I'm considering switching battery backup solutions for our network switches and servers while currently using Eaton products. My main concern is how to reliably predict hardware or battery failures. The only way I seem to find out that my Eaton backup is failing is when it switches to battery power and doesn't work. I could use some recommendations on this.
Also, for some context, I'm looking at the Eaton SU1000RTXL2Ua model. We're currently monitoring them through SNMP and get email alerts, and though I'm doing weekly self-tests, I found out that on older models, the self-test passes even if the unit is faulty as long as the load is below 10%. The newer models only conduct self-tests with a load above that threshold, which is concerning when it switches over to battery and fails.
We just started monitoring these units in the last six months, and we're entering our three-year battery replacement cycle. Any advice on reliable battery backup systems would be appreciated!
3 Answers
For robust setups, I recommend having dual power supplies for each switch and server, both connected to separate circuits. In our building, we have independent feeds coming from the power grid, and each rack uses two PDUs: one from the grid and another from a UPS. The UPS only needs to last a few minutes, as our generator kicks in to handle the load if necessary. We regularly test the generator and UPS to ensure they work as intended. Routine maintenance is essential—getting battery and hardware tests regularly helps prevent surprises!
Are you checking battery health and runtime stats via SNMP in your monitoring tools? Knowing the age of your UPS and batteries is crucial—it's a good idea to establish how you manage your hardware lifecycle for replacements. Also, what exactly do you mean by 'fail'? Does it not run at all on battery?
You might want to reach out to Eaton for a professional battery test on your UPS. They usually come out and do that for you and provide a report, which can give you peace of mind about your system's reliability.
Do you know what the cost of that service typically is?