APC UPS causing crashes?

[Guest Anteaus]

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?

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

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?

[Guest Anteaus]

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.

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

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 :(

[Guest Anteaus]

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 :(

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

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 :(

[Guest Anteaus]

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?

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

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?