Nut upsuser - Nov 2012 - Control power output via serial connection

Hi,

I have two APC UPS models and I am trying to find out if it is possible
to cut power down via serial connection in Ubuntu Server 12.04.1 AMD64
system.

I have models:
    APC Back-UPS Pro 650 (BP650SI)
    APC Back-UPS 650 (BK650MI)

I have also APC serial cables 940-0020C and 940-0095B.

Is this possible with my current hardware? If it isn't possible, could
you recommend model(s) on which has this feature?
Does it exist models with which user is able to control the power per
power socket?


Tero

On Nov 18, 2012, at 7:10 AM, Tero M?ntyvaara wrote:
> I have two APC UPS models and I am trying to find out if it is possible
> to cut power down via serial connection in Ubuntu Server 12.04.1 AMD64
> system.
> 
> I have models:
>    APC Back-UPS Pro 650 (BP650SI)
>    APC Back-UPS 650 (BK650MI)
> 
> I have also APC serial cables 940-0020C and 940-0095B.
> 
> Is this possible with my current hardware?
Maybe Michal Soltys has some additional insight into these models, but my first
guess is that they are old enough (pre-2009) to work with the 'apcsmart'
driver, and they should support normal low-battery shutdowns:

http://www.networkupstools.org/docs/man/apcsmart.html
> If it isn't possible, could
> you recommend model(s) on which has this feature?
> Does it exist models with which user is able to control the power per
> power socket?

One way to do power control with your existing UPS is to add a Power
Distribution Unit (PDU). NUT supports several:

http://www.networkupstools.org/stable-hcl.html?device-type=pdu

It's difficult for us to recommend specific UPS models, since it seems like
every time we find a good one, the manufacturer changes hardware under the hood
(using the same model number), or they change to a new, incompatible proprietary
protocol (APC did this in ~2009 with their Microlink protocol). My
recommendation is to buy from a distributor with a good return policy.

-- 
Charles Lepple
clepple at gmail

On 2012-11-18 13:10, Tero M?ntyvaara wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have two APC UPS models and I am trying to find out if it is possible
> to cut power down via serial connection in Ubuntu Server 12.04.1 AMD64
> system.
>
> I have models:
>      APC Back-UPS Pro 650 (BP650SI)
>      APC Back-UPS 650 (BK650MI)
>
IIRC, back-ups series only work in "dumb" mode - but I'm not 100%
sure.
They should work either with usbhid-ups or genericups drivers (depending 
if they have usb port or not), but I have no first hand experience with 
them.
> I have also APC serial cables 940-0020C and 940-0095B.
Both cables are for simple signalling, they differ in details though (I 
persume one is from BP650SI, the other BK650MI).
>
> Is this possible with my current hardware? If it isn't possible, could
> you recommend model(s) on which has this feature?
> Does it exist models with which user is able to control the power per
> power socket?
>
>
> Tero
>
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