APC Command Line Interface User Manual

If you are not using a KVM, configure the 
administrator user name and password through the 
Web or control console interface of the PDU.

If you are using a KVM, configure the 
administrator user name and password in the KVM 
configuration file /etc/pm.APCPDU. The default 
for both is apc. The pm.APCPDU file is saved to 
non-volatile memory when you save your 
configuration. The -c option is then appended to 
the configured password automatically to log you 
on to the CLI when you log on to the PDU.

To log on to the CLI:

1. Connect to the Switched Rack PDU through 

Telnet, through SSH version 1 or 2, or serially.

2. At the User Name prompt, enter your user 

name.

3. At the Password prompt, enter your password 

(followed by a space and 

-c

 if you are not 

using a KVM), and press 

E

NTER

. 

When you attempt to log on to the CLI:

• If the user name and password you entered are 

valid and the CLI is available, you are logged 
on to the CLI. The prompt APC> is displayed.

• After three consecutive unsuccessful log-on 

attempts, the Switched Rack PDU prevents 
further attempts for two minutes.

• If the CLI is unavailable, the Switched Rack 

PDU application layer does not start, i.e., the 
-c option does not work. 

• If you log onto the CLI, and the application 

firmware of the Switched Rack PDU has not 
finished initializing, the CLI displays the 
following message and logs you off.

The Switched Rack PDU is still 

initializing. Please try again later.

• If the administrator password is configured 

incorrectly (does not meet the PDU criteria for 
a valid password) in the KVM pm.APCPDU 
configuration file, the Switched Rack PDU 
prevents further log-on attempts for 150 
seconds. Correct the password configuration 
before trying to log on again.