How to configure PowerChute NOT to shutdown the server even if the battery level is critical?

[Anonymous user]

Hello.

I've got two servers (A and B both with PowerChute Business Edition 9.0.1 installed)  and two UPS ( Smart-UPS RT 3000 XL).

Each of the servers has two separate power supplies so that each server is connected to both UPS.

Each UPS takes power from separate power provider. In this configuration if only one provider fails (which eventually results in one of the UPS running out of power) there is no need to shutdown any of the servers - there is always the second power supply.

However, each UPS has an USB cable for event signaling (for first UPS connected to first server, for second UPS connected to second server ) and if one provider fails it eventually triggers shutdown for one of the servers, which is not a desired result for me. PowerShute does not know that there is separate power source for the server being shut down. Even if i disable shutdown in "Event Actions" for every action this still results in shutdown while testing and I do not know how to disable this.

Is there a way to configure PowerChute NOT to shutdown the server even if the battery level of the monitored  UPS is critical? I would like to close both servers at the same time if and only if both power sources are down and i managed to do this using scripts. The problem still remains however with the failure of single UPS...

Any ideas ? Generally I am not allowed to rearrange how the UPS are connected to the servers, but I can consider this option if I find that there is no other way.

Regards,

Wojciech Klarowski.

[Anonymous user]

Hello.

I've got two servers (A and B both with PowerChute Business Edition 9.0.1 installed)  and two UPS ( Smart-UPS RT 3000 XL).

Each of the servers has two separate power supplies so that each server is connected to both UPS.

Each UPS takes power from separate power provider. In this configuration if only one provider fails (which eventually results in one of the UPS running out of power) there is no need to shutdown any of the servers - there is always the second power supply.

However, each UPS has an USB cable for event signaling (for first UPS connected to first server, for second UPS connected to second server ) and if one provider fails it eventually triggers shutdown for one of the servers, which is not a desired result for me. PowerShute does not know that there is separate power source for the server being shut down. Even if i disable shutdown in "Event Actions" for every action this still results in shutdown while testing and I do not know how to disable this.

Is there a way to configure PowerChute NOT to shutdown the server even if the battery level of the monitored  UPS is critical? I would like to close both servers at the same time if and only if both power sources are down and i managed to do this using scripts. The problem still remains however with the failure of single UPS...

Any ideas ? Generally I am not allowed to rearrange how the UPS are connected to the servers, but I can consider this option if I find that there is no other way.

Regards,

Wojciech Klarowski.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

You should purchase network management cards for the UPS and then install PowerChute Network Shutdown (PCNS). PCNS has been designed to work in a redundant configuration like yours. Application Note #98 "Using PowerChute Network Shutdown in a Redundant-UPS Configuration" describes the feature and setup. You can find the document at this link http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/BKIR-6R9NX5/BKIR-6R9NX5_R2_EN.pdf

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for your reply Bill,

But is there any way I can achieve the same result without purchasing management cards for UPS?

In other words: Is it possible to configure PowerChute is such way that it will NOT shut down the server after a power failure?

[BillP]

Hi,

PowerChute Business Edition is not designed with the feature you are looking for. PowerChute Network Shutdown offers that feature.