NUT server and UPS general question
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Hey everybody I have netgate 2100 and I believe there is a package called NUT to manage my UPS.
I have 3 UPS devices which have ONLY USB interface and no ethernet interface.
Assuming I install the NUT package how does the NUT server "connect" to the various UPS devices?
Netgate 2100 has only 1 USB.
Thanks
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@netboy I believe that NUT is limited to one physical device. However if that is not the case you can connect a USB3 hub to the port and utilize many USB devices on it at once.
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@rcoleman-netgate Thank you.
Will the USB3 hub create any problems? Or in your opinion it is better to install the NUT on a Raspberry PI which has 4 built in USB's? Which one do you advice. I would like to use NETGATE 2100 if there will be no problems with USB3 hub.Another question.... My 2 UPS are nearby physically but my 3rd UPS is somewhere else. How do I connect my 3rd UPS to say to the USB3 hub? Any suggestions?
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@netboy said in NUT server and UPS general question:
Will the USB3 hub create any problems?
No, it shouldn't. I have used one in the past for some quick testing.
Or in your opinion it is better to install the NUT on a Raspberry PI which has 4 built in USB's?
Direct installation of NUT on the pfSense would give you control via that interface. Whatever route you choose has their own plusses and minuses. You want to at least control the UPS that is powering the pfSense from the pfSense, beyond that it doesn't matter.
Which one do you advice. I would like to use NETGATE 2100 if there will be no problems with USB3 hub.
Again it might not let you do more than one. YMMV.
Another question.... My 2 UPS are nearby physically but my 3rd UPS is somewhere else. How do I connect my 3rd UPS to say to the USB3 hub? Any suggestions?
How would you connect that 3rd device to a Pi if it's so far away? Use whatever method you choose.
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@rcoleman-netgate Thanks - Is the USB in netgate 2100 USB 3 or USB 2? you specifically asked me to buy USB 3 hub - any reasoning behind this?
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@netboy It's 3. I suggested it because it is a USB3 port, no other reason besides most users have a 3 hub handy now vs. 2.
You can use a USB1 hub, it doesn't matter when you're dealing with such small amounts of data.
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@rcoleman-netgate Hey one more question .... I will be using the USB 3 HUB purely to connect to UPS - Does it matter I buy a USB hub "with power adapter" or "power only thru USB 3"?
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@netboy depends on who much power the hub is drawing and how much the devices need downstream. That's why we have powered hubs - your 2100 can only produce as much power as it has and I don't know what the limit of the USB3 ports are other than it can drive a USB3 flash drive (which is <150mA).
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@rcoleman-netgate Looks like from your answer it is better to buy a powered port - Thx
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A UPS itself would not require any power over USB. You'd only need a powered hub if you are connecting other devices to it too.
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@stephenw10 Thanks I did order a USB 3 hub with power - This gives me the flexibility to use it with or without power
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As @rcoleman-netgate notes, the NUT package will only monitor a single device. It does not support ups farm management/monitoring.
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@dennypage said in NUT server and UPS general question:
@rcoleman-netgate clearly told that I can use "multiple" UPS attached to a USB hub and the USB hub attached to netgate 2100 - Are you contradicting @rcoleman-netgate ?
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@netboy Uhm, here's what I clearly said:
@rcoleman-netgate said in NUT server and UPS general question:
Again it might not let you do more than one. YMMV.
I also said you could connect multiple USB devices, I did not say you could connect multiple UPSes.
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Be aware that in this matter @dennypage, as the package author, is the ultimate authority.
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@stephenw10 @stephenw10 OK got it.... I ordered USB hub probably will use for something else.
@dennypage thanks for your input. Sorry I questioned the package author - pardon me.Maybe I will dedicate a raspberry PI as a NUT server since it has 4 USB's
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@netboy Not sure as I've never tried it but does the APC UPS monitor plug in let you monitor multiple devices? Of course if yours aren't APC's doesn't help.
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@jimbob-indiana
Yes!I have a APC UPS and hence I installed package "apcupsd" (did not install NUT because as the package owner here the USB can monitor ONLY one UPS).
BTW I connected the USB to netgate 2100 from the UPS.
Configure the apcupsd (self explanatory) and once done you can install the dashboard using the + sign on the splash page and add apcupsd widget.
Here is a screenshot:
hth
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Yes if you have an APC brand UPS and it works with apcupsd then I feel that is the better way to go. The implementation in pfSense is better, more is configurable through the GUI and the widget has more detail. NUT is however more widespread it seems and so if you are needing to integrate with other devices etc then sometimes NUT may be preferable.
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@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....
