Backup-UPS XS 1500 Not Activating "Reboot on Power" after graceful shutdown

[Anonymous user]

Hi all,

Addendum: Has anyone managed to get a server running Windows 2003 to boot backup automatically when NOT using PowerChute?

Apologies for posting on something so common but I've not been able to get a definitive answer to this. The situation is this, I have server with a Backup-UPS XS 1500 connected to it and nothing else. When the battery reaches 50%, the Windows shuts the server down gracefully and all is well with the world.

The problem occurs when power is restored as, despite the servers BIOS "State on Power Restore" being set to on, the UPS unit doesn't seem to be triggering it. When power is restored nothing happens. To test my theory, after a graceful shutdown of the server and power restore I manually unplugged the power lead of the server from the UPS and plugged it back in and the server sprang to life. I've summarised what I need to know in to questions for quick reference:

1) Am I correct in thinking that when power is restored to a UPS, if there is no load it stops the power going to the output sockets for a few seconds to simulate a "power restore" to I.T. equipment?

2) If this is correct, can I extend how long this simulated power outage takes as I suspect my server is reacting quick enough and is turning around to the UPS and saying "Sorry, did you say something"?

3) If not, does anyone know a workaround for this?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Bob

Message was edited by: Mr Fett

[Anonymous user]

Hi all,

Addendum: Has anyone managed to get a server running Windows 2003 to boot backup automatically when NOT using PowerChute?

Apologies for posting on something so common but I've not been able to get a definitive answer to this. The situation is this, I have server with a Backup-UPS XS 1500 connected to it and nothing else. When the battery reaches 50%, the Windows shuts the server down gracefully and all is well with the world.

The problem occurs when power is restored as, despite the servers BIOS "State on Power Restore" being set to on, the UPS unit doesn't seem to be triggering it. When power is restored nothing happens. To test my theory, after a graceful shutdown of the server and power restore I manually unplugged the power lead of the server from the UPS and plugged it back in and the server sprang to life. I've summarised what I need to know in to questions for quick reference:

1) Am I correct in thinking that when power is restored to a UPS, if there is no load it stops the power going to the output sockets for a few seconds to simulate a "power restore" to I.T. equipment?

2) If this is correct, can I extend how long this simulated power outage takes as I suspect my server is reacting quick enough and is turning around to the UPS and saying "Sorry, did you say something"?

3) If not, does anyone know a workaround for this?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

Bob

Message was edited by: Mr Fett

[Anonymous user]

The voltmeter was just a suggestion as a way to easily see when power stops coming out of the UPS. If no voltmeter is available, I would suggest just plugging a light bulb in. When the light goes off, you know that the UPS has cut power output. Its low-tech, but effective.

Actually, PowerChute Personal Edition does not support Windows 2003, so you would need to use the built in Native UPS support. You miss out on some alarm configuration, and status information, but you still have all the core shutdown capabilities. The testing we were describing should work the same on either platform.

[Anonymous user]

Hi dirtfoot,

Thanks again for your help.

I just wanted to clarify - I understand the "why" of putting a light bulb in but what I don't understand how the UPS will not see this as a load (the smallest bulb I can find here is 11w which is presumably enough load for the UPS to still think it needs to provide power, therefore stopping it from ever going to sleep?).

Apologies for the renewed questions, I'm just worried I'm missing something!

Thanks

Bob

[Anonymous user]

The UPS does go into a sleep state (cuts output power after a graceful shutdown until AC returns) after a graceful shutdown, but not immedaitely. There is a delay (not configurable in a Back-UPS) that must expire before it cuts output power completely. Is it possible that in your testing, you did not wait long enough, and the UPS never went to sleep?

I'm not sure exactly how you were testing your UPS, but I would suggest the following procedure:

1. UPS online with a PowerChute computer running.
2. Input power is removed from UPS, and PowerChute initiates a graceful shutdown.
3. Do not restore input power until the UPS has completely cut output power. This can be tested with a voltmenter, or by having a light plugged into the UPS.
4. Return input power to the UPS, and verify that output power returns with voltmeter or light.

