Configuring NUT for the Eaton 3S UPS on Ubuntu Linux

Published: 2013-02-27

This post explains how to configure Network UPS Tools (NUT) to work with an Eaton 3S UPS on a stand-alone Ubuntu 12.04 PC.

Network UPS Tools (NUT) seems to be the most widely supported and used UPS management package for Linux. It is extremely flexible and caters for a wide range of UPS makes, models and deployment scenarios. The sheer scope and flexibility of NUT makes UPS selection and configuration daunting. The purpose of this article is to illustrate a minimal configuration to achieve stand-alone UPS management of a single Ubuntu 12.04 based PC.

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NUT configuration

Here’s how this configuration works: when power has dropped out for more than 3 minutes NUT triggers a shutdown. The shutdown sequence closes down Ubuntu; commands the UPS to commence shutdown; and then turns off the PC. Once the PC is off the UPS turns off to conserve the UPS battery. When power is reestablished the UPS powers up and reapplies power to the PC (whether your PC turns on automatically at power resumption is determined by it’s BIOS settings).

Here are the minimal NUT configuration files:

/etc/nut/nut.conf

# Set MODE=none to disable UPS monitoring, MODE=standalone to enable UPS monitoring. MODE=standalone

/etc/nut/ups.conf

[eaton3s] driver=usbhid-ups port=auto

/etc/nut/upsd.conf

/etc/nut/upsmon.conf

MONITOR eaton3s@localhost 1 monuser pass master SHUTDOWNCMD "/sbin/shutdown -P now" POWERDOWNFLAG /etc/killpower NOTIFYFLAG ONBATT SYSLOG+WALL+EXEC NOTIFYFLAG ONLINE SYSLOG+WALL+EXEC NOTIFYCMD "/etc/nut/notifycmd"

/etc/nut/upssched.conf

/etc/nut/upsd.users

[monuser] password=pass upsmon master

The following notifycmd bash script handles NUT ONBATT and ONLINE events. Put it in /etc/nut, it is executed when NUT detects power resumption (prior to the 3 minute timeout) and when NUT detects the UPS has switched to battery (power outage). Don’t forget to make this script executable (sudo chmod +x /etc/nut/notifycmd).

/etc/nut/notifycmd

#!/bin/bash # # NUT NOTIFYCMD script PATH=/sbin:/usr/sbin:/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin trap "exit 0" SIGTERM if [ "$NOTIFYTYPE" = "ONLINE" ] then echo $0: power restored | wall # Cause all instances of this script to exit. killall -s SIGTERM `basename $0` fi if [ "$NOTIFYTYPE" = "ONBATT" ] then echo $0: 3 minutes till system powers down... | wall # Loop with one second interval to allow SIGTERM reception. let "n = 180" while [ $n -ne 0 ] do sleep 1 let "n--" done echo $0: commencing shutdown | wall upsmon -c fsd fi

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Testing the UPS

• Check NUT status:
  

  $ sudo service nut status Checking status of Network UPS Tools * upsd is running * upsmon is running

• If necessary start NUT:
  

  $ sudo service nut start

• Plug in USB cable and check it’s been detected:
  

  $ lsusb : Bus 005 Device 003: ID 0463:ffff MGE UPS Systems UPS

• Check the UPS status:
  

  $ sudo upsc eaton3s battery.charge: 100 battery.charge.low: 20 battery.runtime: 3000 battery.type: PbAc device.mfr: EATON device.model: Eaton 3S 700 : ups.status: OL CHRG ups.timer.shutdown: -1 ups.timer.start: -1 ups.vendorid: 0463

• Check power off/on status by unplugging the power to the UPS until it beeps a few times then plug it back in. You will get the following console messages:
  

  Broadcast Message from nut@nas1 (somewhere) at 13:23 ... UPS eaton3s@localhost on battery Broadcast Message from nut@nas1 (somewhere) at 13:23 ... /etc/nut/notifycmd: 3 minutes till system powers down... Broadcast Message from nut@nas1 (somewhere) at 13:23 ... UPS eaton3s@localhost on line power Broadcast Message from nut@nas1 (somewhere) at 13:23 ... /etc/nut/notifycmd: power restored

• The /var/log/syslog should have two messages like:
  

  Feb 19 11:37:54 nas1 upsmon[3044]: UPS eaton3s@localhost on battery Feb 19 11:38:14 nas1 upsmon[3044]: UPS eaton3s@localhost on line power

• Simulate a power outage (NOTE: this will take the PC to shutdown immediately):
  

  $ sudo upsmon -c fsd

• Test the /etc/nut/notifycmd script fully by unplugging the power from the UPS and waiting until the full shutdown sequence is played out (takes 3 minutes). Look for the message:
  

  /etc/nut/notifycmd: 3 minutes till system powers down...

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UPS selection

The key to using a UPS with NUT is getting a UPS that is fully supported by the NUT version you are using (Ubuntu 12.04 has NUT 2.6.3). Here’s why I chose the Eaton 3S:

1. It is fully supported by NUT UPS Tools 2.6.3 on Unbuntu 12.04 with the usbhid-ups driver.
2. The vendor has a Linux commitment — they provide their own Intelligent Power Protector (IPP) software for Linux (I didn’t use it, choosing NUT instead).
3. Readily available replacement battery.
4. Other users report it works with Ubuntu 12.04.