From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Oct 16 17:37:29 2013 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) (using TLSv1 with cipher ADH-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A7582548 for ; Wed, 16 Oct 2013 17:37:29 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from joh.hendriks@gmail.com) Received: from mail-wg0-x235.google.com (mail-wg0-x235.google.com [IPv6:2a00:1450:400c:c00::235]) (using TLSv1 with cipher ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA (128/128 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 337722E8B for ; Wed, 16 Oct 2013 17:37:29 +0000 (UTC) Received: by mail-wg0-f53.google.com with SMTP id y10so1077433wgg.8 for ; Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:37:27 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :cc:content-type; bh=4hJlzFeBdPcjLv9CLjczCNtIXB/8aQvIzZz9AXjqEkE=; b=gQyMoShqjE218eUTSKK05CwdQaMPWBoxYqUnSzFiqzcxLgOY/m/eHmeFQyK1jyrQGZ OYtrj8R/efKoYc+OX2jukmv9Hl3aiRlv5WKx+GexI9YBWKBQ0MU4ey4DdpZSrpyewhgE pQyqJhgs5PiSCBToHlLJ9tgYQwhmJp9V6pCEF60nojbNl2+jpZze8eRX2S/Kw+DHXgrR t64PxtgqncOxo3mh2NNjJ6SiNnTWjz2sBrPYVDAw2qSAlDbtIFhnnHPGFJdI0tV0V1yo YXYtkrpKtq1oGTnv1I8xQLSEnfGnwMMGDGYceF8azsxz2IJ5CVCvqyfgQ6ZNGW/ad9lB dvOA== MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Received: by 10.194.173.163 with SMTP id bl3mr3607126wjc.10.1381945047073; Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:37:27 -0700 (PDT) Received: by 10.194.93.6 with HTTP; Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:37:26 -0700 (PDT) In-Reply-To: <525D225B.7050205@fjl.co.uk> References: <525D225B.7050205@fjl.co.uk> Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 19:37:26 +0200 Message-ID: Subject: Re: UPS buying suggestion From: Johan Hendriks To: Frank Leonhardt Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.14 Cc: freebsd-questions X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 17:37:29 -0000 Op dinsdag 15 oktober 2013 schreef Frank Leonhardt (frank2@fjl.co.uk): > On 15/10/2013 06:07, yudi v wrote: > >> I am planning on buying an UPS to protect my HP microserver >> n40l >> >**, >> it will be running FreeBSD 9.2 RELEASE. >> >> I am looking at >> APC Power-Saving Back-UPS ES 8 Outlet 700VA 230V AS >> 3112> techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=**BE700G%2DAZ&total_watts=400 >> > >> >> is that supported by apcupsd? (already tried apcupsd mailing list, there >> was no response, hence asking here) >> If not, please recommend one that is supported. >> >> The HP server has a 150W PSU and the UPS is rated at 400Watts, and it >> comes >> with USB monitoring support. >> >> Also, how to measure exact power consumption by a device? >> >> >> > I've been watching this thread with a bit of interest. For what it's worth > I run several UPS units at various location (about forty) and FWIW I tend > to avoid the cheap ones although I've not actually had a problem with them. > It's just when I open the case I don't like the manufacturing quality. I'm > using (right here) an APC BackUPS Pro 420 to keep three HP microservers > alive. What!? Yes, it works. The power they draw varies greatly depending > on what type and how many drives you have in the bays and (I think with the > Microservers) their processing workload. > > As to the "compatibility", I do the myself. All I want it to do is shut > down gracefully if the power fails - nothing more. And this is how I do it: > > All servers are, by definition, connected to the network. They can ping > equipment nearby (just do it from a shell script). If they ping several > pieces of kit on the LAN that don't have a UPS and get no reply, repeatedly > for a few minutes) then it can be assumed something's up, and they can shut > down. As a cross-check they can ping other kit on a UPS and if that's still > alive it proves the NIC is okay. In the event of a suspected failure the > script writes what it's done in a log, emails it to me (for later) and > calls shutdown. > > Why don't I use a special driver? First off, one UPS may be powering more > than one server but only one can be connected (and I've got a few *BIG* UPS > units covering a whole rack). Secondly, UPS units need servicing, which > means they get swapped. Unless you have just one type you've got more than > one protocol to contend with, and is that USB or RS-232? It quickly becomes > a pain. I want to be able to swap any UPS for any other and still have > automatic shutdown without messing with the server hardware/software. > > So, what I look for in a UPS is a good automatic self-test (i.e. a "smart" > one) and a standard and easy to change battery (the 7Ah type are cheap, > plentiful and are thus well refined). > > As to the "run time", there are lies, damn lies ans statistics. I once > tested a load of them for an article in PC Magazine and took very little > notice of what the manufacturer said. They normally have the same battery, > and without breaking any laws of physics they're going to run for pretty > much the same time unless they're using a cheap and inefficient inverter, > in which case the energy gets dissipated as heat and you'll know it. > Inverters are a done deal now - just buy the chip - I wouldn't expect much > variation. The only performance difference you're likely to find is the > output current, and the transistor it flows throug - if it's weedy it will > overheat/burn out, but that takes time. You pay more for sustained higher > output currents, but may very well not need them. As to the run-time, > that's always down to the battery capacity. Buy a new one every two years; > don't wait for the load test to fail. > > Regards, Frank. > > > > > > > > ______________________________**_________________ > freebsd-questions@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/**mailman/listinfo/freebsd-**questions > To unsubscribe, send any mail to " > freebsd-questions-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" > Hello Frank, I like the idea of the power canary so to call it. Would you mind and share the script? Thanks. Regards Johan