PCNS and VirtualCenter on one VM - not working? ESXi Hosts not shutdown

[Anonymous user]

Dear forum,

we have the following scenario:

3 ESXi Hosts
2 USVs (Smart UPS X 3000)
UPS Configuration: Advanced
Virtual Center on VM (running on one of the 3 hosts) - Windows 2008 Server R2
PCNS 4.1 installed on the same server that runs VirtualCenter
Host managed by Virtual Center

Now we came across the following problem - On Battery Event:

as PCNS is running on the Virtual Center (which is a VM), the VirtualCenter is shutdown as the last Virtual Machine.

We thought that PCNS would maybe send the shutdown command to the ESXi hosts before shutting down the Virtual Center

but apparently it does not? And therefore, the ESXi Hosts will never shutdown? Is this correct?

Would the only solution to this problem be to have PCNS installed on a physical machine? Or is there another solution available?

Any help is appreciated! Thanks.


Log file:
11.10.2015 10:39:21 Maintenance Mode Task cancelled on Host ESX1 as VCSA VM is shutting down.
11.10.2015 10:39:20 Shutting down vCenter Server VM vCenter.
11.10.2015 10:38:18 Shutting down VMs on Host ESX21
11.10.2015 10:38:18 Starting Maintenance Mode Task on Host ESX1.
11.10.2015 10:38:18 Shutting down VMs on Host ESX3.
11.10.2015 10:38:17 Starting Maintenance Mode Task on Host ESX3
11.10.2015 10:38:13 Altbau: Shutdown sequence started on Hosts ESX3, ESX2, ESX1 in response to UPS critical event: On Battery.
11.10.2015 10:38:13 Altbau: UPS critical event: On Battery.
11.10.2015 10:38:03 Altbau: UPS's have switched to battery power.
11.10.2015 10:38:03 Altbau: UPS XXX.XXX.XXX.001 is running on battery power.
11.10.2015 10:37:59Altbau: UPS XXX.XXX.XXX.002  is running on battery power.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

The configuration you are using is not supported for the reason you mentioned. PCNS will shutdown vCenter and the VM it is running on which causes PCNS to be shutdown. Supported configurations can be found in Application Note 180 and the User's Guide. Your options are to install PCNS on a stand-alone Windows Server, or install the PCNS Appliance VM. Both of those options are listed in Application Note 180. 

[Anonymous user]

Dear Bill, 

thanks for your fast reply. 

Is it only possible to install PCNS on a stand-alone Windows Server or would it be possible for our scenario to have PCNS installed on a stand-alone Linux server?

Best wishes, 

Steff

[BillP]

Hi,

The options are stand-alone Windows, PCNS VM Appliance, PCNS installed on VMware VMA. We do not offer a stand-alone Linux option. 

[Anonymous user]

Thanks, that made it very clear now. 

[BillP]

Hi,

On 11/25/2015 5:19 AM, ste said:

If I install Powerchute on vMA - in the Powerchute Setup - can I choose  "Host managed by VirtualCenter Server" ?

Yes. You should select Host Managed by vCenter Server. 

On 11/25/2015 5:19 AM, ste said:

In case of Shutdown it then will shutdown all VMs (except vMA & Virtual Center) and in the end shuts down the 3 ESXi(s)?

Application note 180 explains this shutdown process on page 4. Basically the process is VMs / vApps are powered down, vCenter is powered down, then the hosts are powered down. The host PCNS is running on is powered down last.