UPS Server

A websocket server reading data from a Bicker PSZ-1063 uExtension module in combination with one of their UPS through a serial RS232 connection.

The server daemon is monitoring the UPS and provides its parameters to a web application for visualization. In addition a system shutdown is initiated as soon as an UPS input power fail is detected. A shutdown delay is configurable. When input power returns while the delay is pending then the shutdown is cancelled.

Tested with Bicker UPSIC-1205 + PSZ1063. See www.bicker.de

The above hardware combination is powering a Nipogi mini PC via 12V supply. This mini PC is running Ubuntu Server and the UPS monitoring ensures a clean shutdown in case of input power fail.

There are three protocols implemented on the port that is provided by the UPS server: HTTP that serves the web application, a websocket where the web application connects to and a RAW protocol that is serving a apcupsd compatible output for tools like apcaccess or Netdata's apcupsd plugin.

~$ /usr/sbin/apcaccess status localhost:10024
APC      : 001,025,0593
DATE     : 2023-11-05 12:45:38 +0100
HOSTNAME : workhorse
UPSNAME  : UPSIC Series
MODEL    : SUC-1011
FIRMWARE : 2.0.5R
STATUS   : ONLINE
LINEFAIL : No
LINEV    : 12.6 Volts
LINEA    : 0.004 Amps
OUTPUTV  : 12.6 Volts
OUTPUTA  : 0.000 Amps
BATTV    : 10.5 Volts
BATTA    : 0.010 Amps
BCHARGE  : 100 Percent
ITEMP    : 28 C
DSHUTD   : 15 Seconds
DWAKE    : 8 Seconds
MAXTIME  : 60 Seconds
RETPCT   : 90 Percent
STATFLAG : 0x0D
REG2     : 0x1425
REG3     : 0x0200
NOMINV   : 12.4 Volts
NOMBATTV : 10.4 Volts
ENDAPC   : 2023-11-05 12:45:38 +0100

Debian/Ubuntu packages

It is designed to build as a Debian package.

Build Dependencies

• libpthread-stubs0-dev
• libwebsockets-dev
• libconfig-dev
• libjson-c-dev

Actually building it

Nothing special, just build it dpkg-buildpackage -b -uc.

Installation

Install package sudo dpkg -i ups-server_1.0.5~dev_amd64.deb.

The ups-server binary is installed in /opt/ups-server while the web client is in /opt/ups-server/client.

Removal

Remove the package sudo apt-get purge ups-server.

Configuration

To configure the service in /etc/default/ups-server.cfg as required.

Netdata apcupsd configuration

The tool apcaccess from the apcupsd package is required to get the UPS metrics in netdata. Temporary install the package, copy apcaccess tool to a different location sudo cp /usr/sbin/apcaccess /usr/local/sbin/apcaccess and then purge the apcupsd package.

Edit the netdata apcupsd configuration with sudo ./edit-config charts.d/apcupsd.conf. Change the source IP and port to what is set in /etc/default/ups-server.cfg.

# add all your APC UPSes in this array - uncomment it too
declare -A apcupsd_sources=(
    ["local"]="127.0.0.1:10024"
)

Restart netdata service.

Access

Web application in browser http://localhost:10024

APC status /usr/sbin/apcaccess status localhost:10024

Building manually

You can probably just run "make" after installing the required dependencies. Binaries are built in the source directory; you will need to arrange to install them (and a method for starting them) yourself.

Disclaimer

I am not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Bicker GmbH. This is a pure hobbyist project.