Issue:

How do I install PowerChute Serial Shutdown on Linux to manage a UPS with the SRTD prefix using a USB cable? Selecting ‘USB’ as a cable type doesn’t work.

Product Line:

Smart-UPS models with SKUs that start with SRTD2K2R2, SRTD3KR2, SRTD2K4R2, SRTDBP3KR2, SRTDBP2K4R2.

Environment:

Red Hat Linux, USB connection.

SUSE Linux, USB connection.

Cause:

Smart-UPS models with the SRTD use the Communications Device Class (CDC) Abstract Control Model for serial communication over USB on Linux. This means that when an SRTD UPS is connected using a USB cable on Linux, it will appear as a CDC Serial port. The Serial port will be represented by a ‘ttyACM*’ file under the /dev directory /dev/ttyACM* (for example /dev/ttyACM0). Unlike standard Serial Port descriptors, these ttyACM files will appear and disappear as you connect and disconnect the UPS.

Resolution:

When installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown, you therefore need to select the following options:

If a /dev/ttyASM* port does not appear when you connect the Smart-UPS over USB, then it is likely the Linux kernel module cdc_acm has not been loaded.

The cdc_acm module provides support for USB devices that use the CDC Abstract Control Model. If this module is not loaded, the Linux Operating System will not create the necessary /dev/ttyACM* device files, and PowerChute Serial Shutdown will not be able to detect or communicate with the UPS.

To ensure proper operation, please verify that the cdc_acm module is loaded:

1- Check if the module is already available

Run the command lsmod | grep cdc_acm

If you see output, the module is already loaded.

2- Load the module manually

Run the command sudo modprobe cdc_acm

3- Ensure the module loads automatically at boot

Add cdc_acm to /etc/modules-load.d/ (for RHEL 7 and newer):

Run the command echo cdc_acm | sudo tee /etc/modules-load.d/cdc_acm.conf

4- If you get "module not found"

Make sure your kernel supports it:

Run the command uname -r

The module should be present in /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/usb/class/cdc-acm.ko*

If not, you may need to install the kernel modules package:

Run the command sudo yum install kernel-modules

or update your kernel.

5- Confirm the device is detected.

After plugging in your device and loading the module, you should see /dev/ttyACM0 (or similar) appear.

Released for: Schneider Electric Malaysia