SOLVED UPS - Is this adequate? APC BX1400UI

[Spencer Skinner]

Hi guys,

Yet again im back for a second opinion on what im about to buy before i buy it.

I have a FreeNAS system that uses about 300 ish Watts at max load, its a 6 drive system which is running on a Pentium G4400 and 32GB DDR4 ECC Memory. All of it less than a month old still, I think.....

I also have a router, modem and switch that uses id say 100W combined.

As of recently ive had a few power outages in the house while the server has been on, fortunately no damage has been done to the system, BUT its no longer a risk i want to run and have decided to get a UPS.

I didnt want anything fancy, just something to cover my ass when the power goes out and to shut down the FreeNAS server, i also dont want to spend a massive amount.

In saying all that i did a bit of research into some brands i knew of and that i knew were trusted, Eaton, CyberPower, GE, APC.

I stumbled upon this one in the APC Back-UPS range, the BX1400UI, Its well priced at the place i am going to get it and i worked out that as soon as the server has been safely shut down it is able to keep my network running for around an hour give or take.

This is a neat little idea that i liked the sound of because still being on ADSL in my area it means that regardless of power to the house i can still have access to the internet. The cabinets are powered over phoneline to the main switch which has its own backup power etc etc.

Anyway back to the main point, I noticed that FreeNAS supports the APC Back-UPS driver so it all looks good to me and it seems like a good buy.

What are your suggestions, am i about to buy a crap UPS and is there a better choice for my money out there that i should be looking at?

Thanks
Spencer Skinner

 

[joeschmuck]

The APC BX1400UI looks to be a nice product. I only own APC units and if you buya high quality product then it will last you a long time.

As for duration of the power output, don't expect 1 hour out of any home UPS because the batteries do wear out some and within 3 years the duration could be 10 minutes even if a selftest indicates all is good. It's a battery thing, not the UPS. I've had my main APC UPS for over 11 years and have replaced the batteries 3 times now (replaced the last set last month), and the batteries are much cheaper to replace vice buying a new UPS. I have frequent minor brownouts where I live so if it's a computer in any way shape or form, there is an UPS on it.

 

[Spencer Skinner]

The APC BX1400UI looks to be a nice product. I only own APC units and if you buya high quality product then it will last you a long time.

As for duration of the power output, don't expect 1 hour out of any home UPS because the batteries do wear out some and within 3 years the duration could be 10 minutes even if a selftest indicates all is good. It's a battery thing, not the UPS. I've had my main APC UPS for over 11 years and have replaced the batteries 3 times now (replaced the last set last month), and the batteries are much cheaper to replace vice buying a new UPS. I have frequent minor brownouts where I live so if it's a computer in any way shape or form, there is an UPS on it.

Yeh as it looks on the APC Unit im looking at i dont think you are able to replace the battery which is a bit of a bitch for me but to be honest the purpose of this UPS is in many ways just to tide me over for a few years, at that point i should have enough money to get a much higher end model which DOES have replaceable batteries ahaha.

Yeh i am by no means expecting the life of the battery to stay the same through out its life, just a nice little addition to be able to keep the network online for a while.

We dont have many Brownouts in my area, im pretty sure its due to the fact i live a 5 minute drive from a power station - now closed, but the infrastructure round my area is pretty stable as it goes. But when i do have a blackout sometimes they last up to a day MAX, worst ive had in my current house id say is 2 hours. Most of the recent ones have just been on off's for a couple minutes tops.

Have you had any issues with the APC drivers on FreeNAS, have they been easy to set up in that its all been done via the GUI etc.

Thanks
Spencer Skinner

 

[nojohnny101]

I also have an APC unit and have been pleased with it (see signature for details). The install was a breeze and I have tested it by simulating power outages and it has performed as expected.

If all you want to do is give the server enough time to shutdown, 1400 is likely overkill. I didn't see the specs of your system but it will almost never be running full tilt like that. I also don't know what kind f deal your getting on this one so it might be a mute point.

If you're on a budget though, I would step down a few levels (sub 1000) if all you want is shutdown capability when power goes out (which takes all of 30 seconds to 1 minute).

 

[joeschmuck]

Yeh as it looks on the APC Unit im looking at i dont think you are able to replace the battery

You can replace the battery.

Have you had any issues with the APC drivers on FreeNAS, have they been easy to set up in that its all been done via the GUI etc.

The GUI is an easy setup but ensure that you verify it works properly by unplugging the unit and ensure your PC shuts down as you have set it up. Initially I'd just set it up to shutdown after 5 minutes but you should adjust this to the time you feel comfortable after the test. Do not test it until after your UPS has been fully charged (24 hours is generally recommended).

 

[Mr_N]

I also have a router, modem and switch that uses id say 100W combined.

No way those 3 would use 100W ;) (unless they are large enterprise units)

The unit is 1400VA but only 700W seems a bit inefficient to me but i have no experience with APC units, and you said you don't want to spend too much so I'm sure it'll fit your situation ok.

 

[joeschmuck]

No way those 3 would use 100W ;) (unless they are large enterprise units)

I suspect he was over estimating.

 

[Spencer Skinner]

No way those 3 would use 100W ;) (unless they are large enterprise units)

The unit is 1400VA but only 700W seems a bit inefficient to me but i have no experience with APC units, and you said you don't want to spend too much so I'm sure it'll fit your situation ok.

I suspect he was over estimating.

Yeh i was allowing some space in power for the inevitable upgrades etc to my network and stuff

 

[Spencer Skinner]

No way those 3 would use 100W ;) (unless they are large enterprise units)

The unit is 1400VA but only 700W seems a bit inefficient to me but i have no experience with APC units, and you said you don't want to spend too much so I'm sure it'll fit your situation ok.

Yeh i got told by some people on another forum that APC should be avoided and i should go for Eaton. Wasnt sure what to make of it, what do you use?

 

[pschatz100]

This looks like a reasonable unit. The batteries are user replaceable and readily available (including third party equivalents that are a bit less expensive than APC branded ones.) Putting your network on the UPS as well will contribute to its stability.

@joeschmuck offered good advice about testing your installation. Take the time to do it. You will be glad you did.

 

[Spencer Skinner]

Right so now ive been pointed in the direction of the Eaton 5S Series which ive been told has a far better battery life span compared to the APC units. In addition the Eaton unit has a better power rating compared the APC unit, so its gonna cost me less in power ahaha.

I have also double checked and the Eaton UPS Driver is supported within FreeNAS

Thoughts on that?

 

[joeschmuck]

I can't give advice on Eaton since I have no personal experience with it but Eaton has been around for a long time.

 

[Spencer Skinner]

I can't give advice on Eaton since I have no personal experience with it but Eaton has been around for a long time.

To be fair ive had a bunch of people chip in on my other post, they have all said Eaton, one of the guys works in the server industry and noted that he used to use APC but the Eaton Batteries are far longer lasting than the APC ones, apparently the APC units chew through batteries in comparison.

Thinking im going to bite the bullet and give Eaton a try instead because despite the lower Wattage ill still get the same battery on-time so to speak

Thanks for your advice aswell though

 

[joeschmuck]

I'm sure you will be happy with the unit.

Cheers,
-Mark

 

[Spencer Skinner]

Right so i got the UPS and have set it up, seems to be alright except im getting some errors being chucked out by FreeNAS

UPS - Eaton 5S700i

Here is the error thats getting chugged out -

Code:

Feb  1 18:48:15 freenas notifier: Starting nut_upslog.
Feb  1 19:39:26 freenas upsd[6342]: Data for UPS [Eaton5S700i] is stale - check driver
Feb  1 19:39:27 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0 (disconnected)
Feb  1 19:39:29 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0
Feb  1 19:39:29 freenas upsmon[6367]: Poll UPS [Eaton5S700i] failed - Data stale
Feb  1 19:39:29 freenas upsmon[6367]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i lost
Feb  1 19:39:32 freenas upsd[6342]: UPS [Eaton5S700i] data is no longer stale
Feb  1 19:39:34 freenas upsmon[6367]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i established
Feb  1 19:44:28 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0 (disconnected)
Feb  1 19:44:29 freenas upsd[6342]: Data for UPS [Eaton5S700i] is stale - check driver
Feb  1 19:44:30 freenas upsmon[6367]: Poll UPS [Eaton5S700i] failed - Data stale
Feb  1 19:44:30 freenas upsmon[6367]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i lost
Feb  1 19:44:32 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0
Feb  1 19:44:35 freenas upsd[6342]: UPS [Eaton5S700i] data is no longer stale
Feb  1 19:44:35 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0 (disconnected)
Feb  1 19:44:35 freenas upsmon[6367]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i established
Feb  1 19:44:39 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0
Feb  1 20:01:35 freenas upsd[6342]: Data for UPS [Eaton5S700i] is stale - check driver
Feb  1 20:01:36 freenas upsmon[6367]: Poll UPS [Eaton5S700i] failed - Data stale
Feb  1 20:01:36 freenas upsmon[6367]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i lost
Feb  1 20:01:36 freenas upsd[6342]: UPS [Eaton5S700i] data is no longer stale
Feb  1 20:01:41 freenas upsmon[6367]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i established

Here are the setting i have enabled -

Any ideas as to what this could be, cant be normal surely?


Thanks
Spencer Skinner

EDIT - Tried changing the usb interface to ugen0.2 here is what i get -

Code:

Feb  1 20:08:14 freenas notifier: Starting nut_upslog.
Feb  1 20:12:01 freenas upsd[11156]: Data for UPS [Eaton5S700i] is stale - check driver
Feb  1 20:12:01 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0 (disconnected)
Feb  1 20:12:03 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0
Feb  1 20:12:05 freenas upsmon[11181]: Poll UPS [Eaton5S700i] failed - Data stale
Feb  1 20:12:05 freenas upsmon[11181]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i lost
Feb  1 20:12:06 freenas upsd[11156]: UPS [Eaton5S700i] data is no longer stale
Feb  1 20:12:10 freenas upsmon[11181]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i established
Feb  1 20:13:17 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0 (disconnected)
Feb  1 20:13:17 freenas upsd[11156]: Data for UPS [Eaton5S700i] is stale - check driver
Feb  1 20:13:18 freenas usb_alloc_device: set address 2 failed (USB_ERR_IOERROR, ignored)
Feb  1 20:13:18 freenas usbd_setup_device_desc: getting device descriptor at addr 2 failed, USB_ERR_IOERROR
Feb  1 20:13:18 freenas usbd_req_re_enumerate: addr=2, set address failed! (USB_ERR_IOERROR, ignored)
Feb  1 20:13:18 freenas usbd_setup_device_desc: getting device descriptor at addr 2 failed, USB_ERR_IOERROR
Feb  1 20:13:19 freenas usbd_req_re_enumerate: addr=2, set address failed! (USB_ERR_IOERROR, ignored)
Feb  1 20:13:19 freenas usbd_setup_device_desc: getting device descriptor at addr 2 failed, USB_ERR_IOERROR
Feb  1 20:13:20 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0
Feb  1 20:13:21 freenas upsmon[11181]: Poll UPS [Eaton5S700i] failed - Data stale
Feb  1 20:13:21 freenas upsmon[11181]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i lost
Feb  1 20:13:22 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0 (disconnected)
Feb  1 20:13:23 freenas ugen0.2: <EATON> at usbus0
Feb  1 20:13:26 freenas upsmon[11181]: Poll UPS [Eaton5S700i] failed - Data stale
Feb  1 20:13:26 freenas upsd[11156]: UPS [Eaton5S700i] data is no longer stale
Feb  1 20:13:31 freenas upsmon[11181]: Communications with UPS Eaton5S700i established

 

[Spencer Skinner]

Ive made a new thread to cover the issues im having, seeing as all the other threads i read about it didnt seem to help

https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...-ups-eaton5s700i-is-stale-check-driver.50195/

 

[Mr_N]

Yeh i got told by some people on another forum that APC should be avoided and i should go for Eaton. Wasnt sure what to make of it, what do you use?

Eaton 9130

I think you made the right choice but prob could have gone the 1000VA model to give you a bit of expansion room in future if the extra cost was affordable :)

 

[Spencer Skinner]

Eaton 9130

I think you made the right choice but prob could have gone the 1000VA model to give you a bit of expansion room in future if the extra cost was affordable :)

Did you have allot of data stale issues with your Eaton UPS, and what driver do you use? As you can see in the other thread i linked im having loads of COMMBAD and data stale issues

 

[Mr_N]

i didnt have that issue with the old 9120 that i can remember, havent had nas on enough with 9130 to check