[c-nsp] pop site battery backup recommendations

[Ryan Goldberg]

For our wireless pops and closets in downtown buildings where we have fiber and active gear, we have exclusively use Tripp-Lite's Smart-Online series, such as http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtModelID=3194

And put an IP card in em (for another $200).

Line interactive UPSes are garbage.

Note that the Tripplites in the default config will turn off line power after some period on batteries.  Make sure to change that...

We're also evaluating the Liebert GXT3 line..

Ryan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cisco-nsp-bounces at puck.nether.net [mailto:cisco-nsp-
> bounces at puck.nether.net] On Behalf Of Mike
> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 10:46 AM
> To: 'Cisco-nsp'
> Subject: [c-nsp] pop site battery backup recommendations
> 
> Howdy,
> 
>     This isn't exactly cisco-centric, but it's certainly related
> operationally.
> 
>     I operate a county wide isp network and I have about 15 different
> pops. I equip each with APC700/1400's and with XR battery packs, with
> the goal being around 8 hours of runtime in the event of a power
> failure. I also aggressively monitor batteries and have situational
> awareness regarding the self test status, maintenance status, and
> during
> ac power failures whats up and down and how much runtime the pops have
> and so forth.
> 
>     Over the last 8 years I have been doing this, the single greatest
> source of pop site outages, has been the battery backup units
> themselves. I have experienced multiple repeated failures involving the
> SNMP management cards that have:
> 
>     a) went berserk and flooded the network with garbage
>     b) issued spurious "turn off ups" commands to the ups
>     c) began automated self test cycles that shut off the ups (even
> when
> self-test is disabled!)
> 
>     I further have experienced UPSs that for whatever reason, did not
> switchover during an outage, or did not provide sufficient filtering
> and
> allowing connected (and supposedly protected) devices to get zapped and
> either fry outright or lockup, or vary in their output voltage too much
> during a failure causing lockups/outages due to 'over voltage'. They've
> also failed to restart once AC power came back on, requiring staff to
> drive out and press a button.  I've also had units that religiously run
> their self-tests but then fail during an actual ac power outage. In
> short, I have seen it all.
> 
>     To their credit, I have experienced many many cases of ac power
> failure that these units did gaurd against and provide enough runtime
> for either local power company repair response or for our own internal
> response to come install a generator. But the continuing saga of the
> UPSs themselves causing outages, is really beginning to wear on me and
> I
> am looking for a better and more intelligent solution.
> 
>      I think what I need, is an online ups solution as opposed to the
> APC's we have been deploying. My wants are reliable operation, 1000 -
> 1500va, expandable battery capacity, simple remote network monitoring,
> and reasonable cost of course (;-). My team is frustrated and is
> threating to design and manufacture our own brand of UPS's if the
> market
> doesn't have anything that gets it right, but surely there's got to be
> something out there folks can trust and I want to know what it is.
> 
> Thanks for your suggestions in advance.
> 
> Mike-
> 
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