NMC & 1500L UPS - help with network shutdown (idiots guide please) :)

[smiler_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 4/13/2013

---

This is in a home network setting.....

APC UPS1500L (lcd display)

APC AP9630 NMC

1x Windows Home Server X64 2011 server just running backups etc.

Up to 6 PC's & Laptops (Windows 7 64 & 32 bit) connected at any one time.

Server and PC's have Powerchute Network Shutdown server client installed on each.

Amazingly, I seem to have managed to set the whole thing up without any errors and without any experience.

I'm having problems getting to grips with exactly how the shutdown procedure works. Ideally I would like all PC's on the network to have some sort of warning pop up when mains power goes off and then after 15 minutes, PCNS to gracefully shutdown all remaining PC's that have not been manually shutdown. The confusion for me is do I need to run a command file on each PC to achieve this or will PCNS shut down the PC's and server anyway i.e. does the PCNS client take control in any event. I know I could just flip the mains switch to see what happens but that would be a last resort.

Is there some FAQ or SIMPLE set of examples of what command files look like, what commands they can contain etc. somewhere that could get a newbie up and running. I have searched the web and the APC site but even the simple stuff reads like VCR instructions.

Regards,  Jeff.

(in awe of those who find this stuff simple)

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 4/14/2013

---

This is the first thing I thought of providing you for reference -> http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/TDOY-5UQVBV/TDOY-5UQVBV_R3_EN.pdf

another helpful thing but be the image in the PCNS help file that shows how the shutdown occurs.

Here it is at the UPS level:

And if your UPS has outlet groups:

The only pop-up notification PCNS can do itself is if you have a Windows OS that supports the Messenger Service. I don't think anything new than XP offers that unfortunately so you may need to come up with something on your own for that issue.

How much total runtime do you have on your UPS? If you just install PCNS and don't do anything else, everything is forced to shutdown when the UPS hits the "low battery duration" (which by default is 2 minutes of runtime remaining). Any shutdown delays are also factored in there as well as command file delays if you set those on PCNS. This is sort of idiot proof but if your devices take longer than 2 minutes to shutdown, you could run into issues. You can raise the low battery duration (also known as signaling time) so that this value is higher and the clients have more time to shutdown. The values available for this setting depend on UPS model. In the AP9630 interface, you'll see this under UPS tab->Configuration->Shutdown. This setting is a good way of getting everything to shutdown at the same time.

On the other hand, if you want to stagger shutdown per client (like one server takes longer than the others to shutdown), you can configure event actions on each PCNS client so that after a condition, such as UPS on battery, lasts for X seconds/minutes, then you can have that particular PCNS client shutdown.

The only time you need a command file is when you want to do something special. PCNS will shutdown the OS as if you go to issue a shutdown command i.e. Start->Shutdown on windows OS. If you need programs to close down first or to shutdown special services, you may need a command file to do that.

Hope this helps get you start and makes sense..it sounds like you're off to a good start.

[smiler_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 4/15/2013

---

Angela,

Many thanks for such a helpful reply.

With all connected equipment I have a predicted 31 minutes of runtime. The power outages we bought the UPS to handle typically last for 10-15 minutes so I am going to leave everything as factory settings which should handle all but the most serious power cut. I experimented with the "Control" section of the PCNS software and indeed a box pops up telling the client machine user that it will shut down in two minutes which I imagine simulates what would happen in a discharged battery situation.

This will get me the rest of the way I think.

Thank you for your time, much appreciated.

Regards, Jeff.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 4/15/2013

---

You're welcome!