Device status may be inaccurate MGE Galaxy 5500 UPS (DDF error)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi,

I have a customer, who has a following error on SWDCE 7.0.0 system.

"Device status may be inaccurate because an attempt to transfer a device definition file (DDF) failed."

The UPS is MGE Galaxy 5500.

The ups has the newest firmware.
Maybe the SWDCE server definition file is old on the system?

What can be the solution?

(CID:110012627)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Gabor,

Please refer the K-base ID: FA177004 to resolve this issue. I also suggest you to upgrade the DCE version to the latest version even though this issue may not be related directly to DCE software. 

Issue:

StruxureWare Data Center Expert message "Device status may be inaccurate due to attempt to transfer DDF failed"

Product Line:

StruxureWare Data Center Expert
APC Networked Devices

Environment:

StruxureWare Central / Data Center Expert any version
APC Networked Devices

Cause:

StruxureWare Data Center Expert uses device definition files (DDF) to understand what information to poll and how to format different information from discovered devices. During discovery of APC devices and after a firmware update of APC devices, the StruxureWare server will attempt to download DDF files from the device using FTP or SSH. If the server is unable to perform this transfer, you will see a message stating "Device status may be inaccurate due to attempt to transfer DDF failed".

Resolution:

Please be sure to enable FTP or SSH on the device itself. Make sure that any firewalls between StruxureWare and the affected device(s) are allowing the appropriate protocols and ports (20 for ftp and 21 for ssh). Also make sure that the appropriate user names, passwords, protocols, and ports are listed in StruxureWare under the device menu, SNMP device communication settings, and device file transfer settings. You can add or edit current listings. You can also create entries for ranges of devices as well as entries for specific devices.

If the Galaxy 5500 UPS uses NMC1(66074), then the default user name and password is MGEUPS. If the UPS uses NMC2-AP9635CH, then the default user name and password is apc. 

I hope this helps. 

Regards,

Bala

(CID:110012647)

[DCIM_Support]

Dear Gabor,

Please find the Struxureware Data Center Expert Network Ports to be opened for discovering the device from DCE IP Address. 

Protocol	Transfer Protocol	Ports	Network	Comments
SNMP	UDP	161	The bandwidth needed heavily depends on number of discovered devices, polling interval configured and alarm activity in the system.	SNMP Communication between discovered devices and DCE
SNMP (Trap)	TCP/UDP	162	Specified in device SNMP configuration	SNMP Communication between discovered devices and DCE
FTP	TCP	21	Used when device is discovered and DDF file transferred. The network requirements are low.	Transfer DDF files between devices and DCE
SCP	TCP	22	Used when device is discovered and DDF file transferred. The network requirements are low.	Transfer DDF files between devices and DCE
For more info: http://dcimsupport.apc.com/display/UADCE725/StruxureWare+Data+Center+Expert+Security

If FTP port is blocked, then this could be the most likely reason for this error to come. Upgrading the DCE version to the latest version will update the DDF files as well to the most recent. If you are looking for the DDF for specific to this model, then you can request here.

The alternate protocol used to discover the device if FTP port is blocked is SCP or SSH which can be used  for DCE to download the appropriate DDF files from the device.

SSH(port: 22) is by default disabled on the web interface of the APC products. We need to enable it first on the web interface of the devices.

To enable SSH(Port: 22) on the device level for ATS and other PDUs, please follow the below steps:

Login to Web interface of the device-->Administration-->Network-->Console-->Access-->Enable SSH V1 and V2--->Apply-->Logout for the changes to take place.

Please make sure to select the SCP protocol while discovering the device if SCP port is opened between DCE and device. You can verify if SCP port is opened for the device on the network by using putty program.

I hope this helps. 

Regards,

Bala

(CID:110012738)

[DCIM_Support]

Hi Bala,

Thanks for the reply.

The customer has NMC2-AP9635CH web card.
All settings is correct because we can open the device in the SWDCE software. I know that it is using standard port:80 to open the web card page.

Appropriate user names, passwords, protocols, and ports are all correct.
FTP connection is closed becouse security reasons. (Port:21)
The customer has many devices around the country, but just two MGE Galaxy 5500 UPS has this kind of error. So I think the closed FTP port can't be the problem.

I have tested this kind of connection in my test are.
I have noticed that the SWDCE MGE version is 15 (by customer) and i have SWDCE 7.2.4 and my MGE UPS version is 18. I haven't got this kind of  DDF error in my test area.  

Maybe that can be the problem?  The older version of the DDF file. 
Just a guess. 🙂

Where can I get or download the newest DDF version for this device, which is integrated to the system?

Regards, 

Gabor

(CID:110014587)

[DCIM_Support]

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