Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monitoring

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BPB
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Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monitoring

Post by BPB »

I'm not sure if this is possible, but can you use a USB hub to connect multiple UPS devices' via USB and monitor them individually?

First part: how do you monitor a UPS device which is directly connected to a USB port on the monitoring server?

Second part: how can you monitor multiple devices connected this way?

Setup: I've got a main computer hosting Nagios and nrpe running on most of the (linux friendly) devices on my network. I've got five UPS devices powering various network devices - some are not conducive to installing nrpe plugins on for easy monitoring (like CCTV camera power supply, etc.). So I am hoping to connect them, locally, to the main Nagios server and monitor them directly.

Another possible obstacle: these UPS devices are the type that only have a USB A - B connection, usually just designed to interface with their native monitoring programs (i.e. APC PowerChute, etc.) Two are APC devices (think 550 and ES-550) and three are other devices.

I hope this isn't too dumb a question; it seems easier to monitor UPS devices connected to other servers running nrpe than to monitor locally connected ones.
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mcapra
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by mcapra »

It is possible, but not advisable. Supporting a Core installation becomes more difficult when you add a bunch of extra pieces of software to the monitoring server. Generally one might monitor a UPS using SNMP, but as you stated the only interface these UPSs have is USB. I can't think of a way to monitor a UPS over USB without the introduction of additional software or an intermediary system.

You can check the exchange to see if your particular UPS has a monitoring plugin that was already created: https://exchange.nagios.org/
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BPB
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by BPB »

mcapra wrote:It is possible, but not advisable. Supporting a Core installation becomes more difficult when you add a bunch of extra pieces of software to the monitoring server. Generally one might monitor a UPS using SNMP, but as you stated the only interface these UPSs have is USB. I can't think of a way to monitor a UPS over USB without the introduction of additional software or an intermediary system.

You can check the exchange to see if your particular UPS has a monitoring plugin that was already created: https://exchange.nagios.org/
Ah, not advisable. That's probably why I didn't find much on it. One of the UPS devices (an APC) does have a working monitoring plugin. My main goal was to get as even of a power distribution as possible across the various devices.

Anyway, thanks for the info. Perhaps I can connect them to various other devices I'm monitoring and find some way to track them.
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mcapra
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by mcapra »

Is it alright if I lock this thread?
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BPB
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by BPB »

mcapra wrote:Is it alright if I lock this thread?
Yes; that's probably the best/final answer on this topic!
BPB
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nozlaf
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by nozlaf »

hope thread isnt locked yet
check_ups (nagios plugin supplied by nagios-plugins) uses NUT which does support usb port connected ups
www.networkupstools.org
Looking forward to seeing you all at #NagiosCon2019?
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rkennedy
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by rkennedy »

Thanks @nozlaf!

@BPB - let us know if you have any further questions, or if we're good to lock this up still.
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BPB
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by BPB »

That works for me. I think the best solution is to attach the monitoring USB cable of each to a different device and monitor them (maybe through NUT - I don't remember if NUT only monitors one device at a time or not, but that's a good option). Also, three of the UPS devices are EATON S5 550 (or close) devices and I don't know how compatible they are with monitoring anything in the first place.

But, thanks for the responses all and you can close this one out.
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mcapra
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Re: Multiple UPS devices, USB connections, individual monito

Post by mcapra »

Let us know if you need additional assistance with monitoring your UPS devices! Closing this for now.
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