Configuring a Managed UPS

The Network UPS Tools (NUT) embedded in the console servers enables you to manage local and remote UPS power devices. A Managed UPS is a UPS that is connected to the console server by serial or USB cable, or it is SNMP/HTTP/HTTPS connected over the network. 

 

The console server becomes the master of this UPS and runs a upsd server (with the appropriate driver). This also allows others to monitor the UPS status (such as slave computers that are drawing power through the UPS). 

• Serial and network connected UPSes must first be connected to, and configured to communicate with the console server:
  • For a serially controlled UPS device you first must have allocated the relevant serial port on the console server to UPS usage (by selecting UPS as the Device Type in the Serial & Network: Serial Port menu for each port which has master control over a UPS)
  • For a network connected (SNMP, HTTP, HTTPS) UPS device you must first have configured the UPS as a Host in the Serial & Network: Network Hosts menu and again nominate UPS as the Device Type
  • No such pre-configuration is required for USB connected UPS hardware
• To add a UPS select the System: UPS Connections menu (which will display any Managed UPS already configured) and click Add Managed UPS 
  
  
• Select if the UPS will be Connected Via USB or over pre-configured serial port or via SNMP/HTTP/HTTPS over the preconfigured network Host connection
  • When you select a network UPS connection then the corresponding Host Name/Description that you set up for that connection will be entered as the Name and Description for the power device
  • Alternately if you selected to Connect Via a USB or serial connection then you will need to enter a Name and Description for the power device (and these details will also be used to create a new Managed Device entry for the serial/USB connected UPS devices)
• Enter the login details. This Username and Password is used by slave computers (that are drawing power through this UPS) to connect to the console server to monitor the UPS status so they can shut themselves down when battery power is low, and by remote console servers that may also be monitoring this UPS (as a Remote UPS)
  
  
• If there are multiple UPSes and a specific shut down order is required, specify the Shutdown Order 
  
  
• Select the Driver that will be used to communicate with the UPS. Larger console servers are pre-loaded with full selection of drivers from the latest Network UPS Tools (NUT version 2.4). With smaller console servers (CM4001/C4008) you will need to download the required UPS driver from www.opengear.com/download.html
  
  
• Click New Options in Driver Options if you need to set driver-specific options 
  
  
• Check Log Status and specify the Log Rate (minutes between samples) if you wish the status from this UPS to be logged 
  
  
• If you have enabled Nagios services then you will presented with an option for Nagios monitoring
  
  
• Check Enable Shutdown Script if this is the UPS providing power to the console server itself and in the event of a critical power failure you can perform any "last gasp" actions on the console server before power is lost (refer faq 337) 
  
  
• Click Apply

 

A UPS can be managed using the Management Console as described above, or it can be controlled through the console server from the command line by customizing the NUT upsmon, upsd and upsc settings directly. 

Refer Network UPS Tools for more general info on the UPS management tools. 

For details on monitoring a Remote UPS refer faq 330.