Need help configuring my nmc and powerchute network edition

[BillP]

Hi there. My first post here.

I have a simple configuration based on an apc smart ups 1500Va with a nmc (Ip already configured) and two physical hosts (esxi ) connected to ups. What I'd like to achieve is very simple. My ups has a 25 minutes runtime with this load ( two hosts plus network switch) . I'd like to gracefully shutdown the vms in case of a power outage. At the moment I've installed powerchute network edition on a vm just for testing purpose . nmc sees correctly the machine's ip but I don't know ho to set all the parameters. here is waht I'd like to achieve:

the ups goes on battery---->After 600 seconds it sends a shutdown signal to all the vms (aprox. time in order to complete the poweroff sequence: 180 seconds). The ups then shuts down itself and restart when the power is back. Would you be so kind to to tell me what to set on the nmc and what on the agent ? 

thanks in advance.

Max

[BillP]

Hi,

The basic setup is, install PowerChute Appliance on each host. The Appliance tell the host when it should shut down and the host then tells the VMs to power down. See http://forums.apc.com/spaces/7/ups-management-devices-powerchute-software/forums/general/84099/vm-pr... for information on powering down the VMs. 

To get the host to start automatically you need to configure PowerChute to tell the UPS to turn off. This is available in the PowerChute web interface under shutdown settings. In the BIOS of the host server you need to set it to power on when AC is restored. The UPS will power down once the hosts have powered down. Then when AC is restored the UPS will power back up and the hosts will power up when the UPS begins to provide AC. You will need to configure either low battery threshold on shutdown delay for outlet group/s depending on the UPS type and model to be sure that AC is not cut to the host prior to them shutting down completely. 

[BillP]

thanks Bill for your reply but I cannot use the virtual appliance and here is the reason why:

the local storage of both hosts has been virtualized through a software called datacore vsan and it is managed by two virtual appliance which are exposing the storage to the esxi via iscsi . these vms should never be powered off or better but I don't think I can exclude them from the shutdown process. That's the reason why I'd go with the installation of powerchute network edition on each vm.

Related to the nmc, here is the screenshot that I find under configuration--->shutdown

(the nmc has been configured by a tech guy and not by myself) What's the meaning of the values?

how does the ups work based on this configuration?

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and here is the screenshot from an agent installed on a vm. Which line shall I configure and how ?

thanks again

Max

XhBnMO4e8bYpxJOln62DWw%3D%3D.png

[BillP]

Hi,

What you are doing is not a supported configuration. If you cannot install PCNS on a VMware vMA or install the Appliance your option is to install PCNS on a Windows system that is out side of the host (physical computer). Then configure PCNS on the Windows system to communicate with the host to power down. 

the settings for the NMC and PCNS are all described in the help files and the PCNS events are also listed in the User's Guide starting on page 101. 

Examples:

Low Battery Duration

A runtime remaining threshold, below which a low battery condition is triggered on the UPS. For example, if the Low Battery Duration is set to ten minutes, and the UPS predicted runtime remaining reaches ten minutes or below, a low battery condition is triggered. If input power is not restored to the UPS, it will turn off when the battery has exhausted.

The runtime remaining has dropped below the configured threshold while on Battery.

The runtime remaining has dropped below the configured threshold while on battery. You can configure this threshold using the shutdown action on the Configure Events page.

When the UPS in running on battery power and the runtime remaining on the UPS drops below the threshold, PowerChute will trigger a shutdown sequence. See “Sequenced Server Shutdown” for more information.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Sorry for this misunderstanding. Actually I can install PCNS on each of my vms without any issue . I have a total of 15 vm's but just two must stay powered on until the ups shuts down as they are presenting the storage to the esxi. In other words, they will crash when battery power will be cut off. But I need to gracefully shut down the other 13 vm's . My smart ups has aprox. 25 minutes of runtime available. How do I set the NMC shutdown page if I want to shutdown my vms after, let's say, 10 minutes and considering that they need 150 sec. tu completely turn off ?

thanks again.best regards

Max

Italy