AC Power Outage - how to determine time & duration remotely 3

[dydavid]

AC Power Outage - how to determine time & duration remotely

We had a power outage in Phoenix with Arizona Public Service over the weekend. It exceeded the watt-hour capacity of the UPS protecting the server.

What device can determine during and data log for explaining this to APS?

Thank you.

Dave Y

 

[franklin97355]

Are you asking for something to use in the future or how to determine how long the outage was this time? There are many dataloggers you could use depending on how much you want to spend and how much info you need to log.

 

[dydavid]

Thanks franklin97355 - I've determined when it happened approx 11:06 AM minus the UPS capacity - so approx 10:40 AM power went out.

Had to reboot server when we came in this morning. APS said transformer blew out Sunday.

Am interested in whatever details can be gathered up.
Datalogger sounds interesting, but how expensive is it?

Thank you. Dave

 

[franklin97355]

Do a google search to find more but this one didn't cost too much and has some nice features. You could build your own if you have the time. (not like this but using a pic)

http://www.omega.com/DAS/pdf/OM-SL.pdf

 

[JinRoh]

Don't some of the mid to high range UPS have a logger that you can use via a serial port? Or does WIN XP still hate those?

 

[dydavid]

JinRoh - Thanks for the reply
"Don't some of the mid to high range UPS have a logger that you can use via a serial port? " I'll check & see. Any models in particular?

"Or does WIN XP still hate those? " Not sure, but worthwhile checking.

 

[JimInKS]

Any of the APC "Smart" Series will attach to the host PC via a special serial cable or USB on newer models. APC has a program they call "Power Chute" that runs on the PC (or Server) that provides an interface to the UPS and logs all kinds of information. Power Chute logs the temperature of the UPS, line voltage, and any "events" such as brown outs and power failures. When the UPS is on battery and the battery is nearing depletion the Server will shut down gracefully. I'm sure other UPS manufacturers have similar products.

Here is an excerpt from our event log:
03/01/04 06:00:11 Scheduled UPS self-test passed
03/08/04 06:00:13 Scheduled UPS self-test passed
03/10/04 10:41:02 UPS on battery: Deep momentary sag 105.1 V
03/10/04 10:41:02 Normal power restored: UPS on line
03/11/04 07:50:23 UPS on battery: Blackout 000.0 V
03/11/04 07:50:25 Normal power restored: UPS on line
03/11/04 07:57:47 UPS on battery: Deep momentary sag 080.6 V
03/11/04 07:57:47 Normal power restored: UPS on line
=====

If you setup your server to automatically start when power is restored then it should restart automatically after an extended power outage has depleted the UPS battery.

You can then determine the length of the outage from either the server event log or the APC log on the server.

 

[dydavid]

Thank you >>> JimInKS (MIS).

I will check this out. Best regards. Dave

 

[TekTippy4U]

just a thought;
Doesn't WinXP have the Event Viewer you could use that may show the initial interrupt, when the server switched to the UPS, and also the time of shutdown...(maybe not enough info for you, and hard to decipher from the codes XP uses in System event viewer).
and Yes, the BIOS should have choices of 'what' action to take after a power failure.
Assuming XPpro see this;

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/xpmanaged/08_xpevt.mspx

TT4U

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs..All involved shall be spared the grief.

 

[TekTippy4U]

Here's a bunch of info on Event Viewer i've saved;
Ton of info, may or may not be for you...
Also, first link I gave, has a link on that page concerning Win2000 instead

Log Files for Windows XP:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logfiles.htm

Sysinternals Freeware - Process Explorer:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

TechNet Enabling Auditing Policies WinXP Pro:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/prdd_sec_xutj.asp

Using administrative tools in MS Management Console:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...ing/productdoc/en/app_misc_pr_load_snapin.asp

Win XP Home Edition - List All Snap-Ins MMConsole :

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...ing/productdoc/en/app_misc_pr_load_snapin.asp

Windows XP Home Edition Product Documentation:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...ome/using/productdoc/en/snap_event_viewer.asp

Windows XP Using the Microsoft Management Console:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...P/home/using/productdoc/en/snap_start_MMC.asp

TT4U

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs..All involved shall be spared the grief.