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    apcupsd- Back UPS 650VA

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • JKnottJ
      JKnott @mbrossar
      last edited by

      @mbrossar

      Is that a farly new UPS? There's a problem where newer models don't work properly with either APCUPSD or NUT, but an older UPS works fine with both. This is a FreeBSD problem, as both work fine in Linux. I had a thread about that a while ago.

      PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
      i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
      UniFi AC-Lite access point

      I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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      • provelsP
        provels
        last edited by

        FWIW, I use the NUT Package and I get a ton of info for my old APC. Maybe try that?

        Variable	Value
        battery.charge	100.0
        battery.charge.low	5
        battery.charge.restart	0.0
        battery.date	2019-07-19
        battery.runtime	864.0
        battery.runtime.low	180
        battery.voltage	27.4
        battery.voltage.nominal	24.0
        device.mfr	APC
        device.model	Back-UPS BR 800
        device.serial	5B1238T04722
        device.type	ups
        driver.name	apcupsd-ups
        driver.parameter.pollinterval	60
        driver.parameter.port	192.168.0.20:3551
        driver.parameter.synchronous	no
        driver.version	2.7.4
        driver.version.internal	0.04
        input.frequency	60.0
        input.sensitivity	M
        input.transfer.high	138.0
        input.transfer.low	97.0
        input.transfer.reason	Low line voltage
        input.voltage	123.0
        input.voltage.nominal	120
        output.frequency	60.0
        output.voltage	120.0
        output.voltage.nominal	120
        ups.date	2019-12-11
        ups.delay.shutdown	0
        ups.delay.start	0
        ups.firmware	9.o6 .D USB FW:o6
        ups.id	Q6600
        ups.load	33.0
        ups.mfr	APC
        ups.mfr.date	2012-09-19
        ups.model	Back-UPS BR 800
        ups.realpower.nominal	540.0
        ups.serial	5B1238T04722
        ups.status	OL
        ups.temperature	29.2
        ups.test.interval	0
        ups.test.result	NO
        ups.time	05:57:00
        

        Peder

        MAIN - pfSense+ 24.11-RELEASE - Adlink MXE-5401, i7, 16 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD. 500 GB HDD for SyslogNG
        BACKUP - pfSense+ 23.01-RELEASE - Hyper-V Virtual Machine, Gen 1, 2 v-CPUs, 3 GB RAM, 8GB VHDX (Dynamic)

        JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • JKnottJ
          JKnott @provels
          last edited by

          @provels

          If it works with the old UPS, but not the new, it's the same problem I had. Apparently there was a protocol change with newer APC UPSs. Linux was updated for it, but apparently not FreeBSD.

          PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
          i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
          UniFi AC-Lite access point

          I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • jimpJ
            jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
            last edited by

            I have a Back-UPS RS 1500G (BR1500G) from ~August 2018 and it works fine with apcupsd 3.14.14. I get all the expected fields, including the ones you list.

            It's set with UPS Cable=usb, UPS Type=usb, and nothing in the device field.

            Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

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            JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • JKnottJ
              JKnott @jimp
              last edited by

              @jimp

              Mine is an APC BE600M1. I have the same model connected to both my pfSense firewall and my desktop system running openSUSE 15.1. The one connected to the desktop is working fine, complete with all the stats. The one connected to pfSense has a lot of missing stats.

              Here's what it shows in pfSense:

              APC : 001,032,0720
              DATE : 2019-12-11 11:02:31 -0500
              HOSTNAME : firewall
              VERSION : 3.14.14 (31 May 2016) freebsd
              UPSNAME : APC BE600M1
              CABLE : USB Cable
              DRIVER : USB UPS Driver
              UPSMODE : Stand Alone
              STARTTIME: 2019-12-11 10:56:58 -0500
              MODEL :
              STATUS :
              LINEV : 0.0 Volts
              LOADPCT : 0.0 Percent
              BCHARGE : 100.0 Percent
              TIMELEFT : 40.2 Minutes
              MBATTCHG : 5 Percent
              MINTIMEL : 3 Minutes
              MAXTIME : 0 Seconds
              SENSE : Unknown
              LOTRANS : -1.0 Volts
              HITRANS : -1.0 Volts
              ALARMDEL : Always
              BATTV : 0.0 Volts
              NUMXFERS : 0
              TONBATT : 0 Seconds
              CUMONBATT: 0 Seconds
              XOFFBATT : N/A
              STATFLAG : 0x05000000
              SERIALNO :
              BATTDATE :
              NOMINV : 0 Volts
              NOMBATTV : 0.0 Volts
              END APC : 2019-12-11 11:02:32 -0500

              Also, whether it works with a particular model would depend on when that UPS was designed, not built or purchased.

              PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
              i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
              UniFi AC-Lite access point

              I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • M
                mbrossar
                last edited by

                Thanks all. You’ve confirmed my suspicion that it’s an age thing. I have a Back UPS 550 that’s 10-15 years old. It works fine with apcupsd on another NetGate.

                Does anyone know if this is fatal or a mere inconvenience? I do see values for both BCHARGE and TIMELEFT. Both of these, I believe, are what apcupsd key off of in a power failure when determining when it’s time to shut down. However, it looks like both of these are monitored in the event of a power failure, and if I’m not getting a value for STATUS, it may never monitor BCHARGE or TIMELEFT. Does anyone know?

                I imagine from everyone’s response that there’s really nothing we can do for FreeBSD except hope the condition gets fixed.

                Thanks.

                JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • JKnottJ
                  JKnott @mbrossar
                  last edited by

                  @mbrossar

                  I'm no expert on UPS, but my understanding is that some signal is sent by the UPS to the attached computer. I know that it's possible for one computer to send that signal to another, when there are multiple computers sharing a UPS. One computer does the monitoring and then tells the others.

                  PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                  i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                  UniFi AC-Lite access point

                  I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

                  provelsP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • jimpJ
                    jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                    last edited by

                    @mbrossar said in apcupsd- Back UPS 650VA:

                    I do see values for both BCHARGE and TIMELEFT. Both of these, I believe, are what apcupsd key off of in a power failure when determining when it’s time to shut down. However, it looks like both of these are monitored in the event of a power failure, and if I’m not getting a value for STATUS, it may never monitor BCHARGE or TIMELEFT. Does anyone know?

                    Pull the power cord and find out :-)

                    Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

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                    JKnottJ M 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • JKnottJ
                      JKnott @jimp
                      last edited by

                      @jimp said in apcupsd- Back UPS 650VA:

                      Pull the power cord and find out :-)

                      Actually, I just did. I see the power fail was detected and some things like battery percent and minutes remaining are updating, but many other items are not displayed.

                      So, hopefully, the UPS will do it's job and cause a proper shut down when needed, even if those items are missing.

                      PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                      i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                      UniFi AC-Lite access point

                      I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • provelsP
                        provels @JKnott
                        last edited by

                        @JKnott said in apcupsd- Back UPS 650VA:

                        @mbrossar

                        I'm no expert on UPS, but my understanding is that some signal is sent by the UPS to the attached computer. I know that it's possible for one computer to send that signal to another, when there are multiple computers sharing a UPS. One computer does the monitoring and then tells the others.

                        That's what I do. My Windows host has an APC BR800 USB that is monitored by the APCUPSD Windows port. My pfSense VM uses NUT (but using Remote APCUPSD client mode) and reads the host's UPS and subsequently relays the UPS status to my XigmaNAS which also uses NUT. But from what's been discussed, may be moot if FreeBSD doesn't read them right.

                        Peder

                        MAIN - pfSense+ 24.11-RELEASE - Adlink MXE-5401, i7, 16 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD. 500 GB HDD for SyslogNG
                        BACKUP - pfSense+ 23.01-RELEASE - Hyper-V Virtual Machine, Gen 1, 2 v-CPUs, 3 GB RAM, 8GB VHDX (Dynamic)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • jimpJ
                          jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                          last edited by

                          @JKnott said in apcupsd- Back UPS 650VA:

                          I know that it's possible for one computer to send that signal to another, when there are multiple computers sharing a UPS.

                          I do that on my edge firewall and a couple internal systems. I have the apcupsd package setup as a server, and the other instances use it as a net type device in apcupsd. It works fine, so long as your switch and anything else between the UPS-backed hosts are also on the same UPS.

                          You could use a Pi or something else Linux-y you already have on the UPS as the server and have pfSense speak to that across the network.

                          Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                          Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                          Do not Chat/PM for help!

                          JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • JKnottJ
                            JKnott @jimp
                            last edited by

                            @jimp said in apcupsd- Back UPS 650VA:

                            You could use a Pi or something else Linux-y you already have on the UPS as the server and have pfSense speak to that across the network.

                            I would rather the FreBSD folks get up to speed on this. I shouldn't have to get more hardware to fix a problem in the software.

                            PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                            i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                            UniFi AC-Lite access point

                            I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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                            • jimpJ
                              jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                              last edited by

                              That's the ideal fix, but if you already happen to have things in place, then it is a fine workaround. I have several Pis already doing various tasks, I'm sure others do as well. And the Pi I use as a USB console mux is already on my UPS, for example. So I wouldn't say go out and buy a Pi, but if it's already there, why not.

                              Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                              Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                              Do not Chat/PM for help!

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • M
                                mbrossar @jimp
                                last edited by

                                @jimp LOL! I have been thinking this very thing and will probably do it. If I do, I’ll report back.

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