Installing a UPS with smartups

Support knowledgebase (tdenis_smartups)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Versions since 7.1

Situation

Installing a UPS with smartup in SuSE Linux.

Solution

Please install the package smartups from the series ap - applications.
The following steps are required to set up the UPS:

  • Connect the system according to the instructions enclosed with the UPS.

  • Modify the file /etc/rc.config.d/smartups.rc.config.
    The following settings are necessary for installing an APC SmartUPS 420:

    SMARTUPS_MODEL="apcsmart"
    GENERICUPS_MODEL=""
    SMARTUPS_DEVICE="ttyS1"
    SMARTUPS_MASTER="localhost"

    Note: COM1 is addressed as ttyS0 and COM2 as ttyS1, etc.

  • Make sure the file /etc/rc.config contains the line

    START_SMARTUPS="yes"

  • Execute SuSEconfig.

  • You can now use the commands

    rcups stop

    rcups start

    rcups status


    to establish a connection to the UPS and query the UPS status.
    The following messages should appear:

    linux:~ # rcups stop
    Shutting down SmartUPS: done
    linux:~ # rcups start
    Starting apcsmart: Network UPS Tools - APC Smart protocol driver 0.54 (0.44.3)
    Detected SMART-UPS 420 [GS9843872517] on /dev/ttyS1 (level 2)
    Network UPS Tools upsd 0.44.3
    Network UPS Tools upsmon 0.44.3
    UPS: localhost (master) (power value 1)
    Using power down flag file /etc/killpower
    linux:~ # rcups status
    Checking for SmartUPS:
    /usr/bin/upsd: running
    /usr/bin/upsmon: running

  • In the event of a power failure, the UPS should become active and issue a warning on all consoles:

    Broadcast Message from root@linux
    (somewhere) at 10:31 ...
    UPS localhost on battery

  • A message should also be issued in passive mode:

    Broadcast Message from root@linux
    (somewhere) at 10:37 ...
    UPS localhost on line power

  • The configuration of the shutdown time is described in the SDB article "Configuring the Shutdown Time of a UPS with smartups"
    Keywords: UPS, SMARTUPS, POWER, APC

    Feedback welcome: Send Mail to tdenis@suse.de (Please give the following subject: SDB-tdenis_smartups)
    SDB-tdenis_smartups, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 04. Feb 2002
    SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 04. Feb 2002 by tino (sdb_gen 1.40.0)