APC UPS causing crashes?

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Anteaus

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Server 2003 R2, also 2000 SP4.

APC Back-UPS 650/750, USB signalling lead.
No specialist software, standard Windows power-management settings in use.

Both of these servers have shown problems with intermittent rebooting since
the above type of UPS was connected. The 2000 server very occasionally, the
2003 daily. Since taking the UPS away the 2003 has been stable (touch wood!)

A third server running Debian Linux also had issues last year with a
memory-leak which was traced to the (distro's own) UPS-monitoring applet.
Same UPS model. The Debian guys didn't seem to think there were any known
bugs with their UPS-monitoring daemon.

Doesn't seem to be power-loss as such, more like an issue with the USB
interface. A crash debug suggested there had been a blusecreen before the
reboot, but was inconclusive as to the cause. I can live without the
powerfail signalling (especially if it causes crashes, talk about a useless
piece of security!) but it would be better to find a resolution.

APC site doesn't really offer any hints, so just wondered if anyone in here
had encountered this?
 
Re: APC UPS causing crashes?

Anteaus <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Server 2003 R2, also 2000 SP4.
>
> APC Back-UPS 650/750, USB signalling lead.
> No specialist software, standard Windows power-management settings in
> use.
>
> Both of these servers have shown problems with intermittent rebooting
> since the above type of UPS was connected. The 2000 server very
> occasionally, the 2003 daily. Since taking the UPS away the 2003 has
> been stable (touch wood!)
>
> A third server running Debian Linux also had issues last year with a
> memory-leak which was traced to the (distro's own) UPS-monitoring
> applet. Same UPS model. The Debian guys didn't seem to think there
> were any known bugs with their UPS-monitoring daemon.
>
> Doesn't seem to be power-loss as such, more like an issue with the USB
> interface. A crash debug suggested there had been a blusecreen before
> the reboot, but was inconclusive as to the cause. I can live without
> the powerfail signalling (especially if it causes crashes, talk about
> a useless piece of security!) but it would be better to find a
> resolution.
>
> APC site doesn't really offer any hints, so just wondered if anyone
> in here had encountered this?

I never use these without PowerChute, so I'm not sure what to say - I have
no issues with anything at all - using SmartUPS 1400/1500/etc on W2k, W2003,
alike. Are you certain those UPS units were spec'd out with sufficient power
for your hardware? 650/750 isn't something I'd use for most modern servers.

What's the reason you're using the far more limited native Wkindows UPS
management?
 
Re: APC UPS causing crashes?

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> What's the reason you're using the far more limited native Windows UPS
> management?

Mainly because of its unneeded complexity, and the sheer number of issues
listed on the APC site.

Although 750VA is a bit on the small side this is a machine built with
energy-efficient hardware, and it will hold-up the power for at least 30min.
I don't think there is any issue with capacity here, in fact I'm positive
it's a USB-related software issue.
 
Re: APC UPS causing crashes?

Anteaus <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> What's the reason you're using the far more limited native Windows
>> UPS management?
>
> Mainly because of its unneeded complexity, and the sheer number of
> issues listed on the APC site.

I dunno - I've been using PowerChute Business Edition (basic/free one) for a
gazillion years, and I support numerous offices. Outside of that one version
that had an issue with some Java runtime thing a few years ago, it's been
rock solid. I really would consider trying it.

>
> Although 750VA is a bit on the small side this is a machine built with
> energy-efficient hardware, and it will hold-up the power for at least
> 30min. I don't think there is any issue with capacity here, in fact
> I'm positive it's a USB-related software issue.

I wish I could help, but I don't use the native Windows stuff (I don't find
it very useful). Sorry :(
 
Re: APC UPS causing crashes?

Thanks for advice. I've confirmed it's _not_ the UPS that's causing this
anyway. I assumed it was so because the trouble started the night after it
was connected. It's unrelated.

Damn thing did it again last night, so at least I've got another memory dump
to check.

What is suspicious is that it only seems to happen when all is quiet in the
middle of the night. 4am is a favorite time. I'm wondering if it could be
powersave-related. I think we can rule out the backup, as the log shows
Shadow Copy having closed a long time before. Although I could skip one and
see.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:


> I wish I could help, but I don't use the native Windows stuff (I don't find
> it very useful). Sorry :(
 
Re: APC UPS causing crashes?

Anteaus <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Thanks for advice. I've confirmed it's _not_ the UPS that's causing
> this anyway. I assumed it was so because the trouble started the
> night after it was connected. It's unrelated.
>
> Damn thing did it again last night, so at least I've got another
> memory dump to check.

Argle.
>
> What is suspicious is that it only seems to happen when all is quiet
> in the middle of the night. 4am is a favorite time. I'm wondering if
> it could be powersave-related. I think we can rule out the backup,
> as the log shows Shadow Copy having closed a long time before.
> Although I could skip one and see.

What kind of backup are you using?
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>
>> I wish I could help, but I don't use the native Windows stuff (I
>> don't find it very useful). Sorry :(
 
Re: APC UPS causing crashes?

Just to close this one, it's been 100% stable since I removed a specialist
process we run.

This process seemingly isn't compatible with 2003 server, though it has
never given trouble on W2000.

Wasn't the UPS anyway so come back APC all is forgiven.

-
"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> What kind of backup are you using?
 
Re: APC UPS causing crashes?

Anteaus <Anteaus@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Just to close this one, it's been 100% stable since I removed a
> specialist process we run.
>
> This process seemingly isn't compatible with 2003 server, though it
> has never given trouble on W2000.

I'm glad you found it - thanks for posting back.:)


>
> Wasn't the UPS anyway so come back APC all is forgiven.

<g>

>
> -
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> What kind of backup are you using?
 
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