PCNS Configuration

[BillP]

This question was originally posted by Joe on APC forums on 6/1/2017

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Even after reading a number of posts and articles on this subject I still find it confusing.

If I configure the NMC to initiate a shutdown event with 15 minutes of run time remaining do I still need to configure shutdown events in PCNS or can I leave them at default (greyed out)?

Thanks >> Joe

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 6/2/2017

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Hi,

When the UPS reaches the low battery threshold the NMC sends a signal the each of the configured PCNS clients and they start the OS shutdown process. You do not need to configure anything else within PCNS. Likewise if the UPS has switched outlet groups and the outlet group reaches the defined shutdown range NMC sends a signal the each of the configured PCNS clients and they start the OS shutdown process.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Joe on APC forums on 6/2/2017

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So is my following layman's understanding correct?

Configure shutdown on the NMC and only the NMC if:

• you want all the connected PCNS clients to shutdown in the same manner/schedule.
• you you want the UPS to turn off before completely draining the battery.

Configure shutdown in PCNS if you want the server/machine to respond differently than the NMC setting.

Thanks again.  You are a breath of fresh air.

Best >> Joe

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 6/5/2017

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On 6/2/2017 4:43 PM, Joe said:

Configure shutdown on the NMC and only the NMC if:

• you want all the connected PCNS clients to shutdown in the same manner/schedule.

Correct.

On 6/2/2017 4:43 PM, Joe said:

you you want the UPS to turn off before completely draining the battery.

This will happen even if you select a configurable PowerChute Shutdown event. You can configure PowerChute to turn the UPS off or the UPS will power it self down once the batteries get low. When the UPS reaches low battery it will wait the low battery duration, then the UPS turn off delay, then a built in 2 minute dealy that is non configurable and finally power down.

On 6/2/2017 4:43 PM, Joe said:

Configure shutdown in PCNS if you want the server/machine to respond differently than the NMC setting.

Correct. 

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Joe on APC forums on 6/5/2017

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Perfect.

Thanks >> Joe