[gentoo-user] Re: apcupsd to recycle power

[James]

Thanasis <thanasis <at> asyr.hopto.org> writes:

>
> on 11/15/2014 06:47 PM Daniel Frey wrote the following:
> > On 11/14/2014 10:53 AM, Thanasis wrote:
> >> I have an APC SC620I, which in case of power failure, it successfully
> >> initiates a shutdown to the connected (via SMART cable) PC, but if the
> >> mains power returns, the UPS does not recycle the power to the PC, and
> >> consequently the PC stays off.

Are you sure you have "fully characterized the UPS behaviour? Often hardware
related to power says one thing in manuals and behave quite differently
in relality, particulary as the equipment ages and the firmware inside
is not upgraded.

A multi meter is an indspinabled piece of diagnosis equipment to actually
monitor the outlest  both feeding utility power to the UPS and the outlets
on the UPS. Furthermore not every port on the UPS acts the same. Start with
the manual, but *verify* base on conditions.

Another problem. Much of the software (firmware inside the ups) is bullshit.
There are not easy/reliable methods to tell exactly how much energy is
in a new battery at any given point it time. The problem is further
exasperated as batteries and circuit components age. Old UPSes act weird
the older the hardware gets. The sensor circuits and the heuristics/bullshit
math used to measure currently stored energy in a battery. If you doubt any
of this, go to any semiconductor site that has lots of technology for
batteries and you'll be astonished at the voodoo
that is the basis of those algorithms.

So not that you understand that limitation of physcis (currrent EE 
technology) it's easy to understand why you must verify (characterize)
performance.  Do change the UPS batteries, if they are older than 3 years
(2 years if they are cheap no name brand, not Mil spec) type of crap.
All batteries are crap; but there is much more to these systems I am
not going into.

> > However, in the even that power is restored between the UPS kill and the
> > time it actually turns off the mains will still not be cycled.

UPdate your ups firmware, often: (from the apc site).

http://www.apc.com/search-apc/us/en/relevance/10_1/Product
Information;;7B0CB5EA-CEC6-4E31-B9A6-51E4DCFADB54/all?search_text=upgrade
firmware&search_type=new&filters=

Monitor the actual voltage level on the output port of the ups where
your PC is plugged in.  Use common sense about electricty.

If the ups software is dysfuntional, then find a solution that avoids it.

For example, WOL Wake on Lan:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wake-on-LAN

Once again Arch kicks gentoo in the teeth with excellent documents. ymmv.

Research WOL, etherboot and any other way that another system can
send a signal over ethernet to you PC to boot up. Sometimes I run
that over a serial port embedded device to the pc, as an embedded
system can last years or decades on a (solar) battery system, if you
auto reboot is really critical.


Also look at the patents held by Peter Pulizzi. Pretty much the "shit"
when it comes to remote power control:

http://patents.justia.com/inventor/peter-s-pulizzi

Software is nothing without motivated Electrical Engineeers.
(Respect your elders because they have paved a path forward for you).


Now, get real. Get my bud, meino to whip together a $20 micro and a relay
with a control port into a metal box, (code) so you can build your
own reboot box!

What he'll charge you?  

Or keep working with software built ontop of "crap assumptions". After
a while you'll "get it".

Or buy a UPS with know proven functionality?


Naw, just be a "hack" and cludge something "admin_ish" together?

Those cheap UPS codes are crap. All of them. If you are motivated,
most can be "downloaded" and picked apart, if you are motivated.


hth,
(PS ignore the rants, they are just there to motivate you)
James

http://powerquality.eaton.com/About-Us/Pulizzi.asp?id=&key=&Quest_user_id=&leadg_Q_QRequired=&site=&menu=&cx=3&x=14&y=12