Hi all,

is it possible to use more than one unRAID server on a UPS? All I really want the UPS to do it shut down the servers in the event of a power outage. Would a USB hub allow the UPS to send shutdown instructions to the servers?

Is anyone doing this? My thought is that I would buy a single 1500 watt UPS and power both unRAID servers from it to supply a power-down solution and surge protection.

Patrick

If you want the servers to be independent, I think you need to use SNMP or some kind of network interface.

 

Years ago APC had an add on card for the SU1400NET(I believe) that would send out details via SNMP. 

In that case anyone on the lan could trap it and act accordingly.

 

APC now seems to have a network shutdown product. I have no details of it.

 

Either way, you need a network hub or switch that is powered by the UPS for the messages to be accessed over the network.

 

I specifically remember years ago, having one APC UPS via serial and enabling some option in apcupsd.conf for it to be a network server.

The other hosts on the server were set up to access the main server.

We're talking early 2000's so my memory doesn't have all the details any more.

 

If you read this man page, There is an option for NETSERVER.

http://linux.die.net/man/5/apcupsd.conf

 

I know NUT can do this also. I.E. communicate with downstream NUT servers.

I'm probably going to go with NUT since I have ESX and there are some compiled binaries for ESX.

 

Sorry I don't have more details. it's been a long time.

You need one machine connected to the UPS.  it also connects to the network and acts as master as far as UPS interfacing is concerned.  The other(s) connect via the local network and are set up as slaves.  You need to keep the network powered from the UPS as well while the servers are running - so router and / or switches at least should also be connected. 

 

Read up on APCUPSD master and slave configuration.  It has also been covered a few times on this forum.  This thread has some useful info....

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=28261.msg250988

 

 

 

 

I can confirm this works, I have two computers plugged into the same UPS (one running unRAID, one running Windows 7)

 

Apcupsd running on unRAID is the master, it is connected via USB to the UPS.  The second computer is running the Windows version of apcupsd and is setup as the slave.  The master and slave instances of apcupsd communicate over the network.

 

Both computers have their own settings for when to shutdown.  The main thing to be careful of is that the slave has to fully shutdown before the master if you use the "turn off UPS after shutdown" option on the master. 

I also have a single APC UPS covering all my network gear.

 

Cable Modem, gig-e switch, router, unRAID server, and ubuntu app server are all on the UPS. The "app" server acts as the master sending out signals to the unraid server.

 

You have to be careful in your APCUPSd.conf file so that the app server shuts off AFTER the unRAID server, otherwise you'll have the unraid server just die when the ups runs out of power.

Thank you all for the great responses, I am thinking 2 unRAID servers with a total of 16 drives between both servers (8 drives in each with no monitors) should work fine on something like this http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups-systems/intelligent-lcd-ups/CP1500AVRLCD.html  ?

Thank you all for the great responses, I am thinking 2 unRAID servers with a total of 16 drives between both servers (8 drives in each with no monitors) should work fine on something like this http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups-systems/intelligent-lcd-ups/CP1500AVRLCD.html  ?

 

Also, The network switch. that has to be powered on for the downstream slaves to get the message.

That UPS should handle two systems, and the switch without issue.

Excellent

and if your servers are on DHCP you'll want your router on that UPS too.