APC NBRK0250 Owners Manual

Release Notes 990-5805N February 2023

NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250

APC, the APC logo, NetBotz, PowerNet, StruxureWare, and EcoStruxure are
trademarks owned by Schneider Electric SE. All other brands may be trademarks of
their respective owners.

What’s in This Document

Affected Revision Levels .................................................................................1

Device IP Configuration Wizard .....................................................................2

Supported Browsers .......................................................................................2

New Features....................................................................................................2

Fixed Issues ......................................................................................................3

Known Issues....................................................................................................3

Miscellaneous ...................................................................................................6

Recovering from a Lost Password .....................................................................6

Update the Appliance .......................................................................................7

Update the Wireless Sensor Network ................................................................8

PowerNet MIB Reference Guide........................................................................8

Hash Signatures ..............................................................................................8

Affected Revision Levels

Component

APC
Operating
System

NetBotz 250
Application

PowerNet
Application

®

Version Details

apc_hw05_aos_708.bin

apc_hw05_nb250_708.bin NetBotz 250 Application

powernet446.mib PowerNet SNMP Management

Network Management Card (NMC)
Operating System & TCP/IP Stack
for Hardware Platform v05.

Information Base (MIB)

APC

70 Mechanic Street
02035 Foxboro, MA
USA

www.apc.com

As standards, specifications, and design change
from time to time, please ask for confirmation of
the information given in this publication.
© 2016 – 2023 APC. All rights reserved.

NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250 Device IP Configuration Wizard

Device IP Configuration Wizard

The Device IP Configuration Wizard is a Windows®application designed specifically to
remotely configure the basic TCP/IP settings of Network Management Cards. The
Wizard runs on Windows 2000, Windows Server
on 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista
Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 operating systems. This utility supports
cards that have firmware version 3.X.X or higher and is for IPv4 only.

The Wizard is available as a free download from the APC website, www.apc.com:

1. Go to www.apc.com/tools/download and select Software Upgrades - Wizards
and Configurators from the Filter by Software/Firmware drop-down list

2. Click Submit to view the list of utilities available for download.

3. Click Download to download the Network Management Device IP
Configuration Wizard.

®

2003, Windows Server 2012, and,

®

, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008,

Supported Browsers

Most modern Web browsers are compatible with the Rack Monitor 250 Web UI. Use
the most recent version of your Web browser to mitigate the risk of software security
vulnerabilities.

New Features

APC Operating System (apc_hw05_aos_708.bin)

• Addition of editing existing users via configuration file (config.ini). Introduced a set-only keyword in the

[SystemUserManager] section "ModifyUser" which allows an existing user account to be edited in the system.

• HTTP Strict Transport Security. An HTTP header used to redirect insecure HTTP requests to HTTPS version

of the page. This is more secure than simply using a redirect, as it is not susceptible to man-in-the-middle
attacks as it never uses an insecure HTTP channel.

NetBotz 250 Application (apc_hw05_nb250_708.bin)

None.

2 990-5805N

Fixed Issues NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250

Fixed Issues

APC Operating System (apc_hw05_aos_708.bin)

None.

NetBotz 250 Application (apc_hw05_nb250_708.bin)

1. Voltage Sensor Mapping Issue:
In this release, the Voltage sensor Threshold Alarms mapping corresponding to their output are corrected. The
Interface to modify alarms and porting to the outputs through INI file has been implemented.

2. Rack Access Cards Issue:
The issue faced with Rack Access while using 37 bit multiple format cards has been fixed by implementing a
new feature called “Automatic Card Format Recognition”. This would execute multiple ID generation during
user registration and Format Cycling operation while user permission for the 37 bit multiple format cards.
Consequently, the problem with Rack Access has been overcome.

Known Issues

APC Operating System (apc_hw05_aos_708.bin)

None.

NetBotz 250 Application (apc_hw05_nb250_708.bin)

Updates and upgrades

1. Upgrade the NetBotz Rack Monitor 250 firmware before first use. Download the most recent version of the
NetBotz Rack Monitor 250 firmware from www.apc.com. See Update the Appliance, page 7 for basic
instructions, or see the User Guide on www.apc.com for detailed instructions to upgrade the firmware.

2. Upgrade the NetBotz Wireless Sensor firmware before first use. Download the NetBotz Wireless Firmware
Update Utility from www.apc.com or help.ecostruxureit.com. Install the Utility as an administrator and see

Update the Wireless Sensor Network , page 8 or the User Guide on www.apc.com for information on how to

upgrade the wireless sensors on your Rack Monitor 250 wireless network.

NOTE: You must upgrade the wireless sensors on one Rack Monitor 250 at a time, using the coordinator
and sensor(s) from its wireless network.

3. Update the NetBotz 250 Data Center Expert (DCE) Scanner Device Definition File (DDF) to a version

more recent than 6: Verify the DDF used by DCE under Device > SNMP Device Communication Settings >
Device Definition Files. The most recent scanner DDF version is 17. Contact your local technical support for

an up-to-date scanner DDF.

4. Rack access devices are temporarily removed from the user interface during the firmware update. The
firmware update for the Rack Monitor 250 happens first, then the update for the rack access devices follows.
Once the Rack Monitor 250 firmware update completes, it takes about ten minutes for the rack access devices
to reappear in the list. All configured settings remain as expected.

5. Do not reboot the appliance while a firmware upgrade is in progress. When a Sensor Pod 150 is
connected to the appliance, an informational alarm occurs and error messages are reported on the home page
for connected sensors while the Sensor Pod’s firmware upgrades. The errors clear and accurate status
messages are displayed after the upgrade. The status of the upgrade process can be viewed from
Configuration > Device > NetBotz in the Web UI.

6. If the appliance is downgraded to firmware v6.6.7 or lower, the wireless coordinator status and wireless
sensor commission list may not display correctly. To correct the display, wait until the download is
complete, then reboot the network management interface.

990-5805N 3

NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250 Known Issues

StruxureWare Data Center Expert®(DCE) and EcoStruxure IT Gateway

®

1. Unplugged sensors in DCE can be deleted. NetBotz Rack Monitor 250 alarm generation enabled/disabled

sensors reporting as unplugged in DCE can safely be deleted. Humidity sensors reporting as unplugged on
temperature-only sensors can also safely be deleted. These sensors were erroneously included in the device
definition file (DDF), and have been removed in version 16 and newer.

2. DCE and EcoStruxure IT Gateway

®

do not include support for the NetBotz 250 outputs (beacon, switched

outlet, output relay). Support for these features is planned for future updates of DCE and EcoStruxure IT.

3. EcoStruxure IT Gateway does not automatically update user-configured values (sensor names, for example).

To update these values in EcoStruxure IT Gateway, click the menu icon, select Discovery, then select RUN to
rediscover the updated Rack Monitor 250.

Sensors, pods, and rack access devices

1. The Mifare Classic 7-byte card format is vulnerable to cloning. If you use this format, maintain the physical
security of your equipment and access cards. Consider updating to the Mifare Plus format.

2. The NetBotz Sensor Pod 180 (NBPD0180) is not supported by the NetBotz 250 appliance. The Sensor
Pod 180 will not be supported on firmware v6.5.0 and later.

3. Attempting to filter discrete state wired sensors (leak, vibration, smoke, door, or contact sensors) via the
"Create Filter" button in the Web UI may result in an error that prevents the filter from being created.

4. Some events, including "Sensor disconnected" and "Sensor configuration updated", may not be generated for
the voltage sensor.

5. If sensors are connected to all six ports on the Rack Monitor 250, the NB Module page may not display all six
sensors. You can view all connected sensors on the Home page. You can also view connected sensors by
selecting Configuration > Device > Wired Sensor. To find the NB Module page, go to Configuration >
Device > NetBotz and select the Module Name.

6. After replacing a sensor with a different type of sensor, you must reboot the Rack Monitor 250 to display the
new sensor correctly.

7. After replacing a sensor with a different sensor, the name of the previously connected sensor is displayed. This
is not resolved by rebooting the Rack Monitor 250. The sensor will report accurate values as expected.

8. Sensors connected to a Sensor Pod 150 can be mapped for the beacon only, and not for the switched outlet or
output relay. Door switch sensors connected to Door 1 or Door 2 ports can be mapped for the beacon only, and
not for switched outlet or output relay. Alarm mapping is not available for any wireless sensors.

9. State sensors do not appear in the data log. Wireless sensors and Sensor Pod 150 devices without at least one
numeric sensor do not appear in the data log filtering list.

10. When a rack access handle and door switch are left open for longer than the time specified in the Door Open
Alarm Threshold, the auto relock alarm occurs rather than the door open alarm.

4 990-5805N

Known Issues NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250

Miscellaneous

1. A full config.ini file may take up to 20 minutes to load. A config.ini file with a 200-user [AccessPXUser] section
may take up to 10 minutes to load.

2. Unable to communicate with the appliance using the USB console port. You may need to install a serial­to-USB driver to communicate with the Rack Monitor 250. The driver is available for download from the USB
vendor FTDI. For more information, see the FAQ article NetBotz 250 | Serial Connection (Driver + Serial

Parameters) (FA381275). You can search for FAQ articles on apc.com/support. Select FAQ’s under
Resources and Tools, then enter the article title or ID in the Search bar.

3. The management interface may reboot when receiving a config.ini file with 200 rack users if over 20 alarms
are active. To avoid this, upload the [AccessPXUser] section separately: first upload config.ini without the
[AccessPXUser] section, then upload config.ini with only the [AccessPXUser] section.

4. The wirelessSensorConfigName OID allows values with more than 20 characters. Sensor names will be
truncated in interfaces that enforce the 20-character limit.

5. The message “NB: Communication established” is not received by SNMP traps or syslog.

6. Disabling an individual event for email notification may cause an unexpected network interface restart.

7. Modifying RADIUS settings via config.ini may cause an unexpected network interface restart.

8. The NMC may experience an unexpected network interface restart while editing a firewall policy.

9. Modifying large groups of event actions by severity may cause an unexpected network interface restart.

10. IPv6 connectivity outside of local subnet does not work in all environments.

11. SNMPv3 communication and monitoring on some third party SNMP management tools such as ManageEngine
OpManager does not work properly.

12. SNMP traps do not work for some AOS events.

13. File transfers using SCP do not work properly with WinSCP client

14. Certain privileges in the CLI are not consistent with the user privileges in the Web UI.

15. The Trap receiver NMS settings incorrectly allow for a NULL entry.

16. SNMP Trap Recipients are activated only after a previous Trap recipient can send Traps.

17. Firewall rules configured through the Web UI are active even when the firewall is not enabled. A fix to this issue
is planned for an upcoming release.

990-5805N 5

NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250 Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

Recovering from a Lost Password

You can use a local computer (a computer that connects to the Rack Monitor 250
through the serial port) to access the Command Line Interface (CLI) to reset the user
name and password:

1. Select a serial port at your local computer and disable any service using that port.

2. Connect the USB A–USB mini B configuration cable to the console port on the
Rack Monitor 250 and to a USB port of the computer.

NOTE: You may need to install a serial-to-USB virtual COM port driver. The
USB vendor is FTDI; the driver type is VCP. Driver downloads are available on
the FTDI Chip website. For more information, see the FAQ article NetBotz 250
| Serial Connection (Driver + Serial Parameters) (FA381275). You can search
for FAQ articles on apc.com/support. Select FAQ’s under Resources and
Tools, then enter the article title or ID in the Search bar.

3. Open a terminal program (such as Tera Term, HyperTerminal
configure the selected port with 9600 bps, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, and no
flow control.

4. Press Enter, repeatedly, until the User Name prompt is displayed. If the User
Name prompt is not displayed, verify the following:

• The serial port is not in use by another application.

• The terminal settings are correct as specified in step 3.

• The correct cable is being used as specified in step 2.

• Scroll Lock is not turned on.

5. Press Reset button near the power LED once. The Status LED will flash orange
and green within 5–7 seconds of pressing the Reset button. When the Status LED
begins flashing, immediately press the Reset button a second time to temporarily
reset the user name and password to their defaults.

6. Press Enter, repeatedly if necessary, to display the User Name prompt again, then
log on with the default user name and password (apc and apc). If you take longer
than 30 seconds to log on after the User Name prompt is displayed, you must
repeat step 5 and log on again.

