Does PowerChute log when client computers shutdown?

[Anonymous user]

We installed a new Smart-UPS VT 30kVA about a year ago. We are now in the process of installing PowerChute Network Shutdown (PCNS) 2.2.4 on Windows, Linux, and Mac client servers that are powered from the UPS. We have also scheduled a test of the system where we will remove AC input power from the UPS and then see if PowerChute sends the shutdown signal to the servers as per the configuration on each individual server. For the test we're testing 6 servers with "shutdown on battery" after 1 to 5 minutes. This is so we don't fully discharge the battery.

My boss wants to know if the UPS will log when it sent the shutdown (or on-battery) signal to the servers, whether they responded, etc, as a verification that things are working the way they should. I notice that the logs on the UPS do show when it switched to battery due to input power anomalies, when it returned to AC power, but I don't see any entries about sending any signals. Or, should those shutdown/on-battery signals somewhere show in a log on the server?

Garry K

[Anonymous user]

Thank you! Perhaps APC could add in for the future so PCNS would send (and log) the IP address of the responding servers?

Garry K

[voidstar_apc]

>
Thank you! Perhaps APC could add in for the future so PCNS would send (and log) the IP address of the responding servers?
>

Perhaps!

Right now, the NMC broadcasts shutdown information over the network on all subnets where it thinks there are clients. There's normally no communication from the clients back to the NMC except for starting a UPS shutdown. Part of this is because there can be a large number of clients. The clients are constantly monitoring the state of the UPS and will log an communication lost message if the they are not receiving information from the NMC.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

We ran our UPS on-battery PCNS test over the weekend, and the logs do NOT show any data from when the individual client servers shut down as based on their individual configurations. I'm guessing that the logs will only show the shutdown was initiated when the UPS itself sends the signal.

It would be nice to add for the future to have the individual clients send their IP address (if not their DNS name) to the Network Management Card in the UPS when they initiate their own shutdown so to have a logged record in one central location. It would also help to easily verify that the PCNS software was actually working as it is supposed to.

Garry K

Message was edited by: Garry K