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NUT server and UPS general question

General pfSense Questions
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  • N
    netboy @occamsrazor
    last edited by netboy Nov 8, 2022, 5:03 PM Nov 8, 2022, 5:02 PM

    @occamsrazor Initially I thought a USB Hub can be connected to netgate 2100 and then attach 3 UPS's to them. I have since been "corrected" by the package author.
    Hence, my next solution is to use the APC (covers modem, router and my servers) to netgate USB as standalone.
    Additionally, configure NUT in raspberry pi and use it's USB to connect to other UPS's. That is the idea and I am working on it....

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • J
      JimBob Indiana
      last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 5:24 PM

      Thanks but I'm already using APCUSPD. If you can monitor more than one UPS that's the question.

      O 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 5:26 PM Reply Quote 0
      • O
        occamsrazor @JimBob Indiana
        last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 5:26 PM

        @jimbob-indiana said in NUT server and UPS general question:

        Thanks but I'm already using APCUSPD. If you can monitor more than one UPS that's the question.

        I don't think you can. I asked a similar question here:
        https://forum.netgate.com/topic/175536/multiple-ups-with-apcupsd-and-or-nut?_=1667928318795

        pfSense CE on Qotom Q355G4 8GB RAM/60GB SSD
        Ubiquiti Unifi wired and wireless network, APC UPSs
        Mac OSX and IOS devices, QNAP NAS

        N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 5:53 PM Reply Quote 0
        • N
          netboy @occamsrazor
          last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 5:53 PM

          @occamsrazor
          I have a question to everyone....

          I have 1 UPS in a different location but would like to connect the same to my future NUT server on raspberry PI. I do have a extra ethernet jack in the same location. Was wondering can I use "USB over ethernet adapter" to connect the UPS USB to adapter and then connect to the wall ethernet jack. Same at the receiving end ....connect an adapter to the ethernet and connect the USB end to the PI - Has anybody done something like this?

          J 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:09 PM Reply Quote 0
          • J
            JimBob Indiana @netboy
            last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:09 PM

            @netboy usb to ethernet adapter.

            Drivers are the issue.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by stephenw10 Nov 8, 2022, 6:26 PM Nov 8, 2022, 6:24 PM

              That's just a USB NIC it won't help you there.

              You'd need an actual USB over Ethernet device. If you have separate cable between those locations you might be able to use something passive that doesn't need drivers (USB over Cat5 extender).

              Steve

              N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:27 PM Reply Quote 0
              • N
                netboy @stephenw10
                last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:27 PM

                @stephenw10 Got it! How about this?

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:29 PM

                  Yup, like that. Note that only works over a dedicated cable. It's not using Ethernet, can't pass a switch etc.

                  N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:31 PM Reply Quote 0
                  • N
                    netboy @stephenw10
                    last edited by netboy Nov 8, 2022, 6:32 PM Nov 8, 2022, 6:31 PM

                    @stephenw10 said in NUT server and UPS general question:

                    Note that only works over a dedicated cable. It's not using Ethernet, can't pass a switch etc.

                    Not sure I follow you? Can you kindly elaborate?

                    I do have a dedicated cable (ethernet) near my UPS to a switch in the PI location

                    S 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:38 PM Reply Quote 0
                    • S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator @netboy
                      last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:38 PM

                      @netboy said in NUT server and UPS general question:

                      I do have a dedicated cable (ethernet) near my UPS to a switch in the PI location

                      That's fine then.

                      If you had an Ethernet jack there connected to a central switch and the RasPi was at a different location also connected to that switch it would not work since that only uses the Cat5 cable to pass USB signals no Ethernet. An Ethernet switch has no idea what to do with USB signals.

                      Steve

                      N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:44 PM Reply Quote 0
                      • N
                        netboy @stephenw10
                        last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:44 PM

                        @stephenw10
                        Just to be clear this is my setup:

                        • Connect one adapter to the USB of UPS and connect the ethernet to the existing ethernet wall jack near the UPS

                        • In the switch at my server rack connect from switch to my adapter using patch cable and then connect the USB to my raspberry PI.

                        Can I give it a try? What is your opinion? I am not asking you to vouch for it? If it fails that is ok

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:47 PM

                          No that won't work. It can't go through the switch.

                          You have to connect directly to incoming cable that's connected to that wall jack.

                          N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:48 PM Reply Quote 0
                          • O
                            occamsrazor
                            last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:47 PM

                            I forget which model APC UPS you have (did you say?). If it is a Smart-UPS with a slot, and remote monitoring is important to you, then you'd be better off getting an APC network management card, they can be found secondhand for not too much.

