PCNS Insufficient Runtime Available

[Anonymous user]

Hello. I have a Smart UPS RT3000XL with Firmware v4.1 and:

Application Module

Name: sumx

Version: v3.5.5

APC OS (AOS)

Name: aos

Version: v3.5.5

Thing is Im getting the event "Available Runtime Has Been Exceeded" on only two servers, out of six. Im having to disable the shutdown event on "Runtime Exceeded" or else this servers shutdown. On the Managment Card, I see no log of this event. Im attaching some screenshots.

Ive uninstall PCNS, removed the Client from the UPS, restarted the Management Card, with no luck. ¿Any ideas?

Thanks.

[BillP]

Hi,

What version of PowerChute are you running and on what OS? Also, please send copies of the PCNS event log and the NMC event log.

[Anonymous user]

OS: Windows Server 2008 R2, mainly.

APC OS: 3.5.5

UPS Firmware: 4.1

PCNS: 3.1 Build 4512

In the attachment "events_description_help" is the help file description on "Available Runtime Has Been Exceeded". Let me explain why neither of the two conditions described are our scenario:

Maximum Required Delay: 10 minutes

Low Battery Duration: 12 minutes

Shutdown Delay: 1 minute

Runtime Remaining: 26 minutes

Condition 1:

The event "Available Runtime Has Been Exceeded" should be present if the "Maximum Required Delay" is greater than the "Low Battery Duration". 10 minutes is not greater than 12 minutes. This event is not our scenario.

Condition 2:

When the "Shutdown Delay" configured for the UPS On Battery plus the total shutdown time required by PowerChute is greater than the "Runtime Remaining" minus 2 minutes. 1 minute + 10 minutes = Not greater than 26 minutes. Condition 2 is not our scenario.

But, we are still getting the events "Available Runtime Has Been Exceeded", as shown in the attachement "avilable_runtime_exceeded_events". We also notice this behaviour on another UPS of ours. Is this a reported/unreported bug or am I still not understanding something?

Thanks.

[BillP]

Hi,

The issue may be being caused by the available runtime on the UPS fluctuating. Change the data logging interval on the NMC to 1 minute for a period of time to see if the runtime is changing.

Another thing you should do is upgrade the NMC firmware to 3.7.2 I don't see any known issue with the firmware but to be safe getting theNMC upgraded to the latest make sense.

[Anonymous user]

Well, we upgraded the firmware to the latest version, configured an event that sends an email on "Maximum Required Delay" fluctuation and changed the logging interval... we are still having fluctuations on the "Maximum Required Delay". Thing is that the "Maximum Required Delay" never goes over the "Available Runtime Remaining". Its either less time or the same, but never above. ¿Any ideas?

[BillP]

Hi,

What was recorded in the data log?

[Anonymous user]

Hello. I have a Smart UPS RT3000XL with Firmware v4.1 and:

Application Module

Name: sumx

Version: v3.5.5

APC OS (AOS)

Name: aos

Version: v3.5.5

Thing is Im getting the event "Available Runtime Has Been Exceeded" on only two servers, out of six. Im having to disable the shutdown event on "Runtime Exceeded" or else this servers shutdown. On the Managment Card, I see no log of this event. Im attaching some screenshots.

Ive uninstall PCNS, removed the Client from the UPS, restarted the Management Card, with no luck. ¿Any ideas?

Thanks.

[BillP]

Some helpful information is available within the PCNS help file for this. Go to PCNS 3.1 and then navigate to Help->Help Contents and select PowerChute Events and Logging-> and Configurable Events under that within the box that pops up. This "Available Runtime Has Been Exceeded" is explained as the first event on the list.

If this does not help, we may need to know how much runtime your UPS reports as well as your PowerChute Network Shutdown configuration file (pcnsconfig.ini - located in the install path or group1 directory).

[Anonymous user]

Thanks, Angela. Ive read the help file, but its not my case. Here are a couple of snapshots of the UPS status and configuration. Also, the pcnsconfig.ini.

What seems weird, at least to my understanding, is that only two out of six servers are getting the event. Last friday we simulated a power outage and every server got the event at the same time. ¿Do I have a wrong concept?

Mauro.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Your low battery duration is set for 1 minute. That indicates that condition 1 as described in the help file would be the cause.

When the total shutdown time required by PowerChute is greater than

the Low Battery Duration configured for the UPS. In the event of a low

battery condition, PowerChute will not have enough time to complete the

shutdown sequence before the UPS powers off.

Resolution:

Increase the Low Battery Duration value on the NMC using Configure -

Shutdown or decrease the shutdown delays being used by PowerChute.

[Anonymous user]

That did the trick. Seems Im not getting the procedure all that clear. Will have to read and test a bit more. Thanks!