[Nut-upsuser] MGE Evolution and programmable outlets configuration

[Arnaud Quette]

Hi Marco,

just to tell you that I've forwarded your question to the Eaton
software support, so that they answer or route to the right people
since I won't have much time in the coming weeks...

so that you don't end up thinking that we've missed you ;-)

cheers,
Arnaud

2008/12/10 Marco Chiappero <marco at absence.it>:
> Arnaud Quette ha scritto:
>>
>> [a quick walk through the ml, still from the UDS/Googleplex...]
>>
>> Hi Marco,
>
> Hi Arnaud, good to read you!
>
>>> A digression about the fan: it's really annoying not just because it's
>>> louder than my 100W computer with 4 fans running (yes, it is), but also
>>> because there's no need to keep it spinning all the time in a *small*,
>>> *650* UPS generating just a *few* watts during normal use (measured with
>>> a watt-meter and both the metal cage and the exhaust air are indeed
>>> cold). Replacing it with a quieter fan, although fine for the UPS, means
>>> void warranty. I'd like to have a little more attention on this aspect,
>>> maybe using a thermoregulated fan, when paying 300 euro.
>>> But I should address these critics to MGE rather than the NUT mailing
>>> list, I know. However, beyond this issues, the UPS has proven to be a
>>> good product, good-looking too :)
>>
>> you've been heard ;-)
>> the point you might be missing is that the evolution range is a line
>> interactive one, but more for small servers.
>> and these are generally in some server rooms.
>> for something more SOHO focused (and so less noisy), you should have
>> opted out for Ellipse MAX (still line interactive, with 2 outlets
>> groups too)
>
> Well, I knew about the Ellipse MAX but I preferred the Evolution, which
> is pure sine wave. Beyond this you are right, but the basic idea is not
> to cool something that don't need to be cooled. For example the APC
> Smart-UPSs (really similar to the Evolution line, line-interactive, sine
> wave) 750VA and 1000VA are totally fanless. I'm sure that the Evolution
> 850 and 650 models can run fanless too, at least during normal use
> (9-12W don't require an always spinning fan or a fan at all). Moreover I
> suppose that nowadays low power UPSs are widespread in offices as much
> as in server rooms, expecially the tower versions.
> I can now ask you why the Evolution is using two different fan speed if
> it supposed to stay in a server room? And, about the heat, where is the
> difference, when not running on batteries, beetwen the Ellipse MAX and
> the Evolution, fan excluded? Why is the first one fanless while doing
> the same thing, with the same tecnology? ;)
> Now, let's stop thinking of the fan, I love my Evolution and I like your
> presence here. One more reason to prefer MGE. :)
>
>> can I possibly contact you next week, when I'm back to MGE, to get
>> some more feedback?
>
> Sure!
>
>> now about the Powershare, these are things that I should have done for
>> years...
>> but since I've taken over the project leadership, there are far too
>> many things I've not been able to give time to.
>> now, the situation has evolved since my Eaton'isation. I'll have more
>> and more time, and possibly somebody to work with me (but the crisis
>> might void this point in the short run though).
>
> (I know, in these weeks many projects are being delayed or stopped)
> I have a couple of questions for you.
> 1) It's not clear to me whether the UPS is going to reboot or not when
> mains is back again, if it has not been shutted down. Let's consider the
> VoIP phone example, if I drain as much as I can my batteries (with the
> deep discharge protection on) and the UPS is not shutted down by any
> computer before it stops, is it going to reboot when power is restored?
> I suppose it's not going to reboot in case the power is restored before
> the UPS is dead, right?
> 2) The NUT documentation states that, usually, the event triggering the
> computer(s) shutdown is the "low battery" state (or a timer when using
> upssched). Now I see in psp (for windows, since there is no psp amd64
> for linux :P) that it is possible to call the system shutdown on the
> basis of (3) differen criteria. Moreover the "battery charge" criteria
> seems not to be related with the low battery precentage (the one
> activating the low battery alarm). Is this right? If so, why under NUT
> is the "low battery" state the only one setting/criteria triggering the
> system shutdown? It would be comfortable to start the power down
> procedure when a certain battery charge is reached (not necessarily the
> low battery percentage) or when there are still X seconds of runtime
> available. The good thing is that the same method can be applied to the
> switchable outles. For example I can set the UPS to cut the power on the
> outlet.1 when the batteries are at 55% and have NUT starting the
> shutdown procedure when the charge is lower than 70%. Or I can start the
> system shutdown at 70% and before halting set outlet.1.delay.shutdown.
> Unfortunately this require the system(s) to be aware of the outlet it(they)
> are using, and is going to complicate the NUT architecture, but such
> behaviour would make it *really* powerful! The "low battery" state can be
> still useful, to make systems shutdown as fast as they can,
> eventually calling the UPS shutdown too. Maybe it can be used as event
> for the last computer running, the one controlling the UPS, for example.
> However I don't know if this can be achived easly, but maybe it sound
> interesting and something can be done... just let me know your opinion!
> Many thanks for your attention and thanks for this chat.
>
> Regards,
> Marco