Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#1

Post by hedora » Mon, May 09, 2022, 4:47 PM UTC

I got an email this morning saying that APC has "changed" their cloud offering to add a premium tier, and that my current cloud service will lose features such as email notifications and firmware updates when the warranty expires (unless I pay a subscription fee).

Is this new? I don't remember agreeing to pay for firmware updates when I set it up. They recently had to patch a remotely exploitable security flaw, so it seems foolhardy to continue to use remote monitoring moving forward. (Will put entire email in thread).

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#2

Post by hedora » Mon, May 09, 2022, 4:51 PM UTC

The email:

New Subscription Plans for EcoStruxure Ready Smart-UPS Web Portal.

-----

Hello,

Thank you for being a valued APC Smart-UPS web portal customer. Out-of-box remote UPS monitoring via the SmartConnect Ethernet port is included with the purchase of every new Smart-UPS device tied to warranty. On the Standard plan, you have the following great benefits while you are under warranty:

1. Remote UPS status monitoring

2. Configurable power event notifications

3. Remote UPS self-test and audible alarm diagnostics

4. One-click remote UPS firmware upgrade

== What's changing?

APC is introducing optional cloud service plans for customers who require more advanced features or for Smart-UPS that are no longer under warranty.

== New Advanced plan

The Advanced plan introduces remote UPS outlet group power cycling for devices in locations that are hard to reach or have no IT staff on site. Remote outlet group reboot can be enabled for any Smart-UPS by purchasing the Advanced plan.

== What does this mean for you?

Once your UPS warranty expires, your Smart-UPS will move to a Basic plan. You can continue to log into the web portal and view your UPS status but will no longer receive email notifications, remote UPS firmware updates or access to remote diagnostics. To restore your current features, you can purchase the Standard plan or purchase the Advanced plan if you also require remote outlet group reboot.

== Next steps

Log into the Smart-UPS web portal today to learn more about these options and optimise your Smart-UPS cloud monitoring benefits

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#3

Post by obenn » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:13 PM UTC

Are you sure this removes the ability to perform ANY software update? As far as I can interpret from this email this just seems to remove the ability to perform the update remotely.

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#4

Post by 1-6 » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:13 PM UTC

That’s why going to an open-source BMC is important.

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#5

Post by dmitrygr » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:15 PM UTC

And people ask me why I want ability to disable all automatic firmware updates (so i can vet them against people's comments when they roll out to others) and prefer to buy non-internet-connected things.

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#6

Post by gruez » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:31 PM UTC

dmitrygr wrote: post #5

And people ask me why I want ability to disable all automatic firmware updates (so i can vet them against people's comments when they roll out to others) and prefer to buy non-internet-connected things.

So rather than being upset a few years later when your cloud functionality isn't working you... don't use it in the first place? I guess that's a viable choice if you weren't planning to use the cloud features to begin with, but the OP seems to be using the cloud features, and is upset that he's losing access to them.

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#7

Post by cute_boi » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:36 PM UTC

This is why I always avoid closed source things :). I don't want my device to stop working due to updates. Also, its impossible that someone will keep running cloud for my device forever.

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#8

Post by hedora » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:51 PM UTC

obenn wrote: post #3

Are you sure this removes the ability to perform ANY software update? As far as I can interpret from this email this just seems to remove the ability to perform the update remotely.

Maybe? The remote firmware update is non-disruptive.

In the best case, I risk bumping cables while futzing with a USB stick. In the worst case, it wants a power cycle to update via USB.

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#9

Post by jaywalk » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:53 PM UTC

hedora wrote: post #2

The email: New Subscription Plans for EcoStruxure Ready Smart-UPS Web Portal. ----- Hello, Thank you for being a valued APC Smart-UPS web portal customer. Out-of-box remote UPS monitoring via the SmartConnect Ethernet port is included with the purchase of every new Smart-UPS device tied to warranty. On the Standard plan, you have the following great benefits while you are under warranty: 1. Remote UPS status monitori…

It sounds like the Standard plan was always tied to being under warranty, and they haven't actually changed what's included with the Standard plan? Am I misreading something here?

Re: Ask HN: APC adding monthly fees / remotely defeaturing existing UPS's?

#10

Post by hedora » Mon, May 09, 2022, 5:55 PM UTC

1-6 wrote: post #4

That’s why going to an open-source BMC is important.

Do you know of any open source-compatible uninterruptible power supplies? I specifically chose this model because APC has (had?) a reputation for being bulletproof.

(My last UPS was also closed source. It liked to beep at odd hours, and sporadically turned itself off. At least the APC doesn't do that, I guess.)

Also, at the end of the day, it's just an overpriced sealed car battery. I wasn't looking for a hobby project, and if I was, this would be low on the list.