Setting up UPS

Might not be much help but if it's any encouragement to you it should work. I use APC units with 2 servers (a G5 Tower and an Xserve G5) and they both show up as soon as I plug them in. I don't use APC's software.

Maybe try other troubleshooting tricks like using a different USB cable or logging in from another account and see if it works there?

I can only report that each and every APC UPS with a USB connection that I have used just showed up in the Energy Savings Panel and worked out of the box flawlessly without needing to install any software.

I haven't yet tried to use a serial connection yet. Still I'm interested in that if someone is willing to shed some light on it.

How is your UPS connected?
Regards MacLemon

I have a RS 1500 that is connected to a G5 using the APC-supplied cable. On the UPS end is a connector that looks like an RJ-45; the Mac side has a standard USB "A" connector.

I also have a Smart UPS 1500 connected to an Xserve G5 using the APC-supplied cable. On the UPS end is a USB "B" connector; the Mac side has a standard USB "A" connector.

jperkins-

It sounds like you are sans USB.

I think a serial to USB adapter might work, but I am not sure. I think it is the USB model that identifies and configures itself over USB. The serial to USB connection would probably not do the same thing.

I think you need a UPS that has a USB port built in.

-DaddyPaycheck

You could try to connect the UPS to the Xserve's serial port and see if you can get them to talk to each other.
MacLemon

Yes.

But me thinks that the software may not automatically detect the UPS via the serial connection. Then it would come down to drivers and/or software.

However, I can't see where you could hurt anything by implementing any of these suggestions as an experiment anyways. If it works, we all know. Ifit doesn't, well, thenwe will all know that as well.

To science and experimentation!

-DaddyPaycheck

The UPS code that I looked at in Darwin is very USB specific. But, check out:

http://www.powerguardian.com/

He has code that will make the UPS work but you will need to buy a keyspan USB to serial converter. It may be that just getting the converter will solve your problem.

Good luck

I have some software from APC (free) that listens to the serial port in our G4 XServe for the UPS signals. You are not able to adjust the settings on the UPS, but you can choose how the computer responds to a power outage, eg. shutdown straight away, after 1 minute, etc.

It works well with a serial connection to a APC UPS.

I downloaded the software directly from APC. Sorry I don't have the link.

Marcus

The software is PowerChute Personal Edition v1.3.3 (10.3.9 - 10.4.1)

You can get it from

http://www.apcc.com/tools/download/softwarecomp.cfm?sw_sku=SFPCPE133&id=129&family=&partnum=&swfam=129&tsk=

The APC software works fine on my server running 10.4.4. It is pretty simple software.

I even just tested it to make sure!

Marcus

PowerChute Personal Edition is also included on CD with about every APC UPS. In my opinion there is no need for it, as Mac OS X directly supports APC UPSes in the Energy Saver Preference Panel.

Screenshots from Energy Saver PrefPanel with APC XL1000 USB connected:
Sleep Settings
UPS Settings
Options

PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I've been having trouble getting my APC CS500 with USB connection recognized by my G5 iMac running Tiger. Originally, I was trying to use the APC PowerChute software. Lately, I've come to the understanding that PowerChute should be removed as Tiger will handle the UPS thru the Energy Saver preference panel. After I removed PowerChute and restarted the iMac, I still had nothing in the Energy Saver panel. I called Apple support and was handed up to a "product specialist" who informed me that Tiger does NOT support a UPS on its own!!!

Either I'm confused, or the product specialist is misinformed and there's another problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

John