Rittal rPDU (CMC III Processing Unit) Association Issue

[aashraf]

Hi All,

One of our customers has Rittal rPDU (DK 7955.411 & DK 7955.911), In each rack he has one (DK 7955.411) which is smart rPDU and connected to DCE private network and one (DK 7955.911) which is not smart and connected directly to the smart one.

And we got the attached DDF  (for your reference) for this device and added it to DCE, The two rPDUs added to DCE as one node and we got the sensors of the two rPDUs on one device in DCE (Refer to attached screenshot).

When we tried to associate these devices to DCO data center item we found that

1. We have only one device appeared under the external system, Without separated sensors for the two rPDUs to be associated to Qty: 2 of Rittal rPDU (The used Genome is "Power Distribution/Rack Power Distribution/Rittal Corp/PDU international, managed").
2. We can NOT associate the rPDU device coming from the DCE to the selected genome, It appears like it's rack mounted device and refuse to be associated to rPDU genome.

So, Please advice.

[Jef]

Hi Ahmed,

I don't think the described scenario can be fully supported in DCO/ITA - but concerning the device appearance as one device, that is expected. A device is defined as a single IP address in DCO.

Why you are unable to associate, I think in general if the rack pdu has already device association or most likely in this case the DCE device contains some unexpected properties not matching a rack pdu.

However your rack pdu "CMC III" dose not have/cannot provide any power data, so even if you had been able to associate it, it would not have provided any measured data.
To clarify, your rack pdu Properties shows only its External Systems info:

A DCE device/rack pdu that can provide power data, similar to the following image, will show External Systems > Device (that may contain measured data):

I'm not sure what to expect or what the possible power data may look like (in DCO/ITA) - perhaps as one device with peak and average power data, but I think at least from the DCO/ITA side it is expected that the DDF should contain definitions for 

Power Sensors:

OUTPUT_POWER_WATTS

OUTPUT_POWER_TOTAL_WATTS

MODULE_OUTPUT_POWER or MODULE_BREAKER_POWER

Amp Sensors:

MODULE_BREAKER_CURRENT

OUTPUT_CURRENT

OUTPUT_CURRENT_TOTAL

INPUT_CURRENT

Kind regards,

Jef

[aashraf]

Hi Jef,

Actually, I communicated the DDF team to clarify if it's applicable to get different rPDU components from DCE to can associate each component to different rPDU in DCO.

But it's not applicable as per their reply.

Now I did the association by moving the "unassociated device" pane to the right side window in DCO, found the rack pdu I want to associate it with in the navigation pane and drag and drop it on top.

and the device now is associated to the required rPDU, But without any power data as you explained.

However the used DDF in DCE doesn't contain definitions for the Power Sensors and Amp Sensors that you mentioned, but it is getting the device power data and can be monitored via DCE.

The Conclusion is 

1. The DDF is getting the power data of the device in DCE.
2. Now the device is associated to the required data center item, But only the External Device info are shown in DCO (No power data).

So, What may be the cause of this issue? And How can be resolved?

After Association

Thanks,

Ahmed Ashraf

[Jef · Accepted solution]

Hi Ahmed,

The reason why you are not getting device power data into DCO, is basically ddf related. So you would need to ask for a new ddf file.
As mentioned from the DCO (and ITA) side it is expected that the ddf (new ddf) should contain the following sensor definitions (assuming the device can report power/amp data to DCO from DCE):

Power Sensors:

OUTPUT_POWER_WATTS

OUTPUT_POWER_TOTAL_WATTS

MODULE_OUTPUT_POWER or MODULE_BREAKER_POWER

Amp Sensors:

MODULE_BREAKER_CURRENT

OUTPUT_CURRENT

OUTPUT_CURRENT_TOTAL

INPUT_CURRENT

Kind regards,

Jef

[aashraf]

Hi Jef,

Thanks for your support.

Actually I reached out the DDF team regarding this issue, And they send me an updated DDF file and Sensor context file.

And now the power data are shown on the associated data center modeled item,.

Thanks,

Ahmed Ashraf

[Jef]

Hi Ahmed,

You are most welcome. Great! glad to hear the update, thanks.

Kind regards,

Jef

[GaborNovak]

Hi @aashraf 

We had faced the same problem today when we have tried to connect the PDU and ITA. The customer has Rittal DK 7955.233. I think the same DDF can be good for us. Can you send me the DDF file, or give me the name if it can be found on the DDF library?

Thanks

Gabor

[Jake_H]

Hi @GaborNovak ,

The Rittal CMC III is a device that aggregates data from several different types of devices.  It puts all of the data from the devices in tables of no specific order.  This makes it impossible to generate a general DDF capable of ITA compatibility.  Our services team customized the general DDF into one specific for his configuration.  Would you mind creating a request so we can work with you on a solution for your specific configuration?  The request can be submitted here:  https://helpcenter.ecostruxureit.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=360000111657

Thanks,

Jake