PowerChute scheduled shutdown and super computer support

[K-Dog_apc]

Greetings,

Can any version PowerChute perform these tasks?

1. Can PC be scheduled to shut down servers at a specific time?
2. Can it shut down just one server on a schedule independent of other servers?

Also can any version of PowerChute work with:
SGI Altix XE 1300 with 512 processors, 1.152 TB of memory, and 72 TB of Raid storage.
This is a super computer with XEON processors (E5472 3ghz).

Any support documentaion would be appreciated.

Thank you

[Erasmus_apc]

1. Yes, but with qualifications. Using a Network Management Card in the UPS and PowerChute Network Shutdown, you can set up a shutdown plan of the UPS and PowerChute clients at any scheduled time, or daily/weekly schedule. You can set a shutdown delay in regards to the UPS, etc. There is also an option that is manually controlled where you can reboot/shutdown/put to sleep a UPS and also signal a PCNS shutdown. PowerChute Business Edition also can do something very similar to this. Long story short: yes, but the UPS will also shut down.

2. PCNS cannot do this as it is a single client with control over only the server it is installed on. The NMC is not capable of sending PCNS shutdown signals without turning off the UPS it is installed in, and it just sends out a general shutdown signal to all clients and then turns the UPS off. PowerChute Business Edition allows for central management of many UPS' using a combination of serial/network communication, and could be used for independent shutdown of different servers, but this would also cause the shutdown of the attached UPS. However, if your question meant "can it shut down servers independently in response to a power failure" then yes, any version of PowerChute can be used to do this.

If you are willing to use a command file to shut down other servers, your options could become a little more flexible, as PCNS can be commanded to run a command file, without shutting down the agent. However you would still need to force an event to happen to make the command file run.

A sneaky way of scheduling shutdowns of clients without turning off the UPS would be to have a command file or tool cut off network communication to the NMC very briefly, which, if configured properly, can have the PCNS clients shut down without affecting the online state of the UPS. You can also combine this with command files running to accomplish your needs.

A UPS that has bypass functionality can also be set into soft bypass, in combination with a signal for a PCNS shutdown. This can be used to force a PCNS shutdown without turning off the load.

You will need to look at our compatibility charts on the product webpages to see if our PowerChute offerings are compatible with your computer. Our compatibility primarily focuses on the major enterprise distributions of UNIX and Windows Platforms.

To be honest, PowerChute (all versions) were designed as a tool to work in response to a UPS failure or power event, not as a scheduled shutdown tool to control the OS shutdown exclusively.

[K-Dog_apc · Accepted solution]

Erasmus,

thank you for taking the time for a thourough reply. I have checked compatability charts regarding the OS and CPU and I still need to determine if the Intel Xeon is considered an x86 as listed in the chart.

Thanks again for your support.