PCNS stand alone for VMs & vCenter Appliance

[BillP]

We’d like to set up PCNS on our servers, but I’ve come across some conflicting approaches.

There are three ESXi 5.5 hosts.  Each host has about four VMs.  There is no clustering.

One of the hosts also has the vCenter Server Appliance installed -- vCenter Server for Windows is not used.

We want to add PCNS just for shutdown of the VMs & hosts.  We do not require VM migration or vApp management.

I’ve seen this described as “stand alone”, with the PCNS agent installed on each host.  Sounded like vCSA is not central to this kind of set up.

Looked into the PCNS VMware Virtual Appliance and into PCNS Agents.  What’s the best way to install PCNS on the above?

Thanks,

Jim

[BillP]

Hi,

Your best option is to install PCNS virtual appliance on one of the host and configure it to work with vCenter Server. See page 4 of Application Note 180 and Schneider Electric FAQ FA311016 "How to run PowerChute Network Shutdown setup wizard & configure for VMware ESXi hosts and vCenter Server" 

[BillP]

Hi Bill,

Since we currently use the vCenter Appliance, we want to avoid setting up vCenter Server.  Is there an installation option that does not involve vCenter?  I don’t mind installing the PCNS Appliance or Agents on all three hosts.  Thanks & I appreciate the doc links in your note above.

Jim

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,'

On 8/29/2017 2:43 PM, Jim said:

Since we currently use the vCenter Appliance, we want to avoid setting up vCenter Server.

Sorry I should have been clearer. vCenter Server is the vCenter Appliance. VMware offers a few options for vCenter. The vCenter Server Appliance, vCenter Server for Windows, or vCenter Server for Linux. The Appliance is a bundle of vCenter Server for Linux. VMware vCenter Server is a centralized management application that lets you manage virtual machines and ESXi hosts centrally. 

Your option are to install the PCNS Appliance or PCNS on VMware VMA. You can configure to work with vCenter and only install 1 instance of PCNS or install individual instances of PCNS on each host and not utilize vCenter.