Add "Output Source" Channel to SNMP UPS Status Sensor for Utility Power Loss Detection
As a Systems Engineer responsible for monitoring UPS infrastructure,
I want the SNMP UPS Status sensor to include an "Output Source" channel that indicates whether the UPS is supplying power from utility (mains) or battery,
so that I am immediately alerted when a UPS switches to battery power due to a utility outage, without having to wait for the battery charge to drop to a warning or error threshold.
Background:
I've just started testing the SNMP UPS Status (NEW) sensor with Eaton UPSs. Having the Battery Status, Charge Remaining, Current Load, and Estimated Time Remaining are all super handy.
However, there's one critical thing missing. While the Charge Remaining channel does have warning/error limits configured for alerting (by default, 50% remaining and 20% remaining, respectively), the Battery Status always shows "Battery Normal". It may be that the battery status is indeed normal and functioning, but when the UPS has lost utility power and is running on battery, there's no way to know that the UPS is now on battery without looking at the charge level or waiting for it to hit a charge limit for alerting, because the Battery Status remains "Battery Normal", even when utility power is lost. It would be handy to have a way to determine on the next sensor scan if a UPS has switched to battery power, indicating utility power has failed.
I'd propose a new channel for this sensor, in addition to Battery Status, called "Output Source". If I check the Eaton MIB, the OID 1.3.6.1.2.1.33.1.4.1.0 shows a value of either "normal" (when the UPS is on utility power), or "battery" (when the UPS has switched to supplying power via the battery). This would be a perfect addition to this built in SNMP UPS Status Sensor, where "normal" would be an OK status, and "battery" would be a Warning status in PRTG.
Alerting on the Output Source channel could also be disabled by the user if they have a UPS that operates in such a way that the output source is always the battery, and is constantly being topped up by AC power.