I'm almost finished transferring all my data onto my new unRaid server. I'll start building parity tonight and then run a check. I know this will take a while. I need some recommendations for addons that I should consider installing.

 

The server is being used completely as a media server for XBMC right now. I may add more functionality to it later, but have no plans for that. I'm running unRaid 5.0.5 pro. I'm primarily looking for apps that will add/improve basic maintenance and control. Email notifications, automated parity checks that sort of thing. Would be glad with any other recommendations for apps "I just can't live without" as well. I guess pretty much any apps you would always install on a new build.

 

I'm already using Margarita (Mac app) and it's outstanding for quick and easy monitoring from the local network. I haven't been able to find anything that would allow monitoring and control from WAN though. This would be especially helpful.

Have a good look at Dynamix.  See this thread:

 

    http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=30939.0

 

It has a lot of included plugins to get you started.

 

You also want to install install a apcupsd plugin to use with your UPS.  ( You do have a UPS, right?)

 

  http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=15583.0

unmenu

 

Powerdown

Yes. I have a UPS (APC 1300XS) but it's USB is connected to my MacPro right now. That's the real power grabber. Not sure if there is a way to split the USB? It actually only needs to keep running for about 45 seconds until the generator comes online. I'm planning on buying a separate Triplite double conversion rack mount for the unRaid server. But that's a future project. Do Dynamix and unmenu play well together? Not sure how much functionality is duplicated? I know they both incorporate a lot of features.

Unmenu will not interfere with anything. You may want to load your plugins with only one package manager. Not sure if dynamics has one or not.

 

I would say dynamics is a little prettier and unmenu is more feature rich.

"Control Panel" is the package manager right? I've been looking at so many different descriptions today they're all starting to run together.

Dynamix does have a package manager for the packages that have been adapted to run with Dynamix and ver 5.X.  It will co-exist  peaceably with unMENU. 

 

I also believe that there is a way to link your MacPro to the unRAID server to shut both machines down if UPS loses power for longer than the battery can support the output.  As I recall, it uses a communication feature between APC software packages (which includes the apcupsd plugin) via Ethernet to shut the unRAID server down properly.  (Failure to properly shut the server down will result in a parity rebuilt at the least and possible data loss/corruption at the worst!)

I run Dynamix and control-panel-ikusa together. They work fine.

...planning to add unMenu as well...just been to busy lately.

as long as you're using the latest versions of these, they seem to be compatible with 5.0.3 and above.

 

 

I also believe that there is a way to link your MacPro to the unRAID server to shut both machines down if UPS loses power for longer than the battery can support the output.  As I recall, it uses a communication feature between APC software packages (which includes the apcupsd plugin) via Ethernet to shut the unRAID server down properly.  (Failure to properly shut the server down will result in a parity rebuilt at the least and possible data loss/corruption at the worst!)

Is this a feature of an APC app or part of apcupsd? Would be nice to have a Plan B in place if there was something unexpected like the generator failed to start or worse yet, a breaker tripped. Right now my MacPro will shutdown if the APC battery reaches 50% but the server is going to just keep running.

 

I also believe that there is a way to link your MacPro to the unRAID server to shut both machines down if UPS loses power for longer than the battery can support the output.  As I recall, it uses a communication feature between APC software packages (which includes the apcupsd plugin) via Ethernet to shut the unRAID server down properly.  (Failure to properly shut the server down will result in a parity rebuilt at the least and possible data loss/corruption at the worst!)

Is this a feature of an APC app or part of apcupsd? Would be nice to have a Plan B in place if there was something unexpected like the generator failed to start or worse yet, a breaker tripped. Right now my MacPro will shutdown if the APC battery reaches 50% but the server is going to just keep running.

 

This has been discussed by other unRAID users on this forum.  Hopefully some one, who has implemented it, will jump in and point you in the right direction.  Otherwise, you will have to use the search function and to see if you can find threads that discussed the issue and its solutions. 

 

I also believe that there is a way to link your MacPro to the unRAID server to shut both machines down if UPS loses power for longer than the battery can support the output.  As I recall, it uses a communication feature between APC software packages (which includes the apcupsd plugin) via Ethernet to shut the unRAID server down properly.  (Failure to properly shut the server down will result in a parity rebuilt at the least and possible data loss/corruption at the worst!)

Is this a feature of an APC app or part of apcupsd? Would be nice to have a Plan B in place if there was something unexpected like the generator failed to start or worse yet, a breaker tripped. Right now my MacPro will shutdown if the APC battery reaches 50% but the server is going to just keep running.

 

This has been discussed by other unRAID users on this forum.  Hopefully some one, who has implemented it, will jump in and point you in the right direction.  Otherwise, you will have to use the search function and to see if you can find threads that discussed the issue and its solutions.

I've never done this with Mac, but the way I have it working, my PC, my unRAID, and my router are on the UPS. The UPS cable is attached to unRAID, which is running APCUPSD as the master. My PC is running APCUPSD as the slave and gets the UPS data from unRAID over ethernet. You must have your network on the UPS for this to work. See if APCUPSD supports Mac. If so, you should be able to do it like I have.

I've never done this with Mac, but the way I have it working, my PC, my unRAID, and my router are on the UPS. The UPS cable is attached to unRAID, which is running APCUPSD as the master. My PC is running APCUPSD as the slave and gets the UPS data from unRAID over ethernet. You must have your network on the UPS for this to work. See if APCUPSD supports Mac. If so, you should be able to do it like I have.

I'm not quite clear what you're saying? You connect the usb port on the ups to your server and then the server shutdown your computer over ethernet? Not clear what you mean when you say the network must be on the ups. My ups only has a usb port.

"your network must be on the UPS' is a bit misleading => what he meant to say is that your router (and any switches you may have in the topology)  must be on the UPS, so you'll still have network communications in the event of a power failure.    This allows the master APCUPSD to communicate with the slave -- so they will both shut down when appropriate.

 

Ok. The power side. Makes sense. The ups is connected to the unraid server via USB. And then computers are setup as clients. Sounds fairly simple (probably not though). I'll have to do some digging and see if I can find some sort of step by step instructions. I did a little searching last night and found that there is a Mac app and a forum. I'll probably pursue this there. Thanks for the info.

The UPS is connected to ONE server via USB / proprietary cable. The UPS uses that cable to tell that computer to shut itself down. When it gets that message, the driver in that computer can be configured to tell the second computer to shut down itself, using your network to deliver the message. If your network (router, switches) is not protected by a UPS your network won't deliver that message.