APC Smart-UPS


The Smart-UPS is a series of enterprise-level uninterruptible power supplies made by American Power Conversion. Most of the units have a SmartSlot which accepts an optional interface card providing features ranging from network connectivity to temperature and humidity monitoring. With the exception of RT and SRT series, Smart-UPS units are line-interactive UPS systems, only running their inverters when the grid power is unavailable.

Models

There are a few different variations in the Smart-UPS lineup.
ModelCharacteristics
Smart-UPSThe standard model, with true sine-wave inverter output. Later known as the Smart-UPS SMT.
Smart-UPS SCA simplified version of the Smart-UPS, based on Back-UPS architecture with no SmartSlot expansion and with modified sine wave output. It is incompatible with many active PFC PC power supplies.
Smart-UPS SMCAn economy version of the Smart-UPS SMT, with no SmartSlot expansion and with a simplified LCD display. It outputs a pure sinewave.
Smart-UPS XLAn "extended run" series, with an Anderson Powerpole DC connector allowing up to 10 external battery packs to be daisy-chained to the main unit.
Smart-UPS RT, Smart-UPS SRTAn online/double-conversion variant providing no switchover delay during a power loss.
Smart-UPS VTUses three-phase power, for larger installations.

Management software

As a way to provide UPS management, monitoring and automatic shutdown of attached equipment, all Smart-UPS models include at least one serial data interface, while most models also have at least one SmartSlot expansion port, with the larger Smart-UPS models supporting two SmartSlots. Availability of more SmartSlots in a single Smart-UPS unit can be achieved via expansion modules such as the AP9600 and AP9604 models. Installing an add-on card into a SmartSlot will provide the UPS with additional features, capable beyond the default serial data interface.
Early SmartSlot cards, such as the AP9605, provide SNMP functionality and Telnet access. The AP9606 and later cards add a web interface that can be used to configure and administer the UPS, as well as email-based alerting. The AP9617 and newer cards add 10/100Base-T connectivity, Secure HTTP, Secure Shell, RADIUS, SNMP Version 3, PCNS and syslog functionalities. The AP9612, AP9618, AP9619 and AP9631 models provide environmental monitoring when used together with APC temperature/humidity probes. The AP9618 model also provides out-of-band management via a modem connection in case the 10/100 Ethernet connection is down.
SmartSlot cards remain powered by the battery even when the UPS is switched off, allowing the UPS to be remotely cold-started even in a power loss situation. The cards will also continue to work for a short while after the UPS has been switched off either manually or due to a low battery condition.
Beginning with the 2009 release of the SMT models, the old RS-232 data interface has been replaced with a 10-pin RJ50 socket and an RJ50-to-DB-9 cable connecting to the protected computer's serial port. Also, SmartSlot interface has been electrically modified in a backward-incompatible way and appropriately keyed mechanically. As stated by APC, "the new connection arrangement denotes the new signalling systems." These new serial and SmartSlot interfaces use the new Microlink signalling protocol which, unlike the previous APC protocol UPSLINK, as of 2015 has not been publicly documented. However, using the new AP9620 interface card, users are able to add support for the previous signalling protocol to the newer SMT and SMX models. Addition of this card makes the current models backwards compatible with older software built for the older Smart-UPS series.
, an additional option has been made available in form of new firmware for certain SMT and SURTD models, adding publicly documented Modbus signalling capability to the proprietary Microlink protocol, allowing third-party developers to support UPS signalling and control on the newer Smart-UPS series.

SmartSlot card models

In late 2009, with the release of the SMT and SMX product lines, SmartSlot was migrated to a new communications platform utilizing the APC Microlink protocol. Both electrical and mechanical properties of the new SmartSlot make older SmartSlot cards incompatible with current Smart-UPS models. For example, current Smart-UPS model SMT1500 is compatible only with AP9613, AP9620, AP9630 and AP9631 SmartSlot cards.
This new card/slot design is referred-to as "Network Management Card 2" or NMC2. However, most NMC2 cards are backward compatible with older Smart-UPS models.
In 2019, APC released Network Management Card 3 or NMC3, superseding NMC2 cards. NMC 3 offers enhanced security, faster communication and increased space for data and event logs.
ModelCharacteristics
Token Ring SNMP Management Card
10BASE-T SNMP Management Card
10BASE-T Web/SNMP Management Card
Two-port Serial Interface Expander Card
Out-of-band Management Card
Dry Contact Relay I/O Card
Environmental Monitoring Card
Dry Contact Relay I/O Card
Five-port 10BASE-T Hub Card
10/100BASE-T Network Management Card
Same as AP9617 plus Environmental Monitoring, Out-of-band Management and I/O Contacts/Relay Controls
Same as AP9617 plus Environmental Monitoring and IO Contacts/Relay Controls
Legacy Communications Card - Adds Serial & USB Connectivity
Modbus Interface Card
Smart Signalling Serial Interface Expander Card
UPS Interface Expander 2 Card
10/100BASE-T Network Management Card 2
Same as AP9630 with Environmental Monitoring
Same as AP9630 with Environmental Monitoring, Out-of-band Management and Modbus
10/100/1000BASE-T Network Management Card 3
Same as AP9640 with Environmental Monitoring
AP9644NMC4 Card
AP9649Cloud Connection Card