UPS Advice

[garethEds]

Morning All,

 

I'm soon to be looking for two new UPS devices to backup our power - following a major issue on Monday. What UPS are people purchasing? Ideally ones that come with sofware that shut down Virtual Machines/HyperV servers and restart them when the power is back on (is that possible?)

 

Cheers

 

Gareth

[jthompson]

Only ever used APC devices with the PowerChute software installed on servers to handle shutdown commands.

 

It works, and the UPS devices themselves have worked well. We get a lot of power cuts here.

 

You'll want ones with a network management card installed. That'll allow you to have it send you email alerts, makes the PowerChute stuff possible and also opens the way to monitoring battery level, estimated runtime, etc via SNMP.

Edited January 11, 2024 by jthompson

[6Foot2]

Other UPS threads:

 

Link: ups - Search Results - EduGeek.net

[CHiLL]

We've been using a UPC UPS for many years now and it's been pretty decent. We've had to replace the batteries and the config side of it isn't exactly straightforward, but it does it's job. The only issue I have with this model is I cannot get the time to stay correct. No matter what I do, sync it to various time servers, set it manually, specify DST...the time will drift, often by days.

 

I've also heard good things about Eaton's UPS devices.

[Olliedawg]

I've only ever dealt with APC UPS's so kind of biased.. but I don't think you can go wrong with them really.

 

I'm looking at changing two of mine out soon-ish, will be going for APC again.

[robintech]

We have a APC Smart-UPS, Line Interactive,3kVA/2.7kW, Rackmount 2U which has worked when needed but only really gives 30 minutes, Would prefer LiFePO4 but nobody makes them yet.

[Aprice]

I know I've had a few bad experiences with APC in the last couple of years, going forward I think I'll be looking at Eaton.

 

Had a rebadged (APC) Dell ups go bang when plugged in, which scared the living daylights out of me, then our home APC let out magic smoke. Another one that granted was ancient failed knocking out the outputs. Recently one of our primaries had an APC fail which also disabled the outputs which then knocked out half the switch stack connected. The last one was in warranty and replaced, just not great when it takes the outputs with it.

 

Maybe I've just been unlucky!

 

Previous datacentre I worked at had a pair of Riello Multi Sentry units that seemed fine.

 

I'd certainly look for something that goes into bypass should a fault occur.

Edited January 11, 2024 by Aprice

[howartp]

We've got Eaton on both server rooms, with all the bells and whistles to shut everything down.

 

Really ought to test it sometime...

[Chris_Cook]

We've almost been exclusively APC.

 

We've been recommended Reillo for our new build which look interesting. Not had enough time to fully review them and not tried them, but the documentation looks good.

 

There are some Lithium units now, but I'm not sure if LiFePO4 is more specific.

[PotNoodleTech]

I'd take Eaton over APC any day of the week and twice on sundays. Have 4 Eatons here ultra reliable.

[robintech]

There are some Lithium units now, but I'm not sure if LiFePO4 is more specific.

 

 

LiFePO4 seems better suited than other Lithium chemistry as it doesn't have thermal runaway risk and can run down near to empty safely , did find one company that does them in America just out of interest

https://www.falconups.com/lifepo4-battery-lowers-lifetime-costs-75/

[mavhc]

Trying to parse Eaton's Line Interactive product line:

 

5E and 5S are tower format

 

5SC, 5SX, 5P, and 5PX Gen 2 have rackmount format

 

5SX, 5P, and 5PX have Network

 

5P/5P li-ion have max VA (Watts) of 1550

 

5SX and 5PX Gen 2 have 3000 VA

 

5PX Gen 2 has Outlet control.

 

 

For the 5PXG2 the model numbers work like:

 

5PXaaaaIRTbUAUG2 where aaaa is the VA, and b is the rack size in U: 2 or 3. The 3U are 483mm deep, the 2U 603mm deep.

 

Looks like you need to buy a network card as well.

[PotNoodleTech]

Running older ones here so not sure on current model numbers but

 

2 x 9130 5000 in server room each hardwired on to a different phase on the 3 phase

2 x 9SX 3000 running data cabs single phase normal plugs

 

Built in network ports on all of mine?

[mavhc]

Network card costs £300 for Eaton, because why not pay 10x what it actually costs to make. (Or 260 if you order it with the UPS)

 

https://www.comms-express.com/categories/eaton-5px-gen2-ups/ has 3000 with network for £1830

 

In 2012 I paid £1334 for an APC smx3000rmhv2u which is now £2561 https://www.comms-express.com/products/apc-smx3000rmhv2unc-smart-ups-x-3000va-with-network-card/

[garethEds]

We've almost been exclusively APC.

 

We've been recommended Reillo for our new build which look interesting. Not had enough time to fully review them and not tried them, but the documentation looks good.

 

There are some Lithium units now, but I'm not sure if LiFePO4 is more specific.

 

I ordered two Reillo ones today as the price was good. Added NICs to them as well. Should be here on Wednesday.

 

Regards

 

Gareth

[mavhc]

Good news, Riello (the i is first) NetMan 208 cards are only £200, for 100 Mbps

[aac]

Good news, Riello (the i is first) NetMan 208 cards are only £200, for 100 Mbps

 

That is actually just a typo the Riello Netman 208 is a gigabit card and this is noted on the product datasheet

[Cw2k]

That is actually just a typo the Riello Netman 208 is a gigabit card and this is noted on the product datasheet

 

The older Netman 204 cards were 100mb (2 versions existed the 2GB and 4GB models) the Netman 208 is the replacement and is a gigabit, has other improvement such as the firmware update process, no longer need to pop the card out and copy the new firmware to a Microsd card to update it, all done via the WebGui now.

[Davit2005]

Data centers have UPS devices to cover the time taken for the generators to start up. We test around once a year

[mavhc]

That is actually just a typo the Riello Netman 208 is a gigabit card and this is noted on the product datasheet

 

Still should just be built in and cost £10

[Chris_Cook]

Dumb question, but why do you need Gb ethernet on a UPS?

 

Price is a bit much, but most of the compute power is going to be on that card, so its not just an ethernet interface. A lot of customers won't want it, so they can save some money. It also means other options can be put in in the future if they want a different kind of interface.

 

Its also similar to what APC and others charge for a similar board. Creating circuit boards in relatively low volumes is always going to be more pricy than if they are mass produced as you have to spread the cost of design and testing across fewer purchases. The only other option is basing it on a raspberry pi, but the form factor doesn't lend itself to that, and the UPS / cards might have been designed before that.

[mavhc]

Computers are free on the front of magazines these days, you'd save money by just putting it on the same circuit board you already put into the system to run the screen on the front. If your motherboard was designed 20 years ago that's another problem you have. What's the point in being no different to APC? Someone make a good UPS already that's not ripping everyone off

[TwistedHelixis]

I was reading a Reddit forum last night with the same question. So many said they had moved away from APC and over to Eaton's UPS devices.

[SimplyJade]

I ordered two Reillo ones today as the price was good. Added NICs to them as well. Should be here on Wednesday.

Regards

Gareth

 

I've heard really good things about Reillo UPS'