Gracefull shutdown multiple servers, network management card question

[Anonymous user]

I have bought an SUA5000 smart UPS and is about to install it into a rack with 1 Windows, 1 Mac and 3 Linux servers. I have been researching about graceful shutdown of servers and know that I have several options: serial, USB and the network management card with PowerChute software. All servers would need to shutdown gracefully by the UPS.

I would like use the serial connection for the Windows server (as it is the one with big raid build that need the best protection) and the Network Management card/PowerCHute option to the rest of the servers.

I have a question regarding networking option: In the event of power outage, the network switches will be out as well so there will be no network service. How do the servers talk to the UPS then ? If the PowerChute is configured to look for a "loss of contact" event, how can it tell a power outage from a network traffic problem?

CAn anyone shed some light ? The Network Management Card seems to be a nice feature, but if serial connection is more reliable, then I might be prepared to buy the expansion card.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks to voidstar and I_Picked_a_winna for your answers.

For the last bit that Pickeda_winna said, I assume it is not OK to have the a serial expander and NMC at the same time, but would it be OK to just use the built-in serial port and the NMC ? Would that set up run into communication problem as well ?

[voidstar_apc]

You would have a hub (or switch) connecting your Windows, Mac, and 3 Linux servers to the Network Management Card on the UPS. That hub would also be powered by the UPS. When power goes out, the rest of the network may go down, but the UPS is still powering your hub so the local segment is still up and the NMC can command the servers to shut down.

Some folks feel more comfortable using a hardwired serial connections from the expansion card, but it's not as flexible or manageable as the NMC. Another option for you is to use a serial connection for the Windows computer and use the NMC to shut down your Mac and Linux servers.

[BillP]

to add on to what voidstar mentioned, i would definitely recommend using a network management card. it will be more cost effective and has more options as far as shutdown goes. it is also supported by all of the operating systems you have and does not require additional serial cables, etc since it uses the existing network connections.

then from the network management card, you can configure email notifications, use SNMP, radius, etc. with powerchute business edition, you can do the graceful shutdown but you don't get as many bells and whistles as far as UPS monitoring features.

you also cannot use a serial interface expander and use the network management card at the same time as it is not a supported method and you will most likely run into communication problems with the UPS serial bus.

[BillP]

Thudn,

Once the network management card is installed on the UPS, the serial port on it serves as the port in order for your PC to talk to the card. This method is what do we call as the local interface, it enables the user to configure the card, make some changes with the card and fix some problems which cannot be done using Web, SNMP or FTP.

JonPro

[voidstar_apc · Accepted solution]

JonPro,

While that's true, in UPSLink units (which I believe the SUA5000 is) the serial port on the UPS will still work with PowerChute even when there's a NMC in the SmartSlot. Typing twice on the serial port will bring up the NMC's configuration menus, but otherwise the serial port is speaking UPSLink.