View source for Configuring an APC AP7900

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[[image:APC_AP7900_Front-Right.jpg|thumb|right|400px|APC [http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=AP7900 AP7900 8-Outlet 1U] 120vAC PDU. Photo by [http://www.apcmedia.com/prod_image_library/index.cfm?search_item=AP7900# APC].]]

= Purpose of This Tutorial =

The APC-brand [[AP7900]] switched [[PDU]] is an excellent [[AN!Cluster_Tutorial_2#Why_Switched_PDUs.3F|backup fence device]]. All ''[[Anvil!]]'' systems we build use a pair of them.

This mini-tutorial covers how to configure them with an IP address.

That is all you need to do for them to start working!

We run them on our [[VLAN]] isolated [[AN!Cluster_Tutorial_2#Subnets|subnet]] which how no access to the normal internal network, nor does it have access to the Internet. Thanks to this, we can safely run them without authentication over [[SNMP]] queries.

If you want to know more about the AP7900 than we cover here, you view view the entire manual at the link below:

* [http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/ASTE-6Z6KAM/ASTE-6Z6KAM_R0_EN.pdf APC Switched Rack Power Distribution Unit - Installation Guide]

{{warning|1=If you need to put the PDUs onto a public network, be sure to enable SNMP authentication!}}

= Serial Access =

[[image:Antaira_UTS-1110A_Top.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Antaira [http://www.antaira.com/products/USB-to-Serial/UTS-1110A UTS-1110A] single-port USB to RS-232] serial adapter. Photo by [http://shopping.netsuite.com/c.685553/site/images/Products/full/uts-1110a_1.jpg Antaira].]]

By default, the APC AP7900 does not have an IP address assigned.

The easiest way to configure an IP address is to log into the PDU over a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_port serial] port. Most servers still come with a built-in 9-pin serial port, but most desktops and laptops do not. If you don't have one, many vendors sell USB to serial adapters. The one we've used quite successfully is the [http://www.antaira.com/products/USB-to-Serial/UTS-1110A Antaira UTS-1110A], but almost any adapter you can find at your local computer store will work.

{{note|1=The [[Build an m2 Anvil! - Detailed|m2 ''Anvil!'']] installs <span class="code">screen</span> on both nodes and ''Striker'' dashboards.}}

We're going to use a program called <span class="code">[http://www.gnu.org/software/screen/ screen]</span> to talk to the PDU over the serial port.

To do this, you need to know what device the PDU's serial cable is plugged into. Some common ones:

{|class="wikitable"
!Type
!Device path
|-
|Serial port 1
|class="code"|/dev/ttyS0
|-
|Serial port 2
|class="code"|/dev/ttyS1
|-
|USB-Connected port 1
|class="code"|/dev/ttyUSB0
|-
|USB-Connected port 2
|class="code"|/dev/ttyUSB1
|}

... and so on.

In my case, I'm using the port on a USB to Serial adapter, so I will use '<span class="code">/dev/ttyUSB0</span>'.

Knowing this, we're ready to go!

Open a terminal window and run:

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
screen /dev/ttyUSB0
</syntaxhighlight>

{{note|1=When you are done, to exit <span class="code">screen</span>, press '<span class="code"><ctrl></span>' + '<span class="code">a</span>', release, then press '<span class="code">k</span>'. You will be prompted to kill the session, type '<span class="code">y</span>'.}}

The screen will be blank at first. Press '<span class="code"><enter></span>' a couple of times and the AP7900 login prompt should appear.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
User Name :    
</syntaxhighlight>

{{note|1=If you make a mistake and nothing happens when you press '<span class="code"><Backspace></span>', try pressing '<span class="code">ctrl</span>' + '<span class="code">h</span>' instead.}}

The default user name is '<span class="code">apc</span>' and the default password is '<span class="code">apc</span>' as well.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
User Name : apc
Password  : ***
</syntaxhighlight>

You will see a summary page.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
American Power Conversion               Network Management Card AOS      v3.7.4
(c) Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved  Rack PDU APP                     v3.7.4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name      : RackPDU                                   Date : 05/23/2000
Contact   : Unknown                                   Time : 20:44:16
Location  : Unknown                                   User : Administrator
Up Time   : 3 Days 3 Hours 1 Minute                   Stat : P+ N? A+

Switched Rack PDU: Communication Established

------- Control Console -------------------------------------------------------

     1- Device Manager
     2- Network
     3- System
     4- Logout

     <ESC>- Main Menu, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

Press '<span class="code">2</span>' to go into the "<span class="code">Network</span>" sub-menu.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 2
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- Network ---------------------------------------------------------------

     1- TCP/IP
     2- DNS
     3- Ping Utility
     4- FTP Server
     5- Telnet/SSH
     6- Web/SSL/TLS
     7- Email
     8- SNMP
     9- Syslog
    10- ISX Protocol

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

Press the '<span class="code">1</span>' key to go into the "<span class="code">TCP/IP</span>" menu.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 1
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

        Network not started. Currently making a BOOTP request...
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 88 CC 1E

     1- Boot Mode  : DHCP & BOOTP
     2- Advanced...

