How to handle multiple batteries and hosts

[dynamicci_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 7/25/2018

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I have a total of 9 VMware hosts.  I only have Essentials licensing, so there are three vCenter appliances, each managing three hosts.  There are a total of 4 batteries in use, each with an AP9630.  Each server has redundant power, and are on one pair of the batteries.

I've always just run a vMA on each host and configured PCNS on each.  Since that's EOL, I'd like to move to something supported.  Is there a better way than installing the PCNS .ova on each host instead?  There's not a lot of runtime, so each host starts shutting down within a minute.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 7/26/2018

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Hi,

Since there are 3 hosts per vCenter you should select 1 of those hosts and install the ova on it. Configure it with the vCenter Server and it be responsible for powering down all 3 hosts in the group and vCenter. You will need to do this for each group. See Application Note 180 for more information. Your configuration is listed on page 4. 

[dynamicci_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 11/28/2018

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Hi,

Sorry to dig this up so much later, but I'm finally circling back to this.  I've installed the .ova on three hosts but realized there might be an issue - the vCenter VMs aren't on the hosts they manage.  Hosts 1-3 are managed by vCenter-1, which is on hosts 4-6.  Hosts 4-6 are managed by vCenter-2 on hosts 1-3.  Same with hosts 7-9.  There's no shared storage so it was an easy way to use VMware Update Manager - put a host in maintenance mode and reboot without affecting the vCenter managing it.

Now though I'm concerned PCNS won't work right, since it's on separate hosts, and unless one PCNS can manage three different vCenters I don't see an easy way to make sure things shut down cleanly without killing a PCNS too early.  We only have 2200RM units so runtime is basically if the power's out for a minute, shut down.

Maybe I should just use a physical machine, but then again, if each instance can only manage one vCenter, I'd need three.

Any ideas?  Or am I overthinking this?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 11/28/2018

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Hi,

It does not make any difference. I have 3 ESXi host. 2 are in a cluster and the 3rd is not. PCNS is running on .22 in the cluster. I have configured it to power down the .22 & .23 in the cluster and skip the .20 running VCSA. PowerChute will shutdown the VMs running on the 2 hosts. Then host .23 will be powered down and finally itself and host .22 will be powered down. Host .20 will remain up as will VCSA. 

[dynamicci_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 11/28/2018

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I guess PCNS only needs to be on long enough to send the shutdown command?  If that's the case I can have them all shut down at the same time.  It might be quick enough.  Maybe I should put the PCNS on the hosts with a vCenter on it and make sure those three go last.  I'm just worried I'll wind up with a PCNS or vCenter shutting down too quick and run into a mess.

If a single PCNS could manage everything, I wouldn't be opposed to a laptop or NUC running it, it'd be easier to manage.  I don't want three of those, however.