This test should satisfy the computer's BIOS settings for input power loss/return, and it should spring back to life if its configured for 'Always On' or a 'Last State' setting.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the quick response - I shall try it out tonight!

One quick question however - I don't have a voltmeter and so could use a light but wouldn't this represent a load and prevent the UPS from entering the sleep mode? Or is there a particular way of doing this?

Thanks again

Bob

[Anonymous user]

One other thing - is there any advantage to using PowerChute if Windows 2003 Server is shutting down the system gracefully as it is?

Thanks

Bob

[Anonymous user]

Hi Dirtfoot,

Alas I tried the configuration as suggested but no luck. Here's what I did:

1) Made sure only the server was plugged in to the UPS
2) Set the Windows power management to shut down the server at 95%
3) Pulled the plug to the UPS
4) Watched with joy as the Windows 2003 Server shutdown gracefully (although it seems disconcertingly quick)
5) Waited 11 minutes after the server had shutdown and plugged the UPS back in to the wall
6) Cried when I realized the server wasn't going to boot up because the UPS hadn't cut power to it.
7) Pulled then plugged in the server plug from/to the UPS and watched with happiness as the server powered up.

So it seems that for some reason my UPS unit isn't cutting the power to the server - any one got any ideas?

I tried installing PowerChute Business Edition (as it supports Windows 2003) but discovered that it doesn't recognize UPS devices via the USB cable (apart from the super expensive business "Uber Super Backup Pro Deluxe 2000" UPS units which we simply can't afford and as Dirtfoot pointed out, the personal edition which does exactly what I need doesn't support Windows 2003. Brilliant.

Many thanks to Dirftoot for all your efforts however - you went way beyond the help offered by the APC online support.

Regards

Bob

[Anonymous user]

Was the UPS still providing battery output power after 11 minutes? Was there still the audible On Battery alarm? Or was the UPS completely shut off after the 11 minutes?

[Anonymous user]

Hi Sgt.Slaughter,

Thanks for the response.

The UPS was still providing power and it is intermittently beeping.

Its causing us no end of problems as we have power cuts almost every night here (Caribbean) and our clients in the UK (who wake up 5 hours before us) are unable to VPN in or collect email because the server isn't repowering.

Kind Regards

Bob

[Anonymous user]

Hi all,

I've now run the same test using an APC BACK-UPS XS 500 and a APC BACK-UPS LS 500 unit and none of them have repowered the server.

Has anyone managed to get a windows 2003 server to automatically power up WITHOUT using PowerChute? I get the distinct impression that whatever signal the UPS needs to be told to go to sleep, Windows 2003 native support isn't sending it.

Thanks

Bob

[Anonymous user]

One option would be to call into APC (800-890-4272) and request an RJ45 to Serial simple communications cable. You can use this with the BackUPS XS line and use PowerChute Business Edition.

This would be a step in the right direction to guarantee server reboots. That along with the following Kbase:

http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2929

Thanks.

[Anonymous user]

Sgt. Slaughter / Dirtfoot,

Just a quick message to say thanks again for all the help - I shall be calling support shortly to try and arrange being sent (or purchasing) the cable as advised.

Great forum with great contributors!

All the best

Bob

[Anonymous user]

Well finally got through to APC and spoke to "Danny" who'd never heard of a Serial to RJ45-type connector but when he did some research, discovered they do exist but that APC don't recommend this method. Nonetheless he agreed to send me one of the cables and its now (hopefully) on its way!

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

When you use a simple signalling cable with a Back-UPS like you will be doing, it is important to choose the correct UPS type during the Agent installation. The software will NOT be able to auto-detect your UPS. You will need to choose "Back-UPS" as the UPS type, and specify which COM port the UPS is connected to.

Here is a K-Base link to a FAQ for the Business Edition installation:
http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=2777