[ale] This _should_ be simple...

[Thompson Freeman]

Well, I was slow, and poky, but thanks to all the Back-UPS is talking to
the computer via USB, and most everything is back in order. The steps
required included getting a new kernel for RH7.1 (2.4.9? see the RH site),
running a few scripts to create /dev devices, and manually installing USB
related modules. And obtaining the latest version of apcupsd. Kudo's to
all who helped & to the rather wonderful people writing this software in
the first place.


On Wed, 21 Nov 2001, Keith Hopkins wrote:

> Geoffrey wrote:
> 
> > Keith Hopkins wrote:
> > 
> >>Thompson Freeman wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I've grazed the linuxdoc HOWTOs, and browsed around, so I _should_ have
> >>>either found the trick or at least a clue. The background...
> >>>
> >>>Yesterday I was in CompUSA, and rather on impulse purchased an APC
> >>>Back-UPS CS 350 for my machine. The ups has an USB port, cable included,
> >>>and I've got 3 appropriate ports on the computer - so hardware shouldn't
> >>>be an issue. The interesting part is that the APS software (downloaded
> >>>from their web site), wants to know what serial port to talk to in order
> >>>to talk to the ups. I imagine that I perform a symbolic link somewhere in
> >>>/dev to get this serial device, and then configure the software, but I'm
> >>>clueless about how to declair a serial port through the USB devices.
> >>>
> >>>I'm running RH7.1, and have not automated setting up the USB system (I'm
> >>>still insmod'ing things when I bootup.)
> >>>
> >>>Anybody have a clue I might borrow for a few minutes?
> >>>
> >>>Thanks in advance.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>I'm thinking you have the wrong software.  It is probably for the older UPSes which actually have serial ports.
> >>
> > 
> > usb - universal serial bus.
> > 
> 
> 
> And one has nothing to do with the other, above the concept of a serial stream of data and the name itself.
> 
> 
> > Anyway, you should have usb devices under /dev/usb
> > 
> > I've got a usb scanner and access my sony camcorder via usb.  You might
> > have to upgrade your kernel for the latest greatest usb support. 
> > There's a usb list as well as the usb web site:
> > http://www.linux-usb.org/
> > 
> 
> 
> But since the software comes from APC, the latest version for RH7.1 is "PowerChute plus v4.5.3 for RedHat v7.1".
> This version does not support USB.
> 
> ftp://ftp.apcftp.com/software/unix/linux/pcplus/453/pc453ig.txt
> A quick look at the installation guide shows us:
> 
>   h. Specify a serial port:
> 
>                  1) /dev/ttyS0
>                  2) /dev/ttyS1
> ....
>    These are not USB ports.  But plain old serial ports.
> 
> The Release Notes, ftp://ftp.apcftp.com/software/unix/linux/pcplus/453/pc453rn.txt.
> The User's Guide, ftp://ftp.apcftp.com/software/unix/linux/pcplus/453/pc453ug.pdf
> 
> Saving Grace:
>    from http://www.apcc.com/products/back-ups_cs/index.cfm?tab=features#anchor1
>      First USB and Serial USB   Ships with an USB cable, but user can mail in for a serial cable for Windows 95, 98, and 2000.
> 
>    So, just maybe, the USB port can be plugged into a regular serial port using their special cable.
> 
>    Otherwise, you are looking at getting UPS software that supports USB ports and (for now) is not from APC.
> 
> That Said:
>    You can check out Geoffrey's reference (http://www.linux-usb.org/), under "HID Power"
>    Experimental     Alan Cox kernel patches; user space UPS tools in NUT
>    These are the known USB UPSes:
> 0463  MGE UPS Systems
> 	ffff  Ellipse UPS
> 051d  American Power Conversion
> 	0002  Back-UPS Pro 500
> 
>    This looks to be your best bet for using the USB cable.  Check out http://www.exploits.org/nut/
> 
> Not That Lost in Tokyo,
>    Keith
> 
> P.S. If you know a way to convert the signaling the software is looking for to signals the USB UPS understands, THAT I would be interested in seeing.
> 
> 
> 
> > 
> >>Lost in Tokyo,
> >>   Keith
> >>
> > 
> > --
> > Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric at denali.atlnet.com
> > 
> > "...the system (Microsoft passport) carries significant risks to users
> > that
> > are not made adequately clear in the technical documentation available."
> > - David P. Kormann and Aviel D. Rubin, AT&T Labs - Research
> > - http://www.avirubin.com/passport.html
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 

-- 
===========================================
The harder I work, the luckier I get.
                    Lee Iacocca
===========================================
Thompson Freeman          tfreeman at intel.digichem.net


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