Getting UPS to shut down more than one PC?

[MichaelD]

My UPS has a Serial connection that allows it to pass shutdown commands to the UPS software running on the PC.

Is there some way to get it to shut down more than one PC?

Is there a "serial Y-cable" or something like that which would allow me to connect two PCs to one serial connection? I realize that question sort of defeats the purpose of a SERIAL data link...but what the heck, I'll ask anyway.

Thanks.

 

[bsobel]

There are y cables for the dumber ups's (which just uses RS232 signal lines not actual data). For data ones there is software so when the connected machine goes down it sounds out commands to the others to make them go down.

 

[MichaelD]

Thank you, bsobel.

I don't know if my UPS is "smart or dumb." It's a beefy one (1500VA) but nothing outstandingly "smart" I don't think It's got a small software package that runs on the PC...looks like Windows 3.1 LOL! But it works on Windows/MAC/UNIX.

So...is my UPS a dumb one that I can run that splitter on? Here's a link I have the 1500VA version.

 

[bsobel]

Afraid its not clear from that, they say its a 'real' rs232 port so to me that implies actual data not just signal lines. Best bet is to call them, your request isnt strange for UPS vendors so they should be bale to help.

 

[MichaelD]

Thank you. It actually does send data since the software shows real time voltages, battery condition, etc. I just ordered one of these, so I guess I'll find out when I try to use it.

[begin rationalization] I'm hoping that even though the serial port on the UPS seems to be sending real-time data, that the shutdown command is just that...a shutdown command. Don't see why that shouldn't work just b/c it's split two ways. "Shouldn't" being the operative word here...the splitter equally spits it's input right? It'll just send the same commands to two different PCs. I hope.[/end rationalization]

 

[Modelworks]

You could also make a script that would do what you need by sending a command to the other pc over the network.
If you are not a programmer then try this :
http://www.autohotkey.com/

 

[corkyg]

If you connect your two PCs to a LAN, then you can explore UPS network tools. They exist.

Google: Network UPS

 

[MichaelD]

Thank you, Modelworks and corkyg; that's great info. AutoHotKey looks very interesting and I had no idea Network UPS tools even existed. I thought any UPS software had to be proprietary to the brand/model of UPS you were using. Shows you how much I know about UPSs.

Reading up on them now.

 

[Zepper]

Your UPS is big enough to support several machines on a network, so the software that came with it should be able to take the signal from the UPS and broadcast the shutdown across the net to those machines which are connected to that UPS (or the networkable software may be available from the UPS maker if not included). So only one connection to one computer would be needed for the UPS.

.bh.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Your UPS is big enough to support several machines on a network, so the software that came with it should be able to take the signal from the UPS and broadcast the shutdown across the net to those machines which are connected to that UPS (or the networkable software may be available from the UPS maker if not included). So only one connection to one computer would be needed for the UPS.

.bh.

You know what? I never considered that...and going by what I remember seeing on the configuration pages...I think you're right. That would save me a lot of trouble, not to mention more cables tangled behind my rack. I'll check that out tonight. Thanks a lot, Zepper. :beer:

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Zepper
Your UPS is big enough to support several machines on a network, so the software that came with it should be able to take the signal from the UPS and broadcast the shutdown across the net to those machines which are connected to that UPS (or the networkable software may be available from the UPS maker if not included). So only one connection to one computer would be needed for the UPS.

.bh.

I downloaded the manual for the software that came with my UPS. You were right. Here's a clip from the manual. Note the bolded part at the bottom.

The UPS-Management Software is a client/server application for networks and local workstations. The server module of the UPS-Management Software is UPSMAN, which communicates via RS-232 cable with the UPS. When UPSMAN begins, it collects the messages sent from the UPS as a background program. UPSMAN also interprets received messages and makes them available to the client module, the UPSMON and to any SNMP station. The data communication to the UPSMON is achieved via TCP/IP, IPX, Named Pipes or SNMP. The protocol of UPSMAN with UPSMAN.MIB is a special private MIB type 1, the UNIX UPSMANB corresponds to the MIB 2 standard RFC 1213 & 1628. All UPSMAN programmes are using the GENEREX own communication protocol UPSMON, which is provided as an API to all OEM customers in order to create own applications. If UPSMAN detects voltage variations or a power loss it can execute different system event routines (EVENTS), which, for example, may shutdown the server or send warnings to connected users. These system event routines, which are part of the UPS-Management Software, are fully customisable. UPSMON is used for operating and monitoring the active UPSMAN software connected to an UPS. You can program UPS-Routines (e.g. define dates for automatic UPS-tests, shutdown the system at defined dates, etc.), check the status of the UPS, execute different UPS-tests or create power quality statistics. With UPSMON you can also constantly monitor and evaluate the event protocol (log file) that is permanently updated by UPSMAN.

RCCMD ("Remote Console Command") is an additional module which executes a command on a remote system, similar to the Remote Shell-Program (RSH) known in the Unix environment. RCCMD is used to provide a simultaneous shutdown of several servers that are all supported by the same UPS.

The program RCCMD is designed to execute a command on a remote system in a TCP/IP network. RCCMD works like the Remote Shell (RSH) known in the Unix environment. Inside the UPS-Management Software RCCMD is used to shutdown several servers that are all powered by a single UPS. For this job, one of these computers is configured as UPS-master server. Install the UPS-Management Software UPSMAN on your UPS server and connect it to the UPS. Alternatively, a SNMP adapter CS-111 or CS-121 can be used for this as well. The other servers are only connected to the UPS power supply, no RS-232 connection is necessary. On these remote systems, install RCCMD (copy the modules) and create a shutdown routine for every system. This shutdown routine may be a batch file, shell script or ncf-file, that contains the down and other commands for this system. After that, add RCCMD to the shutdown job or to the EVENT configuration of the computer running as UPS master server.

I'm going to check it out in more detail tonight. Just wanted to say thank you and let you now that you helped me out. :beer:

 

[Zepper]

Very good. And be sure to check for an updated version of your UPS software before setting everything up.

.bh.

 

[MichaelD]

I checked and they do have an updated version. It's not much newer than the what came with the UPS, but it is newer. :thumbsup: Thanks much!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Does anyone have suggestions for doing the same with a USB-connected APC 1500VA XS UPS? Will the software that comes with it handle network shutdowns?

 

[Rubycon]

If it allows for running a program at a specific battery level just create a batch file and have it run that.

shutdown -s -f -t 0 -m \\pc-name

Where 'pc-name' is the name of the pc that also needs to be shut down. An IP address also works. The host initiating the shutdown must have logon rights granted (which would be the case of DC->CPC right?)

EDIT: This can also be run from CLI to shut down a coworker's pc if they annoy you but I would not recommend getting carried away with it. If you're the server admin just put the line in their logon script.