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

First we need to change the "<span class="code">Boot Mode</span>" to "<span class="code">Manual</span>", so press '<span class="code">1</span>'.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 1
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- Boot Mode -------------------------------------------------------------

     1- DHCP & BOOTP
     2- DHCP only
     3- BOOTP only
     4- Manual

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh
</syntaxhighlight>

Press '<span class="code">4</span>' to select the "<span class="code">Manual</span>" option.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 4
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

        Network not started. Currently making a BOOTP request...
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 88 CC 1E

        * Changes will take effect on logout.

     1- System IP      : 0.0.0.0
     2- Subnet Mask    : 0.0.0.0
     3- Default Gateway: 0.0.0.0
     4- Boot Mode      : Manual
     5- Advanced...

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

Now we're ready to set the IP address.

In [[AN!Cluster_Tutorial_2#Subnets|most ''Anvil!'' systems]], the switched PDUs have the IP address of '<span class="code">10.20.2.x/255.255.0.0</span>'. 

This is the convention we're going to use here. This is our first PDU, so we'll set:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
|class="code"|System IP
|class="code"|10.20.2.1
|-
|class="code"|Subnet Mask
|class="code"|255.255.0.0
|-
|class="code"|Default Gateway
|class="code"|10.20.255.254
|}

There is no outside network access on the [[Back-Channel Network]], so it may not seem like it makes sense to set the "<span class="code">Default Gateway</span>". The problem is that the PDU requires a gateway be set, so we give it a fake, unused address. Often, when there is a router on a network, it takes the top of bottom IP address in the subnet. We're using the top IP address as the dummy gateway here.

So back to it!

Press '<span class="code">1</span>' to set the IP.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 1
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
System IP : 10.20.2.1
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

        Network not started. IP, Subnet, Gateway must be configured.
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 88 CC 1E

        * Changes will take effect on logout.

     1- System IP      : 10.20.2.1
     2- Subnet Mask    : 0.0.0.0
     3- Default Gateway: 0.0.0.0
     4- Boot Mode      : Manual
     5- Advanced...

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

Now press '<span class="code">2</span>' to set the "<span class="code">Subnet Mask</span>".

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 2
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
Subnet Mask : 255.255.0.0
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

        Network not started. IP, Subnet, Gateway must be configured.
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 88 CC 1E

        * Changes will take effect on logout.

     1- System IP      : 10.20.2.1
     2- Subnet Mask    : 255.255.0.0
     3- Default Gateway: 0.0.0.0
     4- Boot Mode      : Manual
     5- Advanced...

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

Now press '<span class="code">3</span>' to set the dummy "<span class="code">Default Gateway</span>" address.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 3
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
Default Gateway : 10.20.255.254

------- TCP/IP ----------------------------------------------------------------

        Network not started. Currently making a DHCP request...
        -----------------------------------------------------------------------
        MAC Address : 00 C0 B7 88 CC 1E

        * A cookie is required in the vendor options to accept a DHCP offer.
        * Changes will take effect on logout.

     1- System IP      : 10.20.2.1
     2- Subnet Mask    : 255.255.0.0
     3- Default Gateway: 10.20.255.254
     4- Boot Mode      : Manual
     5- Advanced...

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

{{note|1=The changes won't take effect until we log out.}}

Press '<span class="code"><esc></span>' to go back to the main menu.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
<esc>
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- Network ---------------------------------------------------------------

     1- TCP/IP
     2- DNS
     3- Ping Utility
     4- FTP Server
     5- Telnet/SSH
     6- Web/SSL/TLS
     7- Email
     8- SNMP
     9- Syslog
    10- ISX Protocol

     <ESC>- Back, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
</syntaxhighlight>

Press '<span class="code"><esc></span>' again.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
<esc>
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
------- Control Console -------------------------------------------------------

     1- Device Manager
     2- Network
     3- System
     4- Logout

     <ESC>- Main Menu, <ENTER>- Refresh, <CTRL-L>- Event Log
> 
</syntaxhighlight>

Lastly, press '<span class="code">4</span>' to log out.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
> 4
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
Logging out.
</syntaxhighlight>

The terminal window will no longer respond (the PDU is rebooting).

To exit out of '<span class="code">screen</span>', you need to press '<span class="code">ctrl</span> + <span class="code">a</span>', release the keys, then press '<span class="code">k</span>'.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
<ctrl> + <a>
</syntaxhighlight>

(release)

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
<k>
</syntaxhighlight>

Screen will ask if you want to kill the session.

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
Really kill this window [y/n]
</syntaxhighlight>

Press '<span class="code">y</span>'

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
y
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
[screen is terminating]
</syntaxhighlight>

Now you are back at the normal linux terminal. 

{{note|1=Please be patient while the PDU reboots. It might take a minute.}}

You can test the connection to the PDU using '<span class="code">ping</span>';

<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">
ping -c 3 10.20.2.1
</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
PING 10.20.2.1 (10.20.2.1) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 10.20.2.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=4.61 ms
64 bytes from 10.20.2.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=255 time=4.30 ms
64 bytes from 10.20.2.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=255 time=3.00 ms

--- 10.20.2.1 ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 received, 0% packet loss, time 2006ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 3.006/3.976/4.613/0.697 ms
</syntaxhighlight>

Done!

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