Powerchute and UPS shutdown

[Anonymous user]

Hello,

Is there not a quick and dirty How To configure PowerChute Events and UPS Events?

I guess this is how it works:

In PowerChute - configure Events:

1. I do not need to configure Shutdown Action on the row UPS on Battery. I want the system to monitor when to shutdown and not hard-time shutdown
2. On the row Runtime exceeded  I should configure Shutdown. This will enable the configured vCenter and Servers to shutdown when the condition is met. I guess powerchute is communicating with the Battery and understand when this event is triggered. Once started, this process cannot be stopped. 
3. I do not need to configure "Runtime remaining below threshold" I feel – what is the difference with 2? Of course it will come under threshold…, right?
4. I do not need to configure "Battery Discharged" because that is done through the battery itself when discharged. In the Battery, UPS Network Management Card the option Low Battery Duration forces this trigger

On the Battery/UPS itself, I configure:

1. Configuration -> Start of Shutdown -> Low Battery Duration to the time that the UPS thinks it needs to shutdown. I have no clue what this means. But I guess this is when Powerchute above shutdown everything correct, the Battery is still on. Then, when there is only 2 minutes left, that is the minimum. The battery than triggers signal to powerchute and/or other clients

1. I do not know what this is "Basic Low Battery Duration. Sombody?

1. It is not clear what the sleep time is...

My Conclusion – please correct if wrong

So I guess than logically it works like this:

- Mains Power is removed

- Battery -> management Network card -> notifies Powerchute Client

- Powerchute client waits till an even is triggered

- Remaining time comes under the threshold -> Powerchute start shuting down vmWare servers (Runtime exceeded )

Question: When will the last virtual server be shut down? When are the hosts (servers) shutdown?

- After some time, perhaps quicker than expected, the battery might give a message Battery Low Duration. Than what happens? Does Powerchute respond to this message? If it going to shutdown the hardware (esxi host to maintenance?)?

 AND:

Is there a diagram / flow on how events occur and where to configure?

Do I need to trial and error?

Sorry, I find the manuals individual not very clear on the events and the combination of ups and powerchute is for none-APC person not easy to understand.

 Any feedback that is correct, welcome!

[BillP]

@Anonymous user 

1. I do not need to configure Shutdown Action on the row UPS on Battery. I want the system to monitor when to shutdown and not hard-time shutdown. No. If you do not want the shutdown to start after the UPS has run on battery for a specified amount of the you would not configure UPS on Battery - Shutdown.
2. On the row Runtime exceeded  I should configure Shutdown. This will enable the configured vCenter and Servers to shutdown when the condition is met. I guess powerchute is communicating with the Battery and understand when this event is triggered. Once started, this process cannot be stopped. Correct.  If you hover of the i icon next to each event you will see a description.  If you click on the ? in the top right of the PowerChute web page you will open the help file. From there select PoweChute Events and Logging, Configurable event's. There you will find a detailed description of each configurable event. 
   
3. I do not need to configure "Runtime remaining below threshold" I feel – what is the difference with 2? Of course it will come under threshold…, right? No. If you read the help file you will find the differences. 
4. I do not need to configure "Battery Discharged" because that is done through the battery itself when discharged. In the Battery, UPS Network Management Card the option Low Battery Duration forces this trigger. No. Low battery and discharged battery are different. Low battery is triggered when the UPS switches to battery and the batteries fall below the set threshold. Discharged battery is when the UPS battery runtime has fallen below an acceptable range. The UPS does not need to switch to battery for discharged battery to trigger a shutdown. 

When the Shutdown Action is enabled for an event, PowerChute treats the event as critical and will trigger a shutdown sequence. Shutdown is not supported for all events: this is indicated by the presence or absence of the shutdown icon on the event row.

The Delay field is the amount of time in seconds that PowerChute should wait before initiating the shutdown sequence.

By default, PowerChute will trigger a shutdown sequence if a low battