Best way to manage SmartUPS-1500(rack) powering ESX host with 2 VMs?

[Anonymous user]

I have an ESX v5.5 host with two virtual machines...a Windows 7 Pro x64 management VM and a 2012 DC/AD VM.  I want to interface this host and these VMs with the UPS to perform shutdowns of everything in the event of a power outage.  What is the best way to accomplish this, and can it be done over USB?

Right now I have the PowerChute Business Edition agent installed on the Manage VM with the APC connected via USB and USB passthrough set up to that VM and everything works, but this doesn't accomplish my goal of the UPS powering everything down.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

We offer PowerChute Business Edition for VMware ESXi that can be installed on VMware vMA. Once installed it will communicate with the host when the UPS is on battery and if you follow the instruction in Kbase FA159688 the host will command the VMs down before it powers down. We offer Kbase FA165774 "How to install PowerChute Business Edition version 9.1.x on VMWare vMA 5.0 or 5.1".

Note: PowerChute Business Edition only supports serial communications between the vMA and the UPS.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks Bill!  That answers my questions and confirms the need for a serial cable.  I'll see that we replace the USB cable with a serial cable next time I have someone on-site.