Re: [cobalt-users] Cobalt Raq's and UPS.

[Bruce Timberlake <bruce.timberlake@xxxxxxx>]

Malcolm McLeary wrote:
> 
> Hi Bruce,
> 
> What about UPS for Qube3?

No "support" was pre-included on Qube like on the RaQ.  UPS-supplied
software _should_ work the same on Qube as it would on RaQ.  There's
just no master/slave notification/etc like on RaQs...

> > That's all there is to it - plug the RaQ into the UPS, and connect the
> > serial cable from the UPS to the 2nd serial port on the RaQ.  Then
> > install the UPS software (it did come with some, right?) on the RaQ.
> > Voila.
> 
> Actually I don't think its quite that simple.

It never is, is it?  :)

I have not actually set up a UPS on a RaQ, but during my training when
starting at Cobalt several eons ago (Feb 2000 to be exact), that is how
the process was explained to me by someone in the support or engineering
group.  I had no reason to doubt them at the time, and have not been
able to requisition a UPS of my own from Sun's internal supply to
validate on my own.

If I have put out incorrect/incomplete info, I apologize.  Hopefully,
when/if the KB "how to" gets written, that will put and end to the
confusion...

> >>> More specifically how do you force the Raq to shut down when
> >>> the supply is minutes away from discharge ? is it script based?
> >>> does it have this script already buried away somewhere in the box?
> >>
> >> I think it is another one of those cobalt features we bought, and
> >> does not work. I never could get mine to work
> >
> > Generally, a UPS (APC specifically that I know of) will come with
> > software (PowerChute?) that loads on the server and talks to the UPS via
> > serial cable (thus the 2nd serial port on the RaQs).  That 3rd party
> > software from the UPS manufacturer is what actually handles the server
> > shutdown, etc.
> 
> From what I've seen the APC Linux software is unsupported, 

Unsupported by Sun Cobalt, yes (we _are_ talking 3rd party software
here! ;^) ) Is it also unsupported by APC??

> VERY basic and requires a special cable not normally supplied.

Hm. I haven't messed with an APC UPS in a couple of years, so I'm
admittedly weak there, but I could swear my APCs came with the cable. 
Could it just be a null-modem cable??

> One issue I have not seen dealt with is the case where the the UPS tells the
> Linux Appliance to shutdown and then power is returned.  The Linux Appliance
> continues to shutdown and sits there waiting to be powered down.
> 
> What is needed is a way to get the UPS to actually remove power from the
> Linux Appliance so that when power resumes it actually comes back up.

Yes, this is the problem with a "hard" power switch like RaQ3/4 have. 
Using the ATX-style motherboard like XTR does enables "soft" power
control, and the appliance _does_ actually power down when the shutdown
command completes.

> The ONLY situation which works is to hope for a power disruption longer than
> the UPS battery lasts or use the UPS only as a temporary power source while
> backup power is brought online.  In this case the UPS doesn't need to talk
> to the Linux Appliance at all.

Well, an orderly shutdown is still preferred if possible, and this is
what you would get with the UPS connected and talking to the RaQ...
 
> > Otherwise, you'd have to get some sort of battery charge monitoring
> > script to work across the serial connection (would probably vary vendor
> > to vendor, thus the lack of inclusion of a set way to do it from us),
> > and initiate a "shutdown -h now" if the battery is below your threshold
> > charge level...
> 
> Have a look at what MGE have to offer, however everyone seems to be moving
> towards using USB instead of serial and I'm under the impression that the
> USB socket on Cobalt Linux Appliances is just there for show ... its not
> actually supported ... or its intended for future use.

The 2.2 kernel we supply does not have USB support enabled.  There was
some rudimentary USB support for some devices (printers, etc) in 2.2.x,
but the bulk of USB support came with 2.4.x.  When/if a 2.4.x kernel is
released for the RaQ3/4 line, the USB port will work.

I will pass the USB UPS support idea to the RaQ PM for consideration on
future RaQ systems and/or backport to existing RaQ systems...

--
Bruce Timberlake, Sun Cobalt Technology Engineer
Email: bruce.timberlake@xxxxxxx