apctest gives a FATAL ERROR in device.c at line 71

[Graeme Geldenhuys]

Binary package hint: apcupsd

I have a APC Back-UPS pro 280 with a "smart" cable 940-0095A. I installed the APC apcupsd and -cgi packages without problems. I then when through the apcupsd.conf file making sure the settings are correct. I enable the conf in the /etc/defaults/apcupsd file. I then stoped the apcupsd service, and then started the service again.

I then wanted to test my UPS configuration. So executed the 'apctest' program. This is the output (and error message) I got:

--------------------------------------------
$ sudo apctest

2011-06-08 15:35:57 apctest 3.14.8 (16 January 2010) debian
Checking configuration ...
Attached to driver: apcsmart
sharenet.type = DISABLE
cable.type = APC_940_0095A (smart)

You are using a SMART cable type, so I'm entering SMART test mode
mode.type = APCSMART_UPS
Setting up the port ...
apctest FATAL ERROR in device.c at line 71
Unable to create UPS lock file.
  If apcupsd or apctest is already running,
  please stop it and run this program again.
apctest error termination completed

Broadcast Message from root@goofy
        (somewhere) at 15:36 ...

Warning communications lost with UPS goofy
--------------------------------------------

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: apcupsd 3.14.8-2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Jun 8 15:36:44 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110426)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_ZA:en
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_ZA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: apcupsd
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Graeme Geldenhuys (graemeg)]

Ignore this bug report. I found the problem. Reading the actually message output revealed that I had to shutdown the apcupsd daemon *before* I run the apctest application. Sorry for the noize.

[Stephan Henningsen (zta77)]

This bug report helped me read the output properly too =)