Configuring network connected PDUs

Opengear console servers monitor and control network connected PDUs using the embedded Network UPS Tools open source tools and Opengear's power management software. Networked PDUs invariably be controlled using a browser or an SNMP management package, or using vendor supplied control software. However to make power control simple, the Opengear Management Console provides tools that locally and remotely control the whole range of serial and network connected power devices including PDUs, UPSes and BMCs - all through the one window. 

To set up a network connected PDUs:

• Connect the PDU to the management LAN and configure the PDU as a connected Host using the Serial & Network: Network Hosts
• Then select RPC as the Device Type (RPCs are Remote Power Controllers and include PDUs and IPMI power devices) and click Apply
  
   
  
  
• Go to the Serial & Network: RPC Connections menu which will display all the RPC connections that have already been configured. Click Add RPC
• Select the connection from Connected Via (which shows all the serial ports and network hosts that you have set up with device type RPC but have yet to connect to a specific RPC device). Select the appropriate Host and protocol (SNMP/HTTP/HTTPS). When you select to Connect Via a network connection the corresponding Host Name/Description that you set up for that connection will be entered as the Name and Description for the power device 
  
   
  
  
• You will be presented with the IPMI protocol options and the SNMP RPC Types currently supported by the embedded Network UPS Tools. Select the appropriate RPC Type for the PDU being connected
• If you wish the status from this PDU to be logged check Log Status and specify the Log Rate (minutes between samples) These logs can be views from the Status: RPC Status screen
• Click Apply and the console server will probe the configured PDU to confirm the RPC Type matches. It will then report the number of outlets it finds that can be controlled, and create a new Managed Device (with the same name)

Controlling network connected PDUs

The console server enables both Users and Administrators to access and control the configured serial and network attached PDU power strips, and servers with embedded IPMI service processors or BMCs:

• Select the Manage: Power and the particular Target power device to be controlled (and the Outlet to be controlled if the RPC supports outlet level control)
• The outlet status is displayed and you can initiate the desired Action to be taken by selecting the appropriate icon (Turn ON, Turn OFF, Cycle, Status). You will only be presented with icons for those operations that are supported by the Target you have selected. 
  
  

Opengear console servers can locally or remotely control a whole range of serial and network connected power devices including PDUs, UPSes and BMCs:
Refer faq 231 for information on serially connected power devices 
Refer faq 257 for details on IPMI or direct BMC power commands
Refer faq 242 for examples of direct command line control of serial power switch devices