New UPS Questions

[DigitalDivide]

So I just bought the APC BE550G UPS.  I'm wondering what's the best way to set it up for use with my UNRAID server.  I can plug the UPS via USB to my HTPC and install Powerchute on it to set it all up.  But I also noticed that UNRAID also has a section under Settings. 

 

Not sure how I would set it up with UNRAID.  Would I just plug the USB in my server and not use PowerChute but just configure it using what I see under Settings, UPS Settings?  Do I need to use a docker or vm in order to use Power Chute?  Don't really know anything about those.

 

Any info would be appreciated.

[ysss]

http://bfy.tw/KjH

 

There's a whole section on ups, also a link to the ups thread; also lookup APCUPSD.

[bonienl]

Also have a look at 'Help' on the UPS settings page ...

 

 

[HellDiverUK]

PowerChute is a steaming pile of crap and should be nuked from orbit.  Never use PowerChute, it will kill your cat, piss in your soup, and make your bum itch.  It's terrible.

 

Just plug your UPS in to your UnRAID box and all will be happy.

[garycase]

Agree ... just plug it into UnRAID and let the built-in APCUPSD utility manage it.

 

[DigitalDivide]

Just to be clear, when you say just plug it in, I assume you mean both the AC and USB right?  Do I have to connect the usb in order to get unraid to configure it?  I'll start reading up those links.

 

 

[garycase]

Yes, you need to connect the USB ... that's how UnRAID communicates with the UPS

 

[trurl]

Also see this thread.

[Frank1940]

Are you putting TWO computers on this 550VA UPS?  If this is the case, you had better do a bit of research on how much instantaneous power will be required by both computers when you go to onto battery power and then try to get them both shutdown.  If you exceed the max power output of that UPS for as much as a millisecond, its internal protection circuitry will simply shut the UPS down.  You need to know that unRAID will spin EVERY drive simultaneously in the server when the system before it shuts down gracefully.

 

At that price point, it will also have a very small battery in it so it will have a short run time at higher power requirements.  Again, UPS will shut down when the battery voltage drops during discharge to a given point to protect itself. 

[DigitalDivide]

No, I wasn't sure what I was going to connect.  I think at this point I'll simply only connect the server.  I'm not even sure how to determine how much battery power I would need for two computers.  For the most part I'm only really concerned about the server.  For whatever reason the power goes out in my building more frequently than it should as far as I'm concerned.  Most of the time the power just flickers off for a second, which is still enough to kill power to the server which starts a parity check on reboot. 

[Frank1940]

No, I wasn't sure what I was going to connect.  I think at this point I'll simply only connect the server.  I'm not even sure how to determine how much battery power I would need for two computers.  For the most part I'm only really concerned about the server.  For whatever reason the power goes out in my building more frequently than it should as far as I'm concerned.  Most of the time the power just flickers off for a second, which is still enough to kill power to the server which starts a parity check on reboot.

 

In that case, that UPS should do the job.  Connnect the power cord from the server to the proper outlet on the UPS and a USB cord between the server and the UPS.  Then go to the "Settings" tab and click on the 'UPS settings' icon.  There is "Help" for that page that will assist you to get everything set up. 

 

I have personally set the 'Time on Battery' parameter to 30 seconds as, in my area, if the power is out that long, it will be out for hours!  And I want to be sure that the battery will last long enough to completely shut the server done when that battery gets old in about three to five years down the road.

[DigitalDivide]

Odd, I can't change the number for Time on Battery.  Apply is greyed out and when I click Done, it takes me back to the main menu.  When I go back into the UPS Settings, the Apply is still greyed out.  If I enter in a diff number, the apply button is still greyed out.  Is this normal?

 

Also, I'm guessing there's no way to turn off all sound on the battery?  In other words, disable the beeps.  I know the PowerChute utility has this option.  I have two dogs and if I'm not home and the battery starts beeping, it will probably freak them out. 

[bonienl]

Odd, I can't change the number for Time on Battery.  Apply is greyed out and when I click Done, it takes me back to the main menu.  When I go back into the UPS Settings, the Apply is still greyed out.  If I enter in a diff number, the apply button is still greyed out.  Is this normal?

 

Apply is disabled until you make changes to the settings, it allows you to save them after you have changed them. Done returns to the previous page without saving.

 

[Frank1940]

 

Also, I'm guessing there's no way to turn off all sound on the battery?  In other words, disable the beeps.  I know the PowerChute utility has this option.  I have two dogs and if I'm not home and the battery starts beeping, it will probably freak them out.

 

Read the manual.  I know that a number of the APC UPS models use a combination of button pushes to disable the beeper.  (I have mine  silenced because that beeper drives me up the wall!!!      )