Request for Plugin - APC UPS management interface

[tintivilus]

I have a few APC UPS units with ethernet snmp/web/telnet management cards installed. It'd be nice to have Indigo able to interact with these devices

- remote turn on/off of UPS connected equipment, like for rebooting a router when a ping test fails
- gather power supply metrics (voltage, frequency, etc) to trigger events like re-writing IOlinc settings after a power fluctuation

I think the same protocol is used for the managed power strips, which I could imagine being a useful alternative to a pile of appliancelincs in some situations.

Maybe one could whip up some python glue to apcupsd? I don't have a clear enough understanding of how plugins generally work to suggest much of a design.

[jay (support)]

Added to the wish list.

[Perry The Cynic]

Given that Mac OS already has integrated power management software (that basically treats a USB-attached UPS as if it was a laptop battery), shouldn't such a plugin hook into the Mac OS power management APIs instead? That way, any (Mac-)supported UPS would benefit. And weirdos who run Indigo on laptops get some benefit, too...

Cheers
-- perry

[tintivilus]

I was actually thinking of the ethernet interface (not sure if SNMP would cover it), not the USB one. I'm not aware of any OS X builtin support for remote UPS management.

You're right that it should be reasonable to use built-in OS X UPS hooks to see power events from a locally connected UPS.

[Perry The Cynic]

Plug an USB-connectible UPS into a Mac and open the Energy Saver preferences. You'll see the same stuff that a laptop would show - essentially, a battery that is the UPS. At the same time, the power management APIs also reflect this "battery".

It depends on what you're trying to do, of course. If you want to detail-fiddle things like switching plug groups and power-off cadences, you won't see it there. If that's what you want, you may want to interface Indigo to NUT (the Network UPS Tools), which is the Open Source standard way to talk to UPS devices. That, too, has drivers for all kinds of UPS devices, so it would work for most devices out there.

[arwatson2000]

Is there any update on how have Indigo email you when the power supply of the battery is low? Or how long you have been on battery supply?

This would be helpful to know.

thank you.

[bschollnick2]

Is there any update on how have Indigo email you when the power supply of the battery is low? Or how long you have been on battery supply?

This would be helpful to know.

arwatson2000, good news. Your post has encouraged me to make an Indigo plugin to handle this. It's not done yet, but I am about half way done with it.

What sort of options do you think might be useful?

Everyone else, for UPS / Laptop Battery support, what do you think would be useful for Indigo?

[Dewster35]

Haha... Ben. I would like to request the plugin to conjure a 42' yacht. Also having it deliver on a trailer and parked in my driveway would be a plus. Obviously this is more of a nice to have feature than a must have feature.

You are indeed a wizard!

[durosity]

Sounds awesome.. Will this plugin just be for UPS devices that OSX recognises via USB, or are you intending for support for ethernet cards too?

[automaton]

apcupsd has the capability to call shell scripts on various power failure states, which could then interact with Indigo (for instance updating a variable). There is also a apcupsd management TCP port, as well a a web server, that can be queried for status.

I have apcupsd alert me directly when there are issues.

[bschollnick2]

Sounds awesome.. Will this plugin just be for UPS devices that OSX recognises via USB, or are you intending for support for ethernet cards too?

This uses Mac OS X's built-in power management / UPS Recognition, so I don't think there will be direct support for ethernet cards.

But if someone has an ethernet based UPS, and is willing to send me the documentation on it, I can certainly explore adding it in.

- Ben

[bschollnick2]

Haha... Ben. I would like to request the plugin to conjure a 42' yacht. Also having it deliver on a trailer and parked in my driveway would be a plus. Obviously this is more of a nice to have feature than a must have feature.

You are indeed a wizard!

Yeah, I thought about that one, but I figured it would be easier to code a money production plugin. This way I can customize whatever I buy, instead of having to accept what someone else considered a useable 42' yacht.

Sadly, Matt took out the right pantone green generator that I needed. So I'll have to make the money the old fashion way, my day job.

- Ben