Monitor a UPS with Powerchute without the server being shutdown.

[Anonymous user]

Here is my situation. We have a UPS dedicated to our switches, firewall, and routers. I want to be able to get alerts and monitor the UPS using PowerChute from one of my servers but I do not want that UPS to shutdown the server in the event of a power outage or a problem with that UPS. The only way I have found to keep it from shutting down the server is to stop and disable the agent and then turn it one when I want to test it or calibrate it. Does anyone know of another way to keep it from powering down the server?

Thanks.

Message was edited by: bfrawley

[Anonymous user]

Here is my situation. We have a UPS dedicated to our switches, firewall, and routers. I want to be able to get alerts and monitor the UPS using PowerChute from one of my servers but I do not want that UPS to shutdown the server in the event of a power outage or a problem with that UPS. The only way I have found to keep it from shutting down the server is to stop and disable the agent and then turn it one when I want to test it or calibrate it. Does anyone know of another way to keep it from powering down the server?

Thanks.

Message was edited by: bfrawley

[Anonymous user]

Yeah. I am not sure if it uses the shutdown command and uses the delay feature or if it runs the cmd file and then initiates the shutdown.

[BillP]

What UPS are you using?

I think this would be easiest with a network management card which your UPS may already have if its big enough but before I start rattling off ideas, please provide the exact model number of the UPS. This should be on the UPS on a white sticker on the back or bottom of it.

[Anonymous user]

They don't have Network interfaces. The one for the network equipment is a 700. We also have an older 2200 acting as a secondary battery for a couple servers with dual Power Supplies that will drain well before the primary.

I really don't want to have to spend $500 for a stinking NIC.

[BillP]

the best you can do is install the software and dont make any configuration changes. it will then only shutdown when it reaches the low battery signaling time - which by default is 2 minutes. so worst case, it'd shut the computer down when theres only 2 minutes of battery power remaining.

:/

thats the best solution i see at this point. its free!

[Anonymous user]

I hear what you are saying but the UPS isn't supplying power to the server that is motoring it. The UPS is dedicated to our hubs, switches, and routers. The server is getting power for a different UPS. So if that UPS powering the hubs, switches, etc dies and there is still run time on the UPS powering the server I don't want the server going down.

[BillP]

If that is your set-up, then it does sound like adding a network card to the UPS would be the best solution. The AP9617 Network Management Card is costs just over $200 from many of our resellers such as [PC Connection|http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail.htm?sku=283245] and [PC Mall|http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detail.asp?dpno=367034&Redir=1&description=APC-UPS%20Network%20Man...].

When PowerChute software is used, the primary function of that package is graceful shutdown. Monitoring is another great feature, but the shutdown feature is always enabled in some way.

With the network card, you can independently monitor the UPS directly using HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, SNMP, etc. It's worth it.

[Anonymous user]

I hear you. I just don't know why they don't add the option to not shutdown the server. It is ridiculous to spend $200 when the feature should be in the software. Simply add "when power fails, do nothing."

The only other thing I have thought about doing is using a shutdown command file to stop the agent service, which would stop the UPS from communicating with the server and should keep if from shutting it down. I just don't know if the shutdown process is already started at that point. I will need to test it out.

[BillP]

The command file would execute prior to the PCBE agent starting the OS shutdown.

[BillP]

yeah that would work. we would just need to find out the point when the shutdown process is started like you said.

[BillP]

The PowerChute agent manages the delays, so it would run the command file while waiting for the user-specified command-file-delay. Then it would issue the shutdown command to the operating system only after waiting out that command file delay.

Your plan should work.... but testing is always recommended.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Thanks everyone.