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    apcupsd- Back UPS 650VA

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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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!

                  Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                  Do not Chat/PM for help!

                  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...

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • 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.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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