Using NUT in Ubuntu with Eaton or HPE UPS via USB

NUT_with_Eaton_or_HPE_UPS.md

NUT (Network UPS Tools) can be used to turn off a computer while running on battery. This guide assumes Ubuntu (24), Eaton/HPE UPS connected with USB.

1. Install Nut

• sudo apt install nut

2. Connect UPS and look for it.

• lsusb | grep UPS
  • Bus 003 Device 008: ID 0463:ffff MGE UPS Systems UPS

3. Declare UPS to NUT

• sudo nano /etc/nut/ups.conf

  • [hpe-ups]
      driver = "usbhid-ups"
      port = "auto"
      desc = "HPE T750 G5"
    

4. Setup UDEV rules

• sudo nano /etc/udev/rules.d/90-nut-ups.rules

  • # HPE T750 G5 UPS (Eaton 5P750)
    ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="0463", ATTR{idProduct}=="ffff", MODE="0660", GROUP="nut"
    

• Restart UDEV: sudo service udev restart
• Might need to install libusb: sudo apt install libusb-1.0-0-dev

5. Unplug and reconnect UPS USB

• Test with: sudo upsdrvctl start

  • Network UPS Tools - UPS driver controller 2.8.1
    Network UPS Tools - Generic HID driver 0.52 (2.8.1)
    USB communication driver (libusb 1.0) 0.46
    Using subdriver: MGE HID 1.46
    

6. Configure NUT mode

• sudo nano /etc/nut/nut.conf

  • MODE=standalone
    

• There are other options if you want this to act as a server (netserver) that talks to clients (netclient), but this guide only covers standalone.

7. Configure NUT daemon

• sudo nano /etc/nut/upsd.conf

  • LISTEN 127.0.0.1 3493
    

8. Add users

• sudo nano /etc/nut/upsd.users

  • [upsmonitor] password = YOU_PLAINTEXT_PASSWORD_HERE
    upsmon master
    

9. Configure behavior

• sudo nano /etc/nut/upsmon.conf

  • MONITOR hpe-ups@localhost 1 upsmonitor YOU_PLAINTEXT_PASSWORD_HERE master
    

  • The other defaults should be fine, but if you have a blank file, you also need:

    • POWERDOWNFLAG /etc/killpower
      SHUTDOWNCMD "/sbin/shutdown -h +0"
      

10. Add security to config

• sudo chown root:nut /etc/nut/*
• chmod 640 /etc/nut/*

11. Check the status of services

• sudo systemctl status upsd (If not started, start it; if not enabled, enable it)

12. Restart and check the state of the ups.

• sudo upsc hpe-ups@localhost

  • Init SSL without certificate database
    battery.capacity: 7.20
    battery.charge: 94
    battery.charge.low: 20
    ...
    ups.timer.start: -1
    ups.type: offline / line interactive
    ups.vendorid: 0463
    

• If you want to change at what percent the poweroff is started make an override variable inups.conf for your UPS.
  • override.battery.charge.low = 50
  • restart after edit: sudo systemctl restart nut-server nut-monitor

13. The true test

• Unplug the UPS, wait for the percent to drop below the value battery.charge.low as seen in step #12 output and see if your system shuts down.