UPS for FreeNas

[Dusan]

Hmm, looks fine. So let's try to crank up the logging/debugging output.

1. Switch off the UPS service in the GUI
2. Run: /usr/local/libexec/nut/blazer_usb -a ups -DDD

 

[Akhademik]

it runs like a loop which these lines.

send: Q.1
read:(236.7 236.7 236.7 011 50.1 13.6 25.0 00001001

 

[Dusan]

That's good news. The driver is able to communicate with the UPS via USB. The data you see are: input voltage & output voltage = 236.7V, ups load = 11%, input frequency = 50.1Hz, battery voltage = 13.6V and UPS temperature = 25 degC -- all those numbers are reasonable. We just need to figure out why upsd is not able to talk to the driver. I need to think what the next step is.

 

[Dusan]

Keep UPS disabled in the GUI and run:

1. /usr/local/libexec/nut/upsdrvctl start
2. upsd -DDD

 

[Akhademik]

[root@freenas ~]# /usr/local/libexec/nut/upsdrvctl start
Network UPS Tools - UPS driver controller 2.6.5
Network UPS Tools - Megatec/Q1 protocol USB driver 0.09 (2.6.5) Supported UPS detected with megatec protocol
Vendor information unavailable
No values provided for battery high/low voltages in ups.conf
Using 'guestimation' (low: 10.400000, high: 13.000000)!
Battery runtime will not be calculated (runtimecal not set)
[root@freenas ~]#

Network UPS Tools upsd 2.6.5
0.000000 fopen /var/db/nut/upsd.pid: No such file or directory
0.000253 listen_add: added 127.0.0.1:3493
0.000348 setuptcp: try to bind to 127.0.0.1 port 3493
0.000387 listening on 127.0.0.1 port 3493
0.000568 Connected to UPS [ups]: blazer_usb-ups
0.001260 user_add_action: adding 'login' for upsmon
0.001284 user_add_action: adding 'master' for upsmon
0.001301 user_add_action: adding 'fsd' for upsmon
0.001326 mainloop: polling 2 filedescriptors
0.001387 mainloop: polling 2 filedescriptors
0.001444 mainloop: polling 2 filedescriptors
0.001469 UPS [ups]: dump is done

I'm really appreciate your help and your time buddy. i have no idea why the ups works for the first try but the very next day it comes up with these erorrs.

 

[Dusan]

Everything looks good here. The driver connects and upsd is able to poll it. Maybe somebody on the NUT mailing list will be able to help you further: http://www.networkupstools.org/support.html

 

[Akhademik]

Ok i got it. Thanks

 

[Akhademik]

Gravedigger :D

Sorry mates, i would like to ask another question. This is the latest one i got from Console Message, could somebody tell me whether my UPS is working or not cause i don't know what it tells.

Oct 12 19:34:25 freenas notifier: UPS: ups (master) (power value 1)
Oct 12 19:34:25 freenas notifier: nut_upslog not running? (check /var/db/nut/upslog.pid).
Oct 12 19:34:25 freenas notifier: Starting nut_upslog.
Oct 12 21:47:08 freenas manage.py: [common.pipesubr:57] Popen()ing: /usr/local/bin/warden list -v
Oct 12 21:47:08 freenas last message repeated 3 times
Oct 13 01:00:19 freenas manage.py: [common.pipesubr:57] Popen()ing: /usr/local/bin/warden list -v
Oct 13 01:00:19 freenas last message repeated 3 times
Oct 13 09:10:25 freenas manage.py: [common.pipesubr:57] Popen()ing: /usr/local/bin/warden list -v

What is the last line about? If it has nothing to do with my UPS then i'm really happy to say that my UPS right now works just fine and i think i know the problem for the situation. It's all about the crappy usb cable provided by Santak, i've just changed it to another one from my printer and no more messages about connection of UPS.

 

[Dusan]

The last message is a debug output related to jails and it is OK. Everything looks fine in your output.
You can also check /var/log/ups.log, the upslog daemon records the UPS status every 5 minutes in that file. If you see new lines appearing the communication with UPS works.

 

[Akhademik]

i thinks it works now. all about the crappy usb cable. Thanks.

 

[cyberjock]

i thinks it works now. all about the crappy usb cable. Thanks.

OUCH! That... really sucks! Mostly because that's not exactly something that we say "oh yeah.. check the USB cable.. that's GOTTA be the problem". Glad you got it sorted out though! Congrats!

 

[Akhademik]

OUCH! That... really sucks! Mostly because that's not exactly something that we say "oh yeah.. check the USB cable.. that's GOTTA be the problem". Glad you got it sorted out though! Congrats!

cause that the provided one by the UPS company, it supposed to work better :D anyways, problem solved

 

[jarrodr]

Just wondering, will this UPS work http://www.nivo.co.za/buy~rct.650va.line.interactive.ups~p33675. It has a USB port.

Just wanted to know before I buy it.

 

[cyberjock]

Check the NUT compatibility list. If it's listed, then yes.

 

[jarrodr]

Check the NUT compatibility list. If it's listed, then yes.

Checked http://www.networkupstools.org/stable-hcl.html and RCT is not listed.

Anything else I can do to make it work?

 

[cyberjock]

Not really. :(

 

[Robert Smith]

Try the COM port serial interface. Maybe it uses one of the known protocols.

 

[jarrodr]

Try the COM port serial interface. Maybe it uses one of the known protocols.

Is there something I can query with the shop before I buy it?

 

[cyberjock]

Choosing to use the COM port or USB port isn't the problem. If his model isn't on the list then it hasn't been verified. The real limitation is going to be the protocol (the "language") that the UPS uses. If its like some UPSes it's made by one brand but then another name is slapped on it to use.

In short, you've got serious homework to do to find out *if* it had a language that is compatible. Even then, if you do manage to verify it and buy it there's a chance that your UPS might have a "revision b" or something that isn't compatible.

What's the MUCH safer and faster bet? Find something you can buy from that list.

 

[panz]

This UPS & NUT thing: I can't understand why one UPS unit works with one system and doesn't work with another.

My UPS is an APC Smart 1000 SU-Net, a 10 years old unit with serial port (only).

The SU-1000 works flawlessly with pfSense (NUT Master) but doesn't work properly with FreeNAS (NUT = Master, too).

So, I decided to connect the UPS to my pfSense box (acting as a Master) and let the FreeNAS server to hook-up to it via LAN as Slave. The setup works as expected!

This setup has one important advantage: the firewall is always on and all the computers at my home can be switched off using NUT, not only the server.

So, if you're going to buy an UPS, ask the computer store to test it with your hardware and your OS ;)