MP 1,1-5,1 APC SmartUPS Network monitoring?

[GlynH]

Hi there,

I have a few APC SmartUPS devices scattered around the house and am running my iMac and Mac Pro from a SmartUPS 1000 in the office and Synology RackStation, Mac Mini and a few other devices from a SmartUPS 1500 in the loft.

It is easy to connect the Synology NAS to the 1500 via USB cable and likewise the iMac to the 1000 the same way.

As you are probably aware when the iMac detects a UPS via USB it adds another tab under System Preferences/Energy Saver called UPS which is quick and easy but also quite limited in what it offers.

But here's the problem...I want to give the Mac Pro the option of graceful shutdown from the UPS feeding the iMac and also the Mac Mini the same option from the UPS it shares with the Synology.

I have a few other devices which would also benefit from monitoring over the network and as I have Network Monitoring Cards in both SmartUPS devices would much prefer to monitor over the network if at all possible but might just take the easy option of sharing one USB output from the UPS into two Macs!

My questions are as follows;

1. Easy option - if it exists: Is there a way to split the single USB output from the UPS so I can feed two Macs from one UPS?
2. Preferred option: Is there any decent Network Monitoring Software provided for Mac that would be suitable? I thought the logical choice would be APC's own Powerchute Network Shutdown but looking at the APC website not only is it a pain to determine which version is best but when you read the installation document it really puts you through hoops and requires Java which I am not sure is a good thing in this day & age.

I have found in the past most UPS software for Mac is old, outdated or non-existent and Apple themselves don't seem to offer a suitable alternative apart from the built-in USB tab option which limits their suitability in an office environment IMHO.

So what do you guys use to monitor your UPS for graceful shutdown of multiple Macs across the network?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

 

[mattspace]

So what do you guys use to monitor your UPS for graceful shutdown of multiple Macs across the network?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

You might find that’s a solved problem amongst the automation & scripting crowd - if the UPS provides the status info via its network connection in a way that it broadcasts, there may be a way for an AppleScript to watch that, and then perform a “save state to file and shut down” action.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

You could get something like this:

CyberPower PR2000RT2UN Smart App Sinewave UPS System, 2000VA/2000W, 8 Outlets, 2U Rack/Tower, RMCARD205 Pre-Installed

The PR2000RT2UN is a Smart App Sinewave rack/tower convertible UPS with line-interactive topology, surge protection, and battery backup. CyberPower’s Smart App Sinewave series has sine wave output to eliminate power gaps that can be detected by sensitive equipment and cause unexpected shutdowns. ...

www.amazon.com

You can put it in a rack or stand it up (it comes with a stand).

 

[arw]

The USB connection can not be split up.
I had the same request (a network based solution, not available in our UPSes).
I finally went the other way around: I removed the LAN-switch power from the UPS and connected it to the main power outlet and wrote a script, that shuts down/deep sleeps the PC after 60 seconds without ethernet (while using the internal beeper to signal the countdown).

 

[elvisimprsntr]

1. Connect UPS up to a client via USB (Synology, Windows, macOS)
2. Install NUT on the client https://networkupstools.org. (NOTE: most NAS devices have NUT built in)
3. Set up first client as UPS Master
4. Install NUT on any additional clients
5. Set up clients as UPS Slave that are connected to same UPS

UPS shared over network without having to buy/install expensive proprietary UPS network monitoring cards in each UPS. Just make sure the UPS Master shuts down last.

I have one UPS connected to my pfSense firewall as UPS Master, and clients connect as UPS Slave. Works automagically!

 

[zam04]

Has anyone been able to get this to work in macOS 12.5.1?