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OOB Remote PDU Management

Updated: Feb 21

The Case for Remote PDU Management

Network enabled Power Distribution Units (PDUs), referred as switched PDUs are the PDUs whose power outlets can be controlled from software over an IP network. This is useful for remote troubleshooting a network device, being a firewall, router or server, as sometimes these devices recover from a mere power cycle. Combined with OOB Remote Serial Console Access solution, you'll never have to run a truck roll to troubleshoot a remote network device.


This document shows you how to use Bumblebee platform to manage switched PDUs deployed at the customer sites.



How to Setup OOB Remote PDU Management


The diagram below describes OOB remote PDU management solution. Follow the steps outlined below.


Bumblebee OOB Remote PDU Management
Bumblebee OOB Remote PDU Management

Step 1. Connect a switched PDU to Bumblebee CPE Eth3 interface

The first step is to connect the Ethernet interface of a switched PDU to Bumblebee CPE Eth3 port. On the Bumblebee CPE, Eth3 ports runs a DHCP service on subnet 169.254.1.1/16 subnet.


Step 2. Discover the IP address of the PDU

Follow the PDU vendor instructions to obtain the IP address of the PDU. It should be in a format of 169.254.x.y.


Step 3. Onboard the PDU

Follow the steps below to onboard the PDU on the Bumblebee platform.


  1. Login to the Bumblebee portal

  2. Click PDU Management on the left navigation bar under OOB Remote Control

  3. Select the desired CPE from the drop down list

  4. Click + ADD PDU

  5. Enter PDU Name

  6. Select a supported PDU vendor from a drop down

  7. Enter IP address obtained in Step 2

  8. Click Create

  9. Now the PDU should bel listed in the display page. Make sure the Reachability Status color is Green. Make sure the correct IP address is entered. If the status color is Red, you cannot control the outlets.

  10. Click the PDU.

  11. In the second half the list of the outlets should be displayed.

  12. Click the green horizontal button to Power on or Power off a outlet.


Step 4. Connect Network Devices

Once the PDU is onboarded and its Reachability Status is Green, you can plug the power of network devices to the PDU outlets. The network devices could be ISP modems, firewalls, routers, wireless APs, Ethernet switches and servers.


Follow the steps below to map a network device to a specific outlets so that you always power cycle the right device.


  1. Login to the Bumblebee portal

  2. Click PDU Management on the left navigation bar under OOB Remote Control

  3. Select the desired CPE from the drop down list

  4. Select the desired PDU

  5. On the lower half of the page, select the desired Outlet

  6. Click Actions -> Edit

  7. Enter the desired name, for example, Firewall - Palo

  8. Click Save Change


Supported PDU Vendors

For a PDU to be remotely controlled, it must have Ethernet and SNMP support, they are typically called switched PDUs. The current verified PDU models are CyberPower PDU 41XXX and APC 79xx Switched PDU. This series all are called switched PDU.


CyberPower PDUs


APC PDUs


Recover PDU IP Address

Switched PDUs uses DHCP to obtain its IP address. The drawback to this method is that when the switched PDU goes through a power cycle itself, it may lose its original IP. This feature allows you to rediscover your PDU IP Address. To recover a previously active PDU IP address, follow the steps below.


  1. Login to the Bumblebee portal

  2. Click PDU Management under OOB Remote Control

  3. Select the PDU, click Actions -> Recover PDU IP

  4. A pop up window should display the new PDU IP

  5. Click OK to accept that.

  6. The PDU Reachability status should turn Green.


The Benefits

The key benefit is that this solution is cloud managed and works with different switched PDU vendors as long as they are network based and SNMP capable.


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