CyberPower UPS network shutdown for two servers

[cjc1103]

I'm shopping for a new line interactive rack mount UPS. I have two TrueNAS servers, and I would like to have the UPS communicating with both servers through a network connection. TrippLite, APC and CyberPower all have reackmount UPS models with a network card accessory, and there is a web based utility for Windows based servers. Is it possible for TrueNAS to communicate with a UPS like this through the network?

 

[NugentS]

Yes. SNMP

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Rather than adding the expense of UPS network add on cards, you can connect the UPS directly to one TrueNAS (or pfSense) via USB as a "master", then connect any other TrueNAS appliances as "slaves" Works automagically!

TrueNAS uses NUT (https://networkupstools.org)

 

[NickF]

Both good answers. Depends on what you want to do. In all honestly I've never worried about using UPS on battery as an indicator to shut down systems. Too many false positives which require tweaking. I've had SAN's which are highly sensitive to power outages. I have alot of batteries tho, and I've only ever once had an outage that lasted longer than the 10-15 minutes my batteries lasted in my home lab.

In my sysadmin life, I had 40 sites which nearly all had a TrueNAS system presenting an ISCSI LUN to another server for video survaillance. Those closets were hot, dusty and we had power outages that would frequently enough kill the batteries. I never had data corruption as a result of power loss.

ZFS seems to handle it much better than most. It automagically will roll back a few TXGs if things got screwed up in flight just prior to the power outages. If you are using sync writes you are even more safe and that likely won't even be necessary.

This video always makes me laugh

So How Hard Is It To Crash and Kill a FreeNAS 11 ZFS Raid Z1 Array?

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[cjc1103]

Rather that adding the expense of UPS network add on cards, you can connect the UPS directly to one TrueNAS (or pfSense) via USB as a "master", then connect any other TrueNAS appliances as "slaves" Works automagically!

TrueNAS uses NUT (https://networkupstools.org)

Thanks, I may try this angle. The network option card for the TrippLite is over $300.

 

[cjc1103]

Rather than adding the expense of UPS network add on cards, you can connect the UPS directly to one TrueNAS (or pfSense) via USB as a "master", then connect any other TrueNAS appliances as "slaves" Works automagically!

TrueNAS uses NUT (https://networkupstools.org)

Can you tell me how you connect the two servers to the UPS as primary/secondary (master/slave)? Obviously there's only one USB port on the UPS, do you use a USB hub? Does one TrueNAS server see the other server's UPS over the network?

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Can you tell me how you connect the two servers to the UPS as primary/secondary (master/slave)? Obviously there's only one USB port on the UPS, do you use a USB hub? Does one TrueNAS server see the other server's UPS over the network?

1. UPS is connected directly to one appliance (TrueNAS, pfSense, etc.) via USB as a UPS master


2. Second appliance is configured to remotely monitor the UPS via LAN as a UPS slave

 

[cjc1103]

1. UPS is connected directly to one appliance (TrueNAS, pfSense, etc.) via USB as a UPS master


2. Second appliance is configured to remotely monitor the UPS via LAN as a UPS slave




View attachment 69572 View attachment 69571

Thanks, that was helpful. Saves some money by not getting a network module for the UPS, and most of them don't even have that option.