                            pfSense CE on Qotom Q355G4 8GB RAM/60GB SSD
                            Ubiquiti Unifi wired and wireless network, APC UPSs
                            Mac OSX and IOS devices, QNAP NAS

                            N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:49 PM Reply Quote 1
                            • N
                              netboy @stephenw10
                              last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:48 PM

                              @stephenw10 Oh Ok Got it ! Does it matter if this is a dump switch or managed switch?

                              S 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:50 PM Reply Quote 0
                              • N
                                netboy @occamsrazor
                                last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:49 PM

                                @occamsrazor said in NUT server and UPS general question:

                                I forget which model APC UPS you have (did you say?). If it is a Smart-UPS with a slot, and remote monitoring is important to you, then you'd be better off getting an APC network management card, they can be found secondhand for not too much.

                                I am looking for cheapo consumer variety.....thx anyway

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • S
                                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator @netboy
                                  last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:50 PM

                                  @netboy No, neither will pass USB signals.

                                  N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 6:52 PM Reply Quote 0
                                  • N
                                    netboy @stephenw10
                                    last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 6:52 PM

                                    @stephenw10
                                    Got it!
                                    Alternative is to use my UPS near NAS as standalone. The NAS has configuration for the NAS to run for xx minutes before shutting down (NAS can communicate to the UPS).
                                    Thanks all.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • D
                                      dennypage
                                      last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 8:38 PM

                                      So, one question comes to mind: Is your intent to manage the UPSs and attached devices, or just display their status?

                                      If the UPSs have computer systems attached to them, you want each system to manage the UPS that controls its power. This is important to allow the computer system to execute its shutdown at the appropriate time. Your NAS is a good example of this. On the other hand, if all the devices attached to the UPS lack the ability to shutdown, say like a cable modem or printer, then no active UPS management is needed (or appropriate).

                                      Either way you can use NUT on your Pi to display the status of the multiple UPSs. Remote NUT connection for systems that run NUT and manage their own UPS (such as your NAS), and (perhaps) direct USB or other approaches for systems that do not have attached computer systems.

                                      Regardless, you're going to need to read up a bit on NUT. You need to configure NUT to simply report status rather than take action for the UPSs that do not control the power to the Pi.

                                      N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 9:22 PM Reply Quote 1
                                      • N
                                        netboy @dennypage
                                        last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 9:22 PM

                                        @dennypage Excellent point.
                                        First iteration (I am learning).... I need a visibility of all the UPS's. Right now I don't. I want to know how healthy the UPS's are and so on.....

                                        On second iteration (After I have learned a little).... I would like NUT to control shut down UPS 3

                                        UPS 1

                                        • Modem

                                        • Router

                                        • POE switches

                                        UPS 2

                                        • Dump Switches

                                        • HDHomerun

                                        • Raspberry PI which has NUT installed

                                        UPS 3

                                        • 3 servers

                                        UPS 4

                                        • Attached to NAS which can communicate to UPS

                                        I want UPS 3 to control shut down my servers. Is this possible using NUT (I know you are the package owner and are very knowledgeable). My servers are debian UBUNTU. UPS 1: I really do not care about control shut down because there is nothing to fail (like hard disk getting corrupted and so on ) and also they have the max run time. Regarding UPS 3 I really do not care because they are just switches. Worst case things attached to the switches will not work.

                                        What do you think? Can I make UBUNTU servers talk to NUT and control shut down?

                                        D 1 Reply Last reply Nov 8, 2022, 11:11 PM Reply Quote 0
                                        • D
                                          dennypage @netboy
                                          last edited by Nov 8, 2022, 11:11 PM

                                          @netboy Yes, you can do all this with NUT. This would be more appropriate to the the NUT users list, but the general gist is this...

                                          UPS 1: Attach the UPS to some system and run NUT as monitor only (use 0 as the power value for upsmon).

                                          UPS 2: Run standard NUT Primary on the Pi.

                                          UPS 3: Pick a system to be the Primary and run a standard NUT Primary install on that system. Run NUT Secondary on the other systems using remote NUT to the Primary.

                                          UPS 4: Run NUT on the NAS. If Synology or QNAP, this is the standard supported UPS install.

                                          In addition to the above, run upsmon on the Pi to monitor all the UPSs and display status with cgi scripts. Look for upsstats.

                                          Lots of reading for you to do... 😀

                                          N 1 Reply Last reply Nov 9, 2022, 12:25 AM Reply Quote 1
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