APC UPS Network Management Card with PowerChute Network Shutdown (AP9640): Seamless Power Management and System Protection

In today’s digital age, businesses rely heavily on uninterrupted access to their IT infrastructure. Power outages, fluctuations, or failures can cause significant downtime, data loss, and hardware damage. To ensure that mission-critical systems remain operational and protected, the APC UPS Network Management Card with PowerChute Network Shutdown (AP9640) offers a reliable solution for centralized UPS management, monitoring, and automated shutdown processes.

What Is the APC UPS Network Management Card (AP9640)?

The APC UPS Network Management Card (AP9640) is a network-based UPS monitoring and management device that integrates with APC Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) units. It enables users to remotely monitor and control UPS operations over a network, ensuring proactive and efficient power management.

Additionally, the card is compatible with PowerChute Network Shutdown software, which provides automated shutdown of connected devices in the event of a prolonged power outage. This combination guarantees a smooth transition during critical power events, minimizing the risk of data loss and damage to IT equipment.

Key Features of the APC UPS Network Management Card (AP9640)

  1. Remote UPS Monitoring and Control: The AP9640 allows administrators to monitor the status of UPS units, track power conditions, and perform control actions remotely through a network interface. This feature provides real-time updates and alerts, ensuring prompt responses to any power-related issues.
  2. Integration with PowerChute Network Shutdown: PowerChute Network Shutdown is an essential feature that enables the safe and automated shutdown of servers and network devices during power events. When the UPS switches to battery power and reaches a predefined threshold, the software initiates the orderly shutdown of devices to prevent data corruption or hardware failure.
  3. Multi-Device Management: Through a single interface, IT personnel can manage multiple UPS units across different locations. This capability is especially useful for large enterprises or data centers with dispersed infrastructure.
  4. Customizable Notifications: The network management card can send real-time notifications and alerts via email, SNMP traps, or Syslog. Users can customize these alerts based on specific conditions, such as power failures, overloads, or battery conditions, enabling quicker responses and minimizing downtime.
  5. Web Interface and Command Line Interface (CLI): The AP9640 offers a user-friendly web-based interface for easy configuration and monitoring. For more advanced users, it also supports command-line interface access, allowing for detailed scripting and management options.
  6. Security Features: To ensure the security of the UPS management process, the AP9640 includes password protection, role-based access control, and secure protocols like HTTPS, SSH, and SNMP v3. These security features help prevent unauthorized access and ensure safe communication over the network.
  7. Environmental Monitoring: The card supports environmental monitoring through sensors (sold separately). This allows administrators to track temperature and humidity in the data center or server room, providing additional protection for critical equipment.
  8. Firmware Upgradeable: The AP9640 can be easily updated with the latest firmware via its network interface, ensuring it remains compatible with new UPS models and security protocols.

PowerChute Network Shutdown Integration

One of the standout features of the APC UPS Network Management Card (AP9640) is its compatibility with PowerChute Network Shutdown (PCNS) software. This integration enhances power protection by providing automatic shutdown capabilities for connected systems.

Key Benefits of PowerChute Network Shutdown:

  • Graceful Shutdown: PCNS ensures an orderly, automated shutdown of servers and network devices in the event of a prolonged outage. This prevents potential data corruption or hardware damage that can occur if systems are abruptly powered down.
  • Sequenced Shutdown: The software can be configured to shut down devices in a specific sequence, prioritizing the most critical systems to maximize uptime during an outage.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility: PCNS supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and VMware ESXi, making it suitable for a wide range of IT environments.
  • Virtualization Support: For virtualized environments, PowerChute integrates with VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V, allowing administrators to safely shut down virtual machines and hosts, protecting virtual infrastructure from power-related issues.

Why Choose the APC UPS Network Management Card (AP9640)?

The APC UPS Network Management Card with PowerChute Network Shutdown (AP9640) offers numerous advantages for IT administrators and businesses looking to enhance their UPS management and ensure system continuity during power disturbances. Here’s why it’s a valuable addition:

  1. Centralized Power Management: The ability to monitor and control multiple UPS units from a single interface significantly streamlines power management, reducing the complexity of managing separate systems.
  2. Proactive Protection: By enabling real-time monitoring, the AP9640 helps prevent potential problems before they occur, allowing administrators to take proactive steps to mitigate power risks.
  3. Automated Shutdown: The integration with PowerChute Network Shutdown ensures that connected devices are safely powered down during prolonged outages, safeguarding against data loss and hardware damage.
  4. Enhanced Security: With robust security features such as role-based access and secure communication protocols, the AP9640 ensures that UPS operations are protected from unauthorized access or tampering.
  5. Scalability: Whether your organization is small or large, the AP9640 provides a scalable solution that can grow with your infrastructure. It is ideal for data centers, server rooms, branch offices, and other environments requiring reliable power management.

Ideal Applications

  • Data Centers: For large data centers, the ability to manage multiple UPS units remotely and ensure a controlled shutdown during power events is crucial.
  • Enterprise IT: In businesses where IT infrastructure is critical, ensuring continuous power and system protection through automated shutdown is vital for avoiding costly downtime.
  • Branch Offices: For organizations with multiple locations, centralized UPS management from a single interface can reduce the need for on-site personnel and improve power management efficiency.

The APC UPS Network Management Card with PowerChute Network Shutdown (AP9640) is an indispensable tool for any organization that values uptime, system protection, and streamlined power management. By providing real-time UPS monitoring, remote control capabilities, and automated shutdown functions, the AP9640 ensures that businesses can maintain continuous operations, even in the face of unexpected power events. With robust security features and flexible management options, this network card is a powerful addition to your UPS setup, delivering both peace of mind and operational efficiency.

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