800-462-7929 • sales@marway.com

Click It or Script It

Marway’s RCM Ethernet Software allows the remote control of power distribution outlets, and remote monitoring of power data. An operator can use a Web browser, a command line through Telnet or SSH, or SNMP manager or browser. Automated control can be scripted using a RESTful API (an efficient machine-to-machine protocol over HTTP/S), Telnet, SSH, or SNMP.

RCM software is available on Optima 8 smart PDUs and our Optima custom PDUs. Taking advantage of Ethernet networking, operators and equipment can be separated by walls or continents.

  • Remote control of outlets (manual and scripted).
  • Inlet current and voltage monitoring with setpoints.
  • Display of watts, voltamps, voltamps-reactive, power factor, and frequency.
  • Event alerts for startup, user login, outlet state change, EPO, power setpoint excursion, and configuration changes via SNMP, email, SMS.
  • HTTP and HTTPS for web browser access.
  • Telnet and SSH for command line access.
  • SNMP monitoring, control, and alerts.
  • RESTful API over HTTP/S to script outlet automation.
  • Multiple users with independent login credentials.
  • On-board activity log (SNTP time stamps).
  • Ethernet 10/100-T, RS-232 serial console.
Screen capture of the RCM dashboard.

Outlet Control

Each outlet may be labeled to reflect its purpose or what it is connected to. Each outlet includes on/off/cycle control with individually adjustable on delay, off delay, and cycle delay. Each outlet can be set so that during startup of the PDU, the outlet will be on or off, or whatever the last known state was prior to shutdown.

Outlets can be switched manually through web and command line interfaces, or remotely through SNMP. View RCM MIBs.

Cropped screen capture of the RCM outlet settings form.

Scripting with REST or Telnet

REST is a command and data exchange technique, commonly used by internet services, which is being recognized more and more in machine automation for its communication efficiency. URL-like commands are sent using the HTTP library of any programming environment, and responses are provided in simple text format. For example, with the RCM software, a GET /outlet/3/switch request will respond with either a simple “on” or “off” text value with no follow-up parsing needed.

Since RESTful APIs are designed to be machine-to-machine interfaces, using a RESTful API is easier to work with and more efficient than force-fitting the human-oriented Telnet/SSH interface for scripted automation with all of the accompanying string parsing (subject to breaking every software update).

While REST is the more modern and purpose-built option, the traditional technique of scripting the system’s Telnet/SSH interface is also possible.

A collage of code depicting the scriptability of the RCM software.

Inlet Monitoring

Inlet monitoring is available for single-phase and three-phase inlets up to 50 amps 240 Vac to provide comprehensive power data. Power monitoring measures volts, amps, watts, voltamps, voltamps-reactive, power factor, and frequency. Single-inlet systems can take advantage of a cost-effective current-only monitoring option. Acquiring inlet data can be automated using the SNMP, CLI, or REST interfaces.

Cropped screen capture of the RCM inlet power data dashboard.

Alert Management

The RCM firmware monitors several events including startup, user login, changes to configuration settings, setpoints for inlet current, setpoints for inlet voltage, EPO, and changes to outlet switch state. Each of these events can be routed to send alerts by email and SMS to one or more of the registered users (up to 20), and to an SNMP (v1,v2,v3) trap/notification receiver.

Cropped screen capture of the alert settings viewer.

User Management

Up to 20 unique users with independent login and permissions. Permissions segregate the ability to use and configure outlets, configure networking, and more. User profile fields aid in user identification and contact. Most recent login date and cumulative login count helps identify user activity.


On-board Logging

An on-board log identifies recent activity including startup, logins, switch state changes, configuration changes, and more. Outlet switch logging can be disabled based on the protocol used so that known automated switching is not logged. The number of log entries is user definable up to 1000 events.


SNTP Time

Support for SNTP allows the PDU to connect to network reference time server. This time is displayed on the Web interface, and is used by the on-board logging to time stamp recorded events.


Development Simulator

The RCM development simulator (MES 802) enables developers of remote power control and monitoring software to develop and test code against a working RCM instance. This enables development of code for outlet control, power monitoring, alert notifications, provisioning, and doing pre-deployment testing of TLS certificates, and more. Having a simulator means this work can be done without taking a PDU out of commission, or without a full-sized PDU occupying the developer’s workspace.

  • Runs on actual RCM firmware on actual RCM hardware.
  • Only power data and switching behavior is simulated.
  • Enables testing of all network APIs (SNMP, REST, telnet, ssh).
  • Ethernet, serial, and temperature/humidity ports are all fully functional.
A photo of the RCM PDU simulator box and cables.