7. At the CLI, use the following commands to change the password from apc to a
value of your choice:

user -n apc –cp apc -pw <user password>

Example: to change the Super User's password to p@ssword, enter
user -n apc –cp apc -pw p@ssword

NOTE: For security reasons, it is possible to disable the Super User account.
To verify that the Super User account is enabled, enter

user -n apc -e

®

, or PuTTY®), and

If the account is disabled and the current password is p@ssword, you can
enter user -n apc -e enable -cp p@ssword to enable the Super User
account.

8. Enter the command quit, exit, or bye to log off. Reconnect any serial cable you
have disconnected, and restart any service you have disabled.

6 990-5805N

Miscellaneous NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250

Update the Appliance

It is recommended that you update the Rack Monitor 250 firmware to the most recent
version before first use.

1. Download the latest firmware version free from www.apc.com/tools/download or

help.ecostruxureit.com. If you have a Windows computer, you can use the

firmware executable to upgrade the firmware. If you have any other type of
computer, you must use FTP, SCP, or XMODEM to manually upload each
firmware upgrade file to the Rack Monitor 250. You must upload these .bin files
one at a time in this order:

a. Boot Monitor (bootmon), equivalent to the BIOS

b. APC Operating System (AOS), the Rack Monitor 250 operating system

c. Application Module, the NetBotz Rack Monitor 250 specific file

For more information about using FTP, SCP, or XMODEM to manually update the
Rack Monitor 250 firmware files, see the User Guide on www.apc.com.

NOTE: Rack access devices are temporarily removed from the user interface
during the firmware upgrade.

2. When the upgrade has completed, log in to the Rack Monitor 250 and go to
Configuration > Device > NetBotz. Once the status of all connected devices has
changed from FW Upgrade to Normal (or Warning or Critical if there is an active
alarm), and the rack access devices are displayed as expected, the Rack Monitor
250 is ready for use.

990-5805N 7

NetBotz®Rack Monitor 250 NBRK0250 Miscellaneous

Update the Wireless Sensor Network

It is recommended that you update the Wireless Temperature Sensor firmware before
first use.

1. Download the NetBotz Wireless Sensor Update Utility. Go to www.apc.com, and

select Support > Resources & Tools > Software/Firmware. Under Filter by

Software/Firmware, select Software Upgrades - Software for NetBotz
appliances.

NOTE: The Wireless Sensor Upgrade Utility is only available for Windows.

2. Install the Utility as an administrator.

3. Remove the plastic cover over the Wireless port. Remove the coordinator and
connect it to a USB port on the computer where you installed the Utility.

4. Record the MAC address of the Wireless Temperature Sensor that came with the
Rack Monitor 250. Turn on the Wireless Temperature Sensor.

5. In the Windows Start menu, type the following: NetBotz Wireless Update

Utility. Right-click the Utility, and select Run as Administrator.

NOTE: The Utility may not execute correctly if you do not select Run as
Administrator.

NOTE: If you are unable to launch the Utility, you may need to install a serial-

to-USB virtual COM port driver on your computer. The required driver is
available in the “drivers” folder of the Utility.

6. Enter the MAC address of the sensor in the commission list field. If you have more
than one wireless sensor, make sure they are all turned on, and add their MAC
addresses also. Click OK to start the Utility.

7. Browse to the wireless firmware .zip file installed with the Utility.

8. Click Apply to upgrade the wireless sensor firmware.

9. When the firmware upgrade is complete, reconnect the coordinator to the Rack
Monitor 250 Wireless port and replace the plastic cover. DO NOT connect the
coordinator to any other USB port on the appliance.

For more information about updating the wireless sensor firmware, see the
documentation included with the Wireless Sensor Update Utility.

PowerNet MIB Reference Guide

The MIB Reference Guide, available on www.apc.com, explains the structure of the
MIB, types of OIDs, and the procedure for defining SNMP trap receivers. For
information on specific OIDs, use an MIB browser to view their definitions and
available values directly from the MIB itself. You can view the definitions of traps at the
end of the MIB itself (the file powernet446.mib is downloadable from www.apc.com).

Hash Signatures

apc_hw05_aos708_nb250708_bootmon109.exe

MD5

SHA-1 bf858f3d0247b837a003e86ef00b2db144658c54

SHA-256 4d36b4ed1b77bf5edd060ad5aad1f644aad06f3162e12918683f41cc7d3344c0

8 990-5805N

74b8b0f6a5a02a9cc39d74827bf7d92a