Multiple Power Supplies and Multiple UPS

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

We're running a couple of servers, all equipped with dual power supplies. We have two UPSes powering all servers.

One each server, power supply A is connected to UPS A; and power supply B goes to UPS B. This creates a redundant power source in case an UPS fails.

The UPSes are connected to the network and we can monitor them through http.

We want to configure our network in order to have our UPSes send a signal to the servers so they can gracefully shut down during a power outage.

My worry is: is it possible to configure the servers (or the PowerChute agents) NOT to shutdown on the first shutdown signal? We don't want to have critical servers going down when a single UPS is failing and the network is still supposed to be runnning.

We want our servers to shut down when both UPSes are about to run out of batteries; not when one single UPS is failing and we still have facility power.

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

you have to do it at least with the same TYPE of UPS - such as Smart UPS, Symmetra, etc. because i just dont think it is plain supported with different types of
UPSs through the software side of it - like using a Symmetra and Smart UPS.

futhermore, it is not recommended to do it with different models of Smart UPS or whatever UPS you have either because of the difference in load ratings, runtimes, etc - like if you used a Smart UPS 1000 and a Smart UPS 2200. obviously they will probably have different load ratings and one may run out of battery

by default, after doing a Custom Install on PCNS, the software will only shutdown after it receives the shutdown command from BOTH servers.

[see this article for exceptions and a little bit of other general info on this subject|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3143]

See Answer In Context

Erasmus_apc · ‎2021-06-30

PowerChute Network Shutdown can perform the shutdown needs that you are looking for.

With PCNS223 you can point to each UPS Network Management Card and the servers will only shut down when it sees a shutdown event you have configured occur on both UPS' for X amount of time (configurable on PCNS).

You can find the installation manual that includes instructions for a redundant UPS configuration here:
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SFPCNS223&tab=documentation

Please make sure that you are not using APC Network Card firmware v3.5.7 on your UPS systems as we have recently discovered that this can cause issues with PCNS functionality. Version 3.5.5 works perfectly fine.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-30

Hi there.
I got the message from support that we cannot do that when the kind of UPS are different.
Is it true? In our company we are using different model (all with management card). WE want to test it but at the moment we do not have a time for it. Is possible to configure one server and two different model’s UPS to shutdown the server (of course when the powers lose on both UPS).
Regards
Pawel

BillP · ‎2021-06-30

you have to do it at least with the same TYPE of UPS - such as Smart UPS, Symmetra, etc. because i just dont think it is plain supported with different types of
UPSs through the software side of it - like using a Symmetra and Smart UPS.

futhermore, it is not recommended to do it with different models of Smart UPS or whatever UPS you have either because of the difference in load ratings, runtimes, etc - like if you used a Smart UPS 1000 and a Smart UPS 2200. obviously they will probably have different load ratings and one may run out of battery

by default, after doing a Custom Install on PCNS, the software will only shutdown after it receives the shutdown command from BOTH servers.

[see this article for exceptions and a little bit of other general info on this subject|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3143]

Teiger · ‎2023-11-21

The link in this solution is no longer valid. Can you please update?