We are considering having custom remote reboot units built, and I wanted to get your guys' input.
Here are the specs:

-Web interface accessed via IP address
-One or two 20A Circuits in, 8 switched receptacles out
-Password protected managment page with control of all 8 receptacles, and provisions for changing passwords
-An individual password protected page for turning each receptacle on and off so you can give a client direct access to their server's power.
-System is in a fail secure mode, the relays continue to pass power if the control system does not respond or fails.
-1U housing


Are we missing anything?

Why reinvent the wheel...APC.

Originally posted by AKavanaugh
Why reinvent the wheel...APC.

cost. in the APC units we would be paying for all kinds of unneeded features. Want something simpler and alot cheaper. We can manufacture these for a fraction of what the APCs cost.

Is it worth risking customer's equipment just to save a few dollars over the APC price? In the grand sceheme of things, they're not THAT expensive! :)

What is "risky" about it? I would assume anyone that has the know-how to tie together a software interface to the hardware power supply would be good enough to switch power on and off safely, seeing as that would be the simplest part. By far.

I know what you're getting at - but everything else being equal if one host is offering you colo with some home brew reboot solution, and another is offering APC reboot ports, which would you pick?

Depends on the price and location. I wouldn't really base any of my decision on the brand of the reboot switch. They're pretty simplistic devices.

They're pretty simplistic devices

so are wheels ;)

Originally posted by robinbalen
I know what you're getting at - but everything else being equal if one host is offering you colo with some home brew reboot solution, and another is offering APC reboot ports, which would you pick?

theyre not "homebrew" and are not some jury rigged thing someone made in their garage. We have been manufacturing custom electronics since 1996. These will be professionally manufactured, certified by a recognized testing lab, and will probably be sold to the public as well. Again, theyre designed for zero failure, and worst case is if the control system fails, you cant turn an outlet off. Customer equipment is not at risk.

If these things are cheaper than APCs, do their job, and work well, I would buy them.

so going back to my original post, am I missing anything? Again, these are strictly meant to be a web controlled reboot switch. No telnet, no paging you when an outlet is turned off, no cooking breakfast, etc.

You may also want to do a model with 16 outlets on it.

-Josh

API feature would be nice....
SNMP built-in also.. :)

-Shazad

EDIT : Thnking of it the API and SNMP could be part of one feature...

6 and 8 outlet options should be made available as that would cover most usage requirments and keep wiring neat...

240V and 110V versions..

-Shazad

Originally posted by [eS]s.h.a.z.y
API feature would be nice....
SNMP built-in also.. :)

-Shazad

EDIT : Thnking of it the API and SNMP could be part of one feature...

maybe as a future firmare upgrade, but for now its simply a web controlled reboot switch

Originally posted by skylabPC
maybe as a future firmare upgrade, but for now its simply a web controlled reboot switch

Thats one of APC strong points, you dont need to give individual login/pass you can embed it all into your support portal and simple have a "restart" button instead of having to login in and play to find which option you need to reboot..

-Shazad

I can post the unit's webpages when I have them in a couple weeks, but there is one login for each switch to access all eight outlets. Then there are 8 seperate logins to access each switch individually so we can give clients direct access to the port for their server. Each port can be given a name which can be changed on the admin page

Originally posted by [eS]s.h.a.z.y
Thats one of APC strong points, you dont need to give individual login/pass you can embed it all into your support portal and simple have a "restart" button instead of having to login in and play to find which option you need to reboot..

-Shazad

ok thats a really good point. I dont see too much of a disadvantage to putting a link to their switch port on their support page. The only hassle would be them having to enter the password.

Originally posted by skylabPC
I can post the unit's webpages when I have them in a couple weeks, but there is one login for each switch to access all eight outlets. Then there are 8 seperate logins to access each switch individually so we can give clients direct access to the port for their server. Each port can be given a name which can be changed on the admin page

Kewl, but I still think no API/SNMP is a major feature not implemented.

I will stick to APC as we have over 100 units with them simply because you don't have smnp/api support, ive seen clients shutdown servers instead of rebooting them and wondering whats happening...

Ive even had clients ask me for Manual and how to use the remote reboot feature :D

We have been working on the smnp/api feature in APC and its excellent you simple send an command to the APC with portID and restart FLAG and it will do it without any customer intervention or without them needing to log into an additional section.

Not everyone is technical savy...

Good luck with your new hardware...

-Shazad

Originally posted by [eS]s.h.a.z.y
Kewl, but I still think no API/SNMP is a major feature not implemented.

I will stick to APC as we have over 100 units with them simply because you don't have smnp/api support, ive seen clients shutdown servers instead of rebooting them and wondering whats happening...

Ive even had clients ask me for Manual and how to use the remote reboot feature :D

We have been working on the smnp/api feature in APC and its excellent you simple send an command to the APC with portID and restart FLAG and it will do it without any customer intervention or without them needing to log into an additional section.

Not everyone is technical savy...

Good luck with your new hardware...

-Shazad

youre right. I will have the software engineer look into it

Now now, your talking business :)
I would definitly look into your product if it supported it...

Have a great weekend.

-Shazad