PCNS 4.0 on esxi 5.5 (free edition) agent communication

[MarcMuylaert_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/11/2015

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In the setup screen of the PCNS I am able to communicate with the installed VMA (192.168.0.42) but unable to communicate with the vmware server itself (192.168.0.250).

How can I check the powerchute agents are installed on the vmware server and are working?

thx

Marc

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 5/11/2015

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Marc,

PowerChute is not installed on the ESXi server it is installed on the vMA. If the version of ESXi you are running is the free version then PowerChute cannot send a power down command to the server. PowerChute is only compatible with a full licensed version of ESXi server.

When you run the PowerChute set-up wizard and enter the ESXi server/host information if PowerChute cannot communicate with the server/host you will see a warning. If PowerChute can communicate with the server/host the wizard will continue and when you view the PowerChute event log there will be an entry “Host is accessible. PowerChute will be able to issue commands to the Host.” .

To test power down you can set PowerChute to power down the server after x seconds/minutes on battery and switch the UPS to battery. After the set amount of time PowerChute will begin the power down process.

[MarcMuylaert_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/11/2015

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Hi Bill,

Thx, yes in the Vma.. I just repeated the setup, no errors, it is a free esxi edition (5.5) but all the communications are setup with this Vma, in my case 192.168.0.42.  Perhaps this is the required behaviour and is it this VMA that will shutdown the esxi host. So the previous image I send with the powerchute agents on is not relevant?

192.168.0.250 is the esxi server

192.168.0.42 is the vma

192.168.0.41 is the Powerchute card in the UPS.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 5/11/2015

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Hi,

PowerChute relies on remote command line to send power down commands to the ESXi server/host. VMware restricts remote command line access to none licensed versions of ESXi. PowerChute has to access the server/host via remote command line because it is not running on the server/host. If you install PowerChute on the ESXi host you void your VMWare warrantee. So for PowerChute to work properly you need to purchase ESXi server/host license from VMWare to allow remote command line access.

The screenshots you have provided show that PowerChute has established communications with the Network Card this is installed in the UPS "Registration with the Network Management Card/s Successful". It does confirm that PowerChute can communicate with the server/host.

[MarcMuylaert_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/11/2015

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So If I understand correctly, although powerchute can communicate with the host, and as the host is a free esxi, the remote command line will NOT get through?

So I have to choose another way to issue a shutdown, a specific command script that does the shutdown job?

Thx for your patience.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Anonymous on APC forums on 5/12/2015

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Hi Mark,

There is a KBase FA159768, that may be of help to you when it comes to shutting down an unlicensed ESXi server. 

The link to the KBase is below:

http://www.apc.com/site/support/ie/en/faq/

Regards,

Breda

[MarcMuylaert_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/14/2015

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Hi Breda,

Thx for your answer.

I got this mail from APC but it does not show up in this thread, it should. I tried this setup, just installed the ovf template and performed the setup with the browser, no Linux commands to enter. It is installed but yet untested, that's planned next week.

message start

Hi Marc,
I Suggest you try using the prebuilt PCNS Virtual appliance instead, its basically a prebuilt SMALL linux VM which you just deploy on the ESXi host, boot it up and configure a few settings then enable it for auto start. Once configured if there is a Power fail / UPS shutdown signal, the VM uses its preinstalled VMware tools to tell the Host machine to start the shutdown sequence.  Thats how i have it done in my Home Lab ESXi setup, if you need help just give me a buzz.

-Alex.

message end

[MarcMuylaert_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/22/2015

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Hi Breda,

So even with the prebuild small Linux VM, although I see an event that a shutdown for the esxi server is issued, nothing happens. It is a free ESXI with a key provided by vmware.. so I guess that's why it is not working.

Next step is to follow the way you described.. problem is the way to create a command file is not that simple if you have no linux background.. 

regards

Marc