APC Smart-UPS
The Smart-UPS is a series of enterprise-level uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) made by American Power Conversion (APC).[1] Most of the units have a Smart Slot (with the exception of SC and SMC series) which accepts an optional interface card providing features ranging from network connectivity to temperature and humidity monitoring.[2] With the exception of RT and SRT series, Smart-UPS units are line-interactive UPS systems, only running their inverters when the grid power is unavailable.
Models
There are a few different variations in the Smart-UPS lineup.
| Model | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Smart-UPS | The standard model, with true sine-wave inverter output. |
| Smart-UPS SC, Smart-UPS SMC | A simplified version of the Smart-UPS, with no Smart Slot expansion and with modified sine wave output, which makes it incompatible with many active PFC PC power supplies.[3] |
| Smart-UPS XL | An "extended run" series, with an Anderson Powerpole DC connector allowing up to 10 external battery packs to be daisy-chained to the main unit. |
| Smart-UPS RT, Smart-UPS SRT | A double-conversion / online variant providing no switchover delay during a power loss. |
| Smart-UPS VT | Uses three-phase power, for larger installations. |
Management software
- All Smart-UPS units work with APC's proprietary PowerChute software which is available for a variety of operating systems.
- A free alternative to PowerChute is the Free software project APC UPS Daemon (Apcupsd), which supports Linux, Mac OS X, UNIX and Microsoft Windows operating systems and can run in stand alone or client-server modes.
- Legacy Smart-UPS (Not SMX, SMT, or SURTD series [4]) can also work with Network UPS Tools (NUT), a third party application, under Linux.[5] The software is designed to safely and automatically shut down any connected computers before the batteries are depleted.
Data interfaces
As a way to provide UPS management, monitoring and automatic shutdown of attached equipment, all Smart-UPS models include at least one serial data interface (RS-232 or USB), while most models also have at least one Smart Slot expansion port, with the larger (and in many cases older) Smart-UPS models supporting two Smart Slots. Availability of more Smart Slots in a single Smart-UPS unit can be achieved via expansion modules such as the AP9600 and AP9604 models.[6][7] Installing an add-on card into a Smart Slot will provide the UPS with additional features, capable beyond the default serial data interface.
Early Smart Slot cards, such as the AP9605, provide SNMP functionality and Telnet access.[8] The AP9606 and later cards add a web interface that can be used to configure and administer the UPS, as well as email-based alerting. The AP9617 and newer cards add 10/100Base-T connectivity, Secure HTTP, Secure Shell (SSH), RADIUS, SNMP Version 3, PCNS and syslog functionalities.[9] The AP9612, AP9618, AP9619 and AP9631 models provide environmental monitoring when used together with APC temperature/humidity probes.[10][11][12] The AP9618 model also provides out-of-band management via a modem connection in case the 10/100 Ethernet connection is down.
Smart Slot cards remain powered by the battery even when the UPS is switched off, allowing the UPS to be remotely cold-started even in a power loss situation (providing the network infrastructure is still powered up and functioning). The cards will also continue to work for a short while after the UPS has been switched off either manually or due to a low battery condition.[citation needed]
Beginning with the 2009 release of the SMT models (and later SMX and SURTD models), the old RS-232 data interface (a serial port with DB-9 connector) has been replaced with an RJ45 socket and an RJ45-to-DB-9 cable connecting to the protected computer's serial port (together with a standard USB interface[13]). Also, Smart Slot interface has been electrically modified in a backward-incompatible way and appropriately keyed mechanically. As stated by APC, "the new connection arrangement denotes the new signalling systems."[citation needed] These new serial and Smart Slot interfaces use the new Microlink signalling protocol which, unlike the previous APC protocol UPSLINK, as of April 2015[update] has not been publicly documented. However, using the new AP9620 interface card, users are able to add support for the previous signalling protocol to the newer SMT and SMX models. Addition of this card makes the current models backwards compatible with older software built for the older Smart-UPS series.
As of August 2013[update], an additional option has been made available in form of new firmware for certain SMT and SURTD models, adding publicly documented Modbus signalling capability to the proprietary Microlink protocol, allowing third-party developers to support UPS signalling and control on the newer Smart-UPS series.[14][15]
Smart Slot card models
In late 2009, with the release of the SMT and SMX product lines, Smart Slot was migrated to a new communications platform utilizing the APC Microlink protocol. The new card/slot design is referred-to as "Network Management Card 2" or NMC2. Both electrical and mechanical (slot keying) properties of the new Smart Slot make older Smart Slot cards incompatible with current Smart-UPS models.[16] For example, current (as of April 2015[update]) Smart-UPS model SMT1500I is compatible only with AP9613, AP9620, AP9630 and AP9631 Smart Slot cards.[17]
However, most new-style Smart Slot cards (including AP9613, AP9630 and AP9631) are backward compatible with older Smart-UPS models.[18]
| Model | Characteristics[18] |
|---|---|
| AP9603 | Token Ring SNMP Management Card |
| AP9605 | 10BASE-T SNMP Management Card |
| AP9606 | 10BASE-T Web/SNMP Management Card |
| AP9607 | 2-Port Serial Interface Expander Card |
| AP9608 | Out-of-band Management Card |
| AP9610 | Dry Contact Relay I/O Card |
| AP9612 | Environmental Management Card |
| AP9613 | Dry Contact Relay I/O Card (AP9335T, AP9335TH and AP9810 available as accessories) |
| AP9615 | 5-Port 10BASE-T Hub Card |
| AP9617 | 10/100BASE-T Network Management Card |
| AP9618 | Same as AP9617 plus Environmental Monitoring, Out-of-band Management and I/O Contacts/Relay Controls |
| AP9619 | Same as AP9617 plus Environmental Monitoring and IO Contacts/Relay Controls |
| AP9620 | Legacy Communications Card - Adds Serial & USB Connectivity |
| AP9622 | Modbus Interface Card |
| AP9623 | Serial Interface Expander Card |
| AP9630 | 10/100BASE-T Network Management Card 2 (NMC2) |
| AP9631 | Same as AP9630 with Environmental Monitoring |
See also
References
- ^ APC - Smart-UPS - Product Information
- ^ APC - UPS Network Management Cards - Product Information
- ^ APC - Product Information
- ^ "Apcupsd a daemon for controlling APC UPSes".
- ^ Network UPS Tools: UPS hardware compatibility list (stable)
- ^ http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=ap9600
- ^ http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=AP9604BLK
- ^ "AP9605 Network Management Card".
- ^ "UPS Network Management Card".
- ^ "AP9618 Network Management Card".
- ^ "AP9619 Network Management Card".
- ^ "AP9631 Network Management Card".
- ^ "APC USB cable scheme".
- ^ "Microlink protocol in Apcupsd (forum thread, see 2013-08-16 post)". forums.apc.com. 2013-08-16. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ "Modbus Implementation in APC Smart-UPS" (PDF). apcmedia.com. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions for the new SMX and SMT series of Smart-UPS products". apc.com. 2013-08-13. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ "Order Options: SMT1500". APC. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
- ^ a b "Additional Management Cards and Options: Quick Reference Sheet" (PDF). apcmedia.com. 2014-04-11. Retrieved 2014-06-13.