Powerchute Network Shutdown Utility

[rinconmike_apc]

I just set up a SMX1500RM2UNC. It comes with the network card AP9631.

Is there a version of the network shutdown utility that works with Windows 7 x32? I was not able to find one.

thanks,

Mike

[rinconmike_apc]

Out of curiosity, Voidstar noted:

"You could also increase the "script execution time" in PCNS. Then, PCNS will automatically increase the power off delay if it's too short."

I am not running a specific script. I Just checked the box to shut down system under Configure Events / UPS: On Battery.

Is there a place to enter/increase script time?

I think what i have by doing it on the UPS works (I still need to pull the UPS plug and test), but curious about this other method.

Is one better than the other?

thanks,

Mike

[BillP]

its just another delay you can impose without actually running a script. the management card will know that a script delay is there and increase the delay as opposed to what I had instructed you to do. it would work either way - to me if you are not using a script and don't want to be confused later when you go back or someone else does and wonders why the delay is set with no running script, i'd do it my way.

[BillP]

yes, powerchute network shutdown 3.0.1 should work fine. my understanding is even though it should work fine, its not officially tested because powerchute network shutdown is not designed for workstation OSs - more server class. i think this might change down the line.

just install the 32 bit version listed under windows server 2003 or 2008.

[rinconmike_apc]

thanks. is there any benefit of using powechute business 9 instead? It looks like I can do all the configuration of the UPS through the network card so business edition is not really needed.

thanks,

Mike

Message was edited by: rinconmike

[BillP]

no. i would just use the network management card and its more powerful in a few respects than powerchute business edition. powerchute network shutdown is for the graceful shutdown of your operating system and computer thats attached to the UPS. if you don't need that, powerchute network shutdown is not required.

[rinconmike_apc]

ok. thanks. I installed the network shutdown utility on the pc and used the wizard to configure.

I am not sure how it works now. I have the pc hooked to outlet group 1. I want to be able to shut down the pc and outlet group 1 when there is 30 minutes of battery time remaining. I know how to use the web ui to shut down the outlet when there is 30 min remaining (under UPS/Configuration/Outlet Groups/Group 1/ then select Turn Off Outlet Group when: UPS runtime remaining is less than xx seconds.

How do I set the PC to shutdown first using the network shutdown utility?

[BillP]

i checked on this. FYI, i started with http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/PMAR-8RNKEY_R0_EN.pdf

what you'll need to do is you should have an option or had an option in the configuration wizard to select the outlet group and tell PCNS that your computer is connected to outlet group 1. then what you need to do is have that option you mentioned in the NMC configured to turn that outlet group based on the conditions you specify.

the last thing I'd do is then decide what you want to do in regards to the UPS shutting off after that PCNS client turns off. that was under Miscellaneous in the configuration wizard.

You can select the Turn off Power Source when PCNS shuts down the server field if you want the actual UPS to turn off when the PCNS server shuts down. (This does not apply to certain UPS devices: Parallel Silcon and Parallel-UPS configurations, Smart-UPS VT or Galaxy UPS devices).+

then, check PDF page 41 on http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/PMAR-8P9G2C_R2_EN.pdf which goes over how the shutdown will work on a UPS with outlet groups.

hope that helps.

[BillP]

i also found this: http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11372

[rinconmike_apc]

thanks. it is really not clear how it works. I think I need to play with it and just test it.

If I program an outlet group on the UPS to turn off when there is 20 min of run time left, will it send an alert to the Workstation to shut down and then delay the outlet shutoff for a set time? That is what i want it to do. Or do I need to program that in the shutdown utility and after shut down tell it to turn the outlet group off.

Then I would want the outlet to come back on when there is 45 min of run time left. The bios of my computer is set for when power is restored, boot the computer show with power restored to the outlet group, the computer should turn on.

[BillP]

yes, that appears correct. I'd give it a go.

[voidstar_apc]

>
is it the power off delay under sequencing I need to increase? maybe double to 240?
>

You could do that. You could also increase the "script execution time" in PCNS. Then, PCNS will automatically increase the power off delay if it's too short.

>
Last question, is there a setting somewhere that requires the power restored to the UPS to me on for 5 minutes before the outlet group power is restored? I just do not want it to be restored for a minute, turning the outlet group on and then having another power outage causing everything to turn off again.
>

That's the "min return runtime" setting.

[rinconmike_apc]

in the PCNS Web UI, I went in under configured events and clicked on "Shut Down System" for "UPS: On Battery."

I then made it for 600 seconds (10 minutes).

Under "Configure Shutdown" I did not fill in "Run this command file (full name):" or " The command file needs this much time to complete (seconds):"

I did select "Turn off this servers Outlet Group at the UPS after the shutdown finishes." which should turn the outlet group off after the computer shuts down.

Does that sound right to have it shut down 10 minutes after on battery?

Now for automatic restart, I do have my PC bios set to turn on when power restored.

So with the shutdown the way I have it set, the Outlet group should also be turned off on the UPS after the PC shuts down. So when the power is restored to the UPS, will the outlet group turn back on restoring power to the PC?

Also, on the UPS Web UI, under configuration, under outlet groups for the pc outlet, I left the defaults. which are:

Sequencing
Power Off Delay: 120 seconds
Reboot Duration: 8 seconds
Power On Delay: 0
Min Return Runtime: 0

Under Load shedding, the only item checked is "Skip outlet off delay."

Last question, is there a setting somewhere that requires the power restored to the UPS to me on for 5 minutes before the outlet group power is restored? I just do not want it to be restored for a minute, turning the outlet group on and then having another power outage causing everything to turn off again.

thanks,

Mike

[rinconmike_apc]

i tried it. however, the outlet group turned off too soon. The system was not fully shut down yet.

is it the power off delay under sequencing I need to increase? maybe double to 240?

[BillP]

sorry for the delay. i asked someone for assistance and they did some testing.

Configure the on battery event to shut down the OS after being on battery for 10 minutes. You have already done that. After being on battery for 10 minutes PCNS will command the OS to shutdown and send a shutdown signal to the UPS to power off the outlet group. This has been done also. We need you to configure the delay for the outlet group (according to your post, the delay is disabled) to be sure the outlet group is not powered off before the OS has a chance to shut completely down killing power to the computer. If the OS takes 5 minutes to shut down he should configure the outlet group off delay of 7 minutes. Adding 2 minutes just to be safe.

The OS will then shut down after being on battery for 10 minutes and the outlet group will power down 7 minutes later.

i hope that helps. this was the feedback I got.

[rinconmike_apc · Accepted solution]

i picKed a winna and voidstar thansk.

I changed the Power Off Delay under Sequencing to 7 minutes.

Under load shedding, I unchecked the "Skip Outlet Off Delay." I assume if I leave this checked then the above change to 7 means nothing.

Also, under sequencing, I changed "Power On Delay" to 5 minutes. I assume this means that power must be restored to the UPS for 5 minutes before the outlet turns on.

Here is a screen shot.

Please let me know if this is correct.

thanks.

Message was edited by: rinconmike