Remote power management

[drvnbysound]

I was curious to find out if any of you guys are using any sort of managed/controllable power strips?
 
I came across these a while back and have been thinking about picking one up:
 
http://www.aviosys.com/9258st.html
 
The main reason: being able to remotely power cycle devices that become unresponsive.

 

[WayneW]

I haven't used this one or that one, but I have seen this one mentioned multiple times & places.
 
http://www.digital-loggers.com/lpc.html

Web Power Switch 7 from Digital Loggers

 

[tmbrown97]

Wow - they're already up to the 7th version! 
 
I've used a few of the Digital Loggers units - versions 3 and 4 less than 2 years ago and they've served their purpose very well, more than paying for themselves in saved gas.
 
In a commercial setting, i've used APC and Tripp-Lite's Switched PDU's (which are basically the same thing except made to go in racks and generally use the kinds of plugs you see in a data center, like 20A twist locks) on nearly every piece of equipment I manage - or at least I did before moving to data centers that never lose power, and virtualization that lets you sequence machine startups.  They're also an absolute lifesaver.
 
there's another option too, with Ubiquiti's mFi line - it's not very mature yet, but they have a more complete ecosystem where power strips can switch on/off based on other events and you can have a single large spread out system where some lights are controlled by time, others by automation scripts; others by motion or temperature, etc - so it's quite powerful when you build it out.
 
But back to just normal power cycling needs - if you don't need something like a true switched/metered PDU like APC, then those digitalloggers ones are pretty good - and they have a few options, like 24 or -48V telco versions, vertical, rack mount, etc - they're not overly fancy but they serve their purpose and the price is right.

 

[drvnbysound]

Yeah, I definitely don't have the need for anything at the enterprise level. Heck, I'm not even talking about a commercial setting... I'm just looking to get one for my home so I can remotely power cycle the devices in my utility room (structured wiring) remotely, without having to go and do it manually ;-) For example, from time to time (sometimes a few weeks, other times a few months) my modem will lose connectivity. I suspect that after some time it would re-establish communication and provide me with Internet access... but I've found it much faster to go power cycle it myself and it comes back online almost immediately. I've also had to do the same with my router before as well.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

There was a device I reviewed at ISC West or CES show that had a cheap price and had two 'boot' outlets that would reset on the lack of an IP ping.  Neat thing about it is you plugged your cable modem in one outlet, then router in the other and you could then set a delay between plug1 and plug2 resetting.
 
I'll look and try to find it if you are interested (it should be on this site somewhere ).

 

[tmbrown97]

speakign of that auto-ping, that's a feature of the digitalloggers device as well.  can script it to reboot the modem upon failure to respond to a ping.

 

[drvnbysound]

The problem with that 'feature' is that I can always ping both devices... but I've found that power cycling the modem works...  with the router I can either power cycle it OR if I go to the device webpage, make a generic setting change and save the configuration it comes back online as well. I'd just prefer not to have to make a change to have to change it back, and would prefer just to power cycle... since I have to do that with the modem anyway.

 

[tmbrown97]

What about pinging something past it, like your DNS server or internet gateway?  That'll be beyond the bounds of your router and will be an indication that the internet is down regardless if the router itself still responds.

 

[drvnbysound]

What about pinging something past it, like your DNS server or internet gateway?  That'll be beyond the bounds of your router and will be an indication that the internet is down regardless if the router itself still responds.

 
I don't think I've tried that, but based on the lack of connection I assume that it would fail. As I mentioned though, just a simple power cycle fixes the problem every time.

 

[video321]

I went the extremely cheap route for my needs - using 2 low-tech solutions to control each other.
I have relays covering my low voltage devices which can be power-cycled by the M1.
Then I have a z-wave receptacle connecting my Elk's ethernet adapter which is on a separate controller.
So one can power-cycle the other and keep everything up and running.

No elegant PDU's, but it works.

 

[pete_c]

Here recently updated my older Motorola SB series modem to a newer Motorola SB modem; IE: Docis 2.X to Docis 3.X.. 
 
I have never utilized a broadband provided modem. 
 
Rather always purchased it (I am on the third of the series of Motorola modems these days and over the last 10 years).
 
I did also over the last 10 years go to a software firewall on a tiny lower powered easy to backup PC (runs on batteries or via a transformer).
 
The Motorola modem (s) to date have never actually locked up.  (On a UPS today though).  I was doing similiar in the early 2000's with an ancient DSL modem.  At the time I did install a "watch dog" circuit board inside of the firewall box (PC) which would reset the PC should it quite functioning.
 
I have over the last couple of years noticed that the software "Smoothwall" had been working "extra hard" and actually have seen it lock up such that I would have to reset the firewall (never the modem though).  I am though moving to utilize PFSense these days.  The mITX board that I picked does have a hardware built into the CMOS watchdog circuit built into it.  (it is more of an industrial commercial mITX board than a for home use mITX board though).  (BCM mITX motherboard)
 
At work typically (starting in the 90's) used copper phone lines, modem and RS-232 means of "jump starting" modems / routers / switches if necessary ("out-of-band" management). 
 
You can automate said features today or still utilize some means of out-of-band management; say with a 3-4G internet on demand ingress remote connection.