APC Smart-UPS 10000XLI (configuration help)

[BillP]

Hi all,

I`m new to the UPS world so I would like to ask some quick questions. We have purchased APC Smart-UPS 10000XLI I installed it in the server room and I set the network settings so I have the web interface running. Basically all I`m interesting now is to install powerchute network shutdown so I can gracefully shutdown my servers. From the web interface of the UPS I can see that its kind of easy to add the servers - just add the clients/servers ip address. However what I DO NOT UNDERSTAND is how to install the powerchute network shutdown. I have read his installation pdf and its kind of messy for me. All my servers are running CentOS or Red Hat which are supported platforms. What I do not understand is the idea. I thought that powerchute network shutdown is something like a client and the APC UPS is something like a server. So if power goes away server/the ups send to the clients to shutdown. Am I right? Can someone explain me how to install the powerchute network shutdown? Just with a couple of words because the manual is really messy for me.

Also I have found on the net tool called apcd. How exactly the apcd works with the UPS? Which one do you prefer?

Sorry for the stupid questions and bad english but I hope you could answer my questions. Thank you in advanced.

Regards

[BillP]

Hello Ivan,

I hope my response would help you get a better idea. For Linux Operating System, the PowerChute Network Shutdown (PCNS) has been tested on RedHat, Suse and Turbolinux. The UPS with a network management card would be responsible on sending messages to the PCNS clients regarding the state of the UPS. The PCNS clients in return would be responsible on issuing a graceful shutdown command to the Operating System. PCNS is also capable of running command files and notification.

[BillP]

Hi Jonathan,

first of all thank you for your kind reply. I understand now. Can you tell me more information about PowerChute and CentOS? CentOS is binary the same as Red Hat thats why I think it should not be a problem to be used on CentOS.

Can you please provide me with some instruction on how to install PCNS on Linux? I find and read the manual on the apc site but its kind a messy for me because they write for Windows than for Linux then for Solaris and its kind of messy. What I understand is that before I start the installation I`m going to need to install jre. Somewhere on the net I find out that PCNS installs jre. So whats is the truth? Once the PCNS is installed what we need to do in his web interface? Any special configuration?

Once again thank you for your information!

Ivan

[BillP]

If you are using an Operating System that is not supported, I believe a command file or script from a supported OS can be used to shutdown the CentOS. When it comes to installing the PCNS on a Linux machine, I suggest that you download the PCNS 2.2.4/2.2.5 - Installation Windows, Server Core and Linux guide from here. It is a zip file, let me know if you can't open it on your end.

Here is what I got from the guide:

* If you are installing from the Web site, locate the file pcns224_OS name.tar.gz (e.g. pcns224_linux.tar.gz) on the APC Web site and copy it to a temporary directory on your server. Change your working directory to the temporary directory. Then type the following commands:
bq. gunzip pcns224_OS name.tar.gz \\ tar -xf pcns224_OS name.tar
* Then you need to check what version of JRE you have, you can use the guide that I have asked you to download. Here are the steps that follows.
bq. To install in a conversational mode, type the following command: \\ ./install.sh \\ The installer will prompt for the directory to install to and the directory of the system-installed Java. You cannot specify a directory name that contains a space, for either directory. \\ If you do not specify an installation directory, it will be installed to /opt/APC (the default). If you do not specify a Java directory, the Java bundled with the installer will be used when appropriate (see JRE version). \\ Once the execution of install.sh has been completed, you must configure PCNS for logon and the NMC information. Type the following command from the PCNS directory to configure your setup in a conversational mode: \\ ./PCNSConfig.sh \\ Note: PCNSConfig.sh should never be run twice.
After installing PCNS you will then access the PCNS using the web interface using https://PCNS Client IP Address:6547.

Here are some knowledge base articles that I hope could help you out.
http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2910/kw/PCNS%20Linux
http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9060/kw/PCNS%20Linux

[BillP]

Thank you for your instruction again!

I have installed PCNS on CentOS. From the ups web interface (where you can see clients of PCNS) I see that that machine on which I installed the PCNS is listed. Also I connected

http://PCNS:6547 -> and I automatically download a bin file? Is this bin file used when shutting the machine?

However when I open:

http://PCNS:3052 I open a web interface of PCNS. Is there anything special I need to do here? More especially on Configure Shutdown? I thought that if I selected the notification on the UPS web interface then this is enough. Should I also setup also in PCNS to which email address to send me the notification?

And one more question. How can I test all this? According to the PCNS:

Communication has been established
PowerChute Network Shutdown version 2.2.4 started

So I think everything is fine. Event log is fine and also I can see the PCNS IP address listed in the UPS web interface. How can I test it? I do not want to stop the electricity. I just want to shutdown the server on which I install the PCNS?Can I do this from the UPS somehow?

Jonathan I would like to thank you for your help. You have been very good to me so thank you very much for your kind help!

Thank you!
Ivan

[BillP · Accepted solution]

It is recommended that you use https://ClientIP:6547 to access the PCNS. What is the exact filename of the bin file by the way? What browser are you using to access the client? By any chance can you access the PCNS Web Interface using a Windows machine?

By default, after you have installed PCNS it would shutdown the PC once the UPS reaches the Low Battery state/signal which is 2 minutes by default. If you would like to test this then you will need to run the UPS on battery until it exhaust the battery charge. There is another scenario wherein a OS shutdown can be achieved, that is by using the On Battery event. If you login to the web interface of PCNS and go to Configure Events you will be able to see the UPS: On Battery event listed. You will need to click on the circle that falls under Shutdown System for this event and put a check on the box that says Yes I want to shutdown the system and the number of seconds that you would like to UPS to run on battery before it tells the PC to shutdown.

If you have multiple PCNS clients listening on a certain UPS/network card you need to choose or know which one among the clients would take the most time to shutdown/turn off. On each PCNS client you will need to go to Configure Shutdown and uncheck the box that says Turn Off the UPS after the shutdown finishes. You will only mark this on the Client that would turn off last because if you fail to do so or you didn't removed it on the other machines, once that PC is almost done with the shutdown it will send a signal to the UPS to turn itself off. If you have other clients/ devices that are still powering down it can cause it to drop the load.