selected access setting.  

Use the "Add/Update Definitions" wizard to add or update the DDFs available for the SNMP devices supported by the server. The new or updated DDFs can be uploaded to the server from a local file, or from the APC website. Select Device Definition Files, an SNMP Device Communication Settings option in the Device menu. Select the Device Definition Files option in the "SNMP Device Communication Settings" display. Click Add/Update Definitions in the Device Definition Files tab. In the "Select Update Method" display, select the option you want to use to add or update DDFs, and follow the appropriate instructions. To use files from APC, see step 5. To use files previously downloaded to a local computer, see step 6. To download files from APC, do the following. Select Check APC Website and click Next. In the "Select DDF Files" display, select the files you want to download, click Next, and go to step 7. To use a local file, do the following. Select Local File and click Browse. In the "Open" display, navigate to the file you want to use, and double-click that file (or click it once, and then click Open). In the "Select Update Method" display, verify the correct file is identified, click Next, and go to step 7. In the "Installed/Updated DDF Files" display, verify the files you selected are listed, and click Finish, to exit the wizard, or Back, to return to the "Select Update Method" display.

Use the wizard to add or update the DDFs available for the Modbus devices supported by the server. The new or updated DDFs can be uploaded to the server from a local file, or downloaded from the APC website. Select Device Definition Files, a Modbus Device Communication Settings option in the Device menu. Select the Device Definition Files option in the "Modbus Device Settings" display. Click Add/Update Definitions in the Device Definition Files tab. In the "Select Update Method" display, select the option you want to use to add or update DDFs, and follow the appropriate instructions. To use files from APC, see step 5. To use files previously downloaded to a local computer, see step 6. To download files from APC, do the following. Select Check APC Website and click Next. In the "Select DDF Files" display, select the files you want to download, click Next, and go to step 7. To use a local file, do the following. Select Local File and click Browse. In the "Open" display, navigate to the file you want to use, and double-click that file (or click it once, and then click Open). In the "Select Update Method" display, verify the correct file is identified, click Next, and go to step 7. In the "Installed/Updated DDF Files" display, verify the files you selected are listed, and click Finish, to exit the wizard, or Back, to return to the "Select Update Method" display.

The following error messages can be reported as the Status for a device while the APC SNMP Device Configuration process is either ongoing, or completed. Note No information is provided for the three progress messages (Retrieving configuration, Transferring configuration, and Waiting for configuration to load), or for the Configuration successful message. Message Description Incomplete configuration The configuration finished, but not all settings were applied successfully. Either the destination device doesn't support the applied setting, or the configuration process failed to overwrite an existing setting value. Recommended Action: This can occur when different types of devices are selected for the source and destination devices (for example, a Rack PDU and Smart-UPS). Select devices that match, and try again. This can also occur when an applied value does not fall into the allowed values range/list (such as a string that exceeds the maximum length, False rather than Enabled, etc.). Note You can select the device and click Configuration Results to access the "Configuration Results" display and review the settings that failed to be configured. Failed: Unable to connect A network or file transfer protocol communication problem exists. Recommended Action: Make sure the device is turned on and online, the appropriate file transfer protocol is enabled at the device, and that the "Device File Transfer Settings" display settings used to access the device include the device's correct port number. Correct any network connection problem. Note If the problem persists, contact APC Support (http://www.apc.com/support). Failed: Unable to log on The Data Center Expert server does not have the appropriate file transfer protocol settings needed to log on to the device, or communication was lost after the connection was successful. Recommended Action: Make sure the access settings needed to log on to the device are defined in the "Device File Transfer Settings" display, and the appropriate file transfer protocol is still enabled at the device. Make sure the device has not been turned off or disconnected from the network. Correct any network connection problem. Note If the problem persists, contact APC Support (http://www.apc.com/support). Failed: Unable to transfer configuration A problem occurred, after the server logged on to the device successfully, that prevented the server from transferring the configuration. Recommended Action: Make sure the access settings have not changed at the server or device, and the appropriate file transfer protocol is still enabled at the device. Make sure the device has not been turned off or disconnected from the network. Correct any network connection problem. Note If the problem persists, contact APC Support (http://www.apc.com/support). Failed: Unable to retrieve configuration A problem occurred, after the Data Center Expert server transferred the configuration to the device successfully, that prevented the server from verifying that the configuration was successful by retrieving a copy of the configuration from the device. Recommended Action: Make sure the access settings have not changed at the server or device, and the appropriate file transfer protocol is still enabled at the device. Make sure the device has not been turned off or disconnected from the network. Correct any network connection problem. Note If the problem persists, contact APC Support (http://www.apc.com/support). Failed: Connection timed out A network or file transfer protocol communication problem prevented the Data Center Expert server from logging on before the Timeout identified in the "Device File Transfer Settings" display expired. Recommended Action: Make sure the device is turned on and online, and the appropriate file transfer protocol is enabled at the device. Also, make sure the "Device File Transfer Settings" display includes the correct access settings needed to access the device, and that the Timeout value is appropriate for the network traffic requirements. Correct any network connection problem. Note If the problem persists, contact APC Support (http://www.apc.com/support).

Manage the register addresses assigned to the sensors at a selected device, including importing or exporting register map settings as an external *.csv file, and copying the register map settings to other devices. Element Description Filter Filter the table to list only entries that include the text you type, exactly as typed. Select Device Slave Address Select a new slave address for the device, if needed. Note Only slave addresses, from 1 through 247, which are not mapped to another device are listed; No Slave Mapping is selected when the device has no slave address assigned, and can be used to change the device's slave address to unmapped. List Select a sensor or sensors, to map Register values for those sensors or remove them from the list, or select a single sensor, to modify its Register value. You can click on any column head (Register, Sensor, Units, or Details) to sort the list. Note All sensors for the selected device are listed, unless filtered. Select/Deselect All Select (check-mark) or deselect all sensors. Modify Register Click to edit or delete the Register value for a selected sensor. Note Disabled when more than one sensor is selected. Remove Registers Click to remove the Register value for a selected sensor or set of sensors. Generate Register Map Click to map a Register value for the selected sensor or set of sensors. You can use any value between 31000 to 39999 for a single sensor; for a set of sensors, you can use any value that is at least 31000 for the start of the Register value range, as long as that value allows for mapping all of the sensors within the maximum range of 39999. If you select a single sensor, whether that sensor is mapped already, its value will map to the new value unless that value is assigned to another register. In that case, the next highest available value will be used. For example, if you define 31009 as the value, 31009 through 31058 are assigned to other sensors, 31059 will be assigned to the sensor. Note To map a sensor to a value that is assigned to another register, you must either change or remove that value at the other register. If you select multiple sensors, the sensors are mapped sequentially from the sensor at the top of the list through to the sensor at the end of the list, except as follows: Any values assigned to unselected sensors will be skipped. If the starting value is assigned to an unselected sensor, the mapping will start at the next highest available value. For example, if you select 31005, and 31005 through 31050 are already assigned, 31051 will be the first Register value assigned. Import Register Map Click to apply the contents of a *.csv file for a previously saved register map to the list. Export Register Map Click to save a copy of the register map, as configured, as a *.csv file. Note Do not edit the .csv file for an exported register map. Any errors made during editing can affect the MODBUS TCP Output Module support when that file is imported. Copy Register Map Click to copy the register map, as configured, to one or more devices using the "Copy Register Map to Device" display.

Manage the server addresses assigned to monitored devices, and to access the "Modify Device Settings" display used to map the registers assigned to sensors at a selected device. Note Until the MODBUS TCP Output Module license is purchased and added to the Data Center Expert server using License Keys, a Server Administration Settings option in the System menu, the "Building Management Settings" display provides only an Add License Key button you can click to access the License Keys option.  More information about the MODBUS TCP Output Module support You can assign unique server addresses for up to 247 monitored devices; you can modify the settings for one device at a time, including the Register values for any or all of its sensors. Element Description Filter Filter the table to list only entries that include the text you type, exactly as typed. List Select one or more devices, to generate or remove server identifications (Server Address), or select a single device, to modify the device settings for its sensors. You can click on any column head (Server Address, Hostname, Parent Device, Location, Device Type, or Model) to sort the list. Note All monitored devices are listed, unless filtered, but only a maximum of 247 devices can have server addresses assigned. Select/Deselect All Select (check-mark) or deselect all devices. Modify Device Settings Click to access the "Modify Device Settings" display for a selected device. Note Disabled when more than one device is selected. Generate Server IDs Click to assign a Server Address to a selected device or devices. Note Any device with an existing Server Address assignment will be unaffected. Remove Server IDs Click to unassign a Server Address for a selected device or devices.

The actual value reported by the device after the configuration process may not be shared by the source and destination (Not Supported reported for the Expected Value), the two devices may allow different values, or the set may have failed for an unknown reason. You can use Launch to Device, a right-click option in the Device View and Map View, to access the device to review its event log to see if it contains information about the error, or to review the user interface at the device to see the available settings, allowed values. For information about the Status reported for the selected device, see Status messages: Configuration Status view.

  In addition to standard identification information (Hostname, Type, Model, Location, and IP Address), the wizard also identifies when the settings for a device were last retrieved by the DCE server (Last Retrieved column), if at all (Not Retrieved).   You must retrieve the settings for any device that reports Not Retrieved as its Last Retrieved status before you can configure that device using the selected configuration source (APC SNMP device or template). When multiple devices of the same model and firmware are listed as Not Retrieved, retrieving the settings for one of those devices updates the Last Retrieved status for all of those devices. The DCE server recognizes that identical devices (same model and firmware version) have identical available settings. Note If a pop-up status message appears, you can click Status messages: Configuration Status view, a related information link provided below, for information about that message.  

Edit notification policy and communication settings the server uses with its monitored Modbus devices. Shared Element Description Hostname When only one device is selected, identifies the hostname or IP address of that Modbus device. Note: No Hostname is provided when multiple devices are selected. Server Address Select the server address you want associated with the selected Modbus device. Note: When more than one device is selected, the server address may not be configured. Device Definition File The device definition file (DDF) associated with the device. Note: The DDF associated with a Modbus device cannot be modified. Scan Interval (minutes) Select how much time will pass between Data Center Expert server scans of a selected Modbus device for status information: from 1 through 60 minutes, and Default, the minutes for which is defined by the Global Scan Settings option's Scan Interval setting. Note: Setting the scan interval below the default value of five minutes can adversely affect performance when the Data Center Expert server is managing a large number of devices. Port The number of the port used for Modbus communications with a selected Modbus device. Timeout (seconds) Select how long the Data Center Expert server will wait for a response before it considers an attempt to communicate with a selected Modbus device has failed. Retries The number of times the Data Center Expert server will try to communicate with the device after the timeout has expired before considering communication has failed.

Copy the register map settings from the source selected in the "Modify Device Settings" display to one or more of the devices monitored by the server. Note Only register map settings that match settings at a selected device will be copied to that device. Element Description Search Filter the table to list only entries that include the text you type, exactly as typed. List Select the device or devices to which you want to copy register map settings from the source selected in the "Modify Device Settings" display. You can click on any column head (Server Address, Hostname, Device Type, Model, or Location) to sort the list. Note All monitored devices are listed, unless filtered. Select/Deselect All Select (check-mark) or deselect all devices.

Use this "APC SNMP Device Configuration" wizard display to select, edit, and apply the settings for the configuration source selected in the "Select Configuration Source" display, at the APC SNMP devices selected in the "Select Destination Devices" display. Typically, this display lists only the configuration source settings that can be used at all the selected destination devices: the Show Shared Settings Only is selected (check-marked). If you disable Show Shared Settings Only, all the configuration source settings are listed and identified as follows: Note If no source settings can be used at all of the selected destination devices, Show Shared Settings Only is disabled, by default. Black text identifies a settings category that has only settings that can be shared with all the destination devices, as well as individual settings that can be shared. Brown text identifies a settings category that has at least one setting that cannot be shared with all the destination devices, as well as individual settings that cannot be shared. Red text identifies a selected settings category that has at least one setting that has no value defined, as well as individual settings that have no value defined. Note  If no setting is selected, or a setting that cannot be shared with all the destination devices, or that currently has no value defined, is selected, you will be unable to initiate the configuration activity (Finish will be disabled). Element Description List Use to select the settings that have the configuration source values you want to share with the selected devices. Edit Click to edit the value for a selected setting. Note If you select a setting that has no value currently defined, you must edit that setting to define a value before you can share it with the selected devices. Back Click to return to the "Select Destination Devices" display. Finish Click to apply the selected settings at the destination devices, and exit the "APC SNMP Device Configuration" wizard. Note The status of the configuration activity will be reported in the Configuration Status view.

Provides access to a separately-licensed feature you can use to configure the server's MODBUS TCP Output Module support for your Building Management System (BMS).   You cannot configure Building Management System support until you purchase and add the MODBUS TCP Output Module license to Data Center Expert in the System > Server Administration Settings > License Keys option.   Port 502 is used to connect a BMS to the MODBUS TCP Output Module support in DCE. Three displays are used to configure MODBUS TCP Output Module support:   Building Management Settings: Select the devices on which to enable Modbus support and assign the server addresses. Modify Device Settings: Configure the server address for the selected device and map sensors to registers. Copy Register Map: Select the devices to which you want to copy a register map. See the DCE Building Management System Integration application note