UPS Evaluation

[JTT0]

Hey all,

So, if you have seen my previous posts, I have evaluated different server components and finally settled on a working set. I have configured it up and got all my shares working, Time Machine Backups, etc., but am missing one final component before I allow real data to store on this NAS, the UPS!

Please let me know if the following is known to work well enough for FreeNAS' purposes. I have already checked the NUT pages and it *LOOKS* like the UPS is supported through the Legacy Card also mentioned below. This post is a request for any personal experiences or knowledge of this UPS/SmartSlot Card being used via FreeNAS. Thanks ahead of time!!!!


UPS: APC Smart-UPS SMT750 750 VA 500 Watts 6 Outlets UPS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101388

SmartSlot Card: APC AP9620 Legacy Communications SmartSlot Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101479

Thanks again FreeNAS community! So far, I LOVE my FreeNAS server!

 

[Yatti420]

Should put your system in your sig or something.. I use the cyberpower 850 pfc version with zero issues.. The 1000w has issues with a different usb controller or something.. Which spews errors but doesn't affect device.. Maybe a dif model revision.. I would not know if the APC is sufficient but aslong as NUT says it's compatible you have a good chance..

 

[JTT0]

Here is my build:

Case: U-NAS NSC-800
Motherboard: ASRock E3C224D2I
CPU: Intel Core i3-4130T
RAM: Kingston 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333MHZ
PSU: Seasonic 350W Flex ATX with Flex -> 1U bracket
SATA Port Extender / Raid Controller: IBM M1015 - Flashed to IT Mode
HDD: 3TB WD Red * 8 (7 in RaidZ3 and 1 in Stripe)

 

[Ericloewe]

Here is my build:
HDD: 3TB WD Red * 8 (7 in RaidZ3 and 1 in Stripe)

Wait wait wait wait... Did you just say you're striping a RAIDZ3 with a single disk? I hope you mean that's just an individual disk, not that it's actually in the same zpool as the RAIDZ3 vdev...

 

[JTT0]

Wait wait wait wait... Did you just say you're striping a RAIDZ3 with a single disk? I hope you mean that's just an individual disk, not that it's actually in the same zpool as the RAIDZ3 vdev...

Heck No! That is two separate pools!!!!

 

[JTT0]

Anybody else know if this UPS or other comparative UPS will work well with FreeNAS? I need to purchase one by end of this weekend.

 

[cyberjock]

Anybody else know if this UPS or other comparative UPS will work well with FreeNAS? I need to purchase one by end of this weekend.

You can find out if any given UPS is supported by checking out the NUT website. It has a long list of supported UPSes.

 

[JTT0]

You can find out if any given UPS is supported by checking out the NUT website. It has a long list of supported UPSes.

Hey CyberJock, as stated in my first post here, I have checked the compatibility and this UPS is specified as compatible, but it is under a color that represents, it may or may not work completely. It seems that the drivers have been reverse enginered and this prompted me to ask BEFORE I bought and tested it. Here is the APC section that applies, which represents Smart-UPS and Smart UPS-USB. I can do either Serial or USB with the AP9620 Legacy SmartSlot Card.

EDIT: Reformatted below.

Manufacturer Model Driver
APC Smart-UPS SMT/SMX/SURTD: apcsmart (Microlink models with RJ45 socket - they *require* AP9620 SmartSlot expansion card and smart cable)

**protocol based on reverse engineering**

Smart-UPS USB: usbhid-ups
**based on fragments of publicly available protocol**

EDIT 2: Adding link to APC section of NUT Wiki.
http://www.networkupstools.org/stable-hcl.html

 

[JTT0]

With the above, I only need something that functions well-enough with FreeNAS in order to inform FreeNAS about power changes, so that FreeNAS can respond. The UPS is just used to supply FreeNAS clean power as well as battery to shutdown safely as needed.

 

[jgreco]

We have a bunch of the SMT/SMX here. They're monitorable via SNMP if you get the 9630/9631 card, which is fairly common. I believe I tried hooking it up to NUT once and was able to do so through some not-hard-to-figure-out NUT driver but it's been a year or two since I did that and I don't recall the details.

 

[JTT0]

We have a bunch of the SMT/SMX here. They're monitorable via SNMP if you get the 9630/9631 card, which is fairly common. I believe I tried hooking it up to NUT once and was able to do so through some not-hard-to-figure-out NUT driver but it's been a year or two since I did that and I don't recall the details.

What is the difference between the AP9620 and AP9630 SmartSlot cards?

 

[JTT0]

What is the difference between the AP9620 and AP9630 SmartSlot cards?

WOW, I just Googled it and it is ridiculously priced... Is there anything comparatively priced to the 9620?

 

[jgreco]

Is it? APC has always been a bit screwy on pricing for accessories.

A standalone UPS is mostly useless for applications we have; a filer suggests networking gear and servers and stuff like that, so a UPS that can only be hooked up to a single machine or mandates a particular software package (like NUT) is less-than-completely-useful.

Quite frankly APC's blundered a little with the SMT/SMX series in that regard, but so far we're not having to replace batteries anywhere near as often as we did with the old Smart-UPS units which tended to cook their batteries, so even if the cards end up costing a bit more it was an overall win to switch to them.

That's no comfort to the hobbyist buying a UPS to protect a single box, of course and I despise a good screw job just as much as you do.

I'm not actually sure why NUT cannot monitor them via the serial port. OS X is able to at least detect power failures on them via the serial port, though perhaps that's the extent of what's available... I don't really know. I seem to recall something about a proprietary or maybe encrypted protocol. Sigh.

 

[JTT0]

So, I have been doing some additional research and I really like the idea of going with this UPS, but have one final question:

Is the attached UPS (Same mentioned in post) considered one of the "microlink" APC UPS's as mentioned in NUT Compatibility? They specifically mention UPS's with an RJ-45 port, but this one seems to have a USB and RS-232 to Serial port. Do I need the AP9620 SmartSlot card to get the drivers, either via USB or serial, to interact with FreeNAS?

Here is the UPS linked again: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842101388.

As I will be buying tomorrow, please help if you can :)

Thanks again!

 

[jgreco]

I'd suggest trying the USB first and see what happens. Be sure to actually go through a power failure scenario and see if it works.

 

[JTT0]

I'd suggest trying the USB first and see what happens. Be sure to actually go through a power failure scenario and see if it works.

Thanks for the reply! I am ordering it today and will try it out when it arrives! Hopefully it works without the AP9620 Legacy Adapter!!!

 

[JTT0]

I am a little late on this update, but the UPS is working fabulously!