APC smart UPS nut or apcupsd

[jsequeiros]

Hello everebody,

I want to buy one upc for my dell server working with proxmox 3.3. Acording to workmates, APC Smart is the best upc(?) for linux debian server. I read there are 2 ways to manage upc from linux server trought usp port: nut and apcupsd. I don't have any experience about upc s and its management.

What kind of upc model do you recommend to buy that works fine with proxmox?
What is the best way to manage one UPS under proxmox: nut or apcupsd?

 

[mir]

I have a smartups 1000. Old model with serial interface. Works very well with apcupsd.

The general rule, IMHO, if your apc uses serial interface apcupsd works best. With USB interface both work equally well.

 

[remark]

APC SmartUPS 1500 and 1000 connected to Proxmox host, all works with NUT.
Works just fine, including email or sms notification. NUT over network also great -- notify servers to shut down when power failure occurs.

 

[mmenaz]

I've a APC SmartUPS SMT1000I configured with apcupsd. This, that is new series, uses a secret protocol so apcupsd gets only few parameters from it, but that's enough for my needs (shutdown when batteries are below a certain percentage).
Could you pleas share your config for nut, so I can try it too without wasting time to reinvent the wheel? I'm interested in the network part as well.
Thanks in advance

 

[remark]

Ok, where is my config. UPS is Smart-UPS RT 2000 XL, connected to Proxmox 3.3 host with serial cable. I don't know it uses a 'secret' protocol or not, but it works very well.
Set up server (host, which UPS connected to):

Step 1. Enable net server mode in /etc/nut/nut.conf:

MODE=netserver

Step 2. Describe our UPS in /etc/nut/ups.conf (I have UPS named '22b' connected to serial port):

[22b]
        driver = apcsmart
        port = /dev/ttyS0

Step 3. Edit daemon settings in /etc/nut/upsd.conf:

LISTEN 192.168.11.110 3493

Step 4. If you need to host monitor itself, edit monitor settings in /etc/nut/upsmon.conf:

MONITOR 22b@192.168.11.110 1 upsmon pass master

I didn't set username and password for UPS in /etc/nut/upsd.users, so it is not necessary to use it, but they present in this line (upsmon and pass).
'1' means thus system produces power for host, 'master' means you monitor main (master) UPS, that must be shut down last.

I wrote a small script (/etc/nut/notify) to send email notification to several emails when UPS events occured:

#!/bin/sh
echo "$*" | mailx -s "UPS Notice" xxxxxxx@sms.xxxxx.ru -cc xxxxx@mail.ru -- -f xxxxxx@academy21.ru

Step 5. Add notify command (script execution) to /etc/nut/upsmon.conf:

NOTIFYCMD /etc/nut/notify

Set up nut client if quite easy:

Step 1. Enable client mode in /etc/nut/nut.conf:

MODE=netclient

Step 2. Edit monitor settings in /etc/nut/upsmon.conf:

MONITOR 22b@192.168.11.110 1 upsmon pass master

You can monitor your UPS by hand:

upsc 22b@192.168.11.110

That is.

 

[fireon]

I always use apcupsd. Easy config, 5 Minutes for a fresh server. Never had problems with before.

 

[remark]

apcupsd works only with APC devices.
I have several types of UPS, CyberPower for example. nut supports it via HID UPS driver.

 

[mir]

apcupsd works only with APC devices.
I have several types of UPS, CyberPower for example. nut supports it via HID UPS driver.

True, but the question was specifically in regards to an UPS from APC.

 

[mmenaz]

Thanks a lot. The "secret protocol" is the Microlink one. Googling just now I see they have a brand new protocol, "Mobus rs232", that fortunately is "open" and apcupsd is going to implement and support:
http://apcupsd.cvs.sourceforge.net/.../apcupsd/ReleaseNotes?pathrev=Release-3_14_11
and latest release supports it on USB too.
Now I just ask Proxmox to backport, if possible, apcupsd 3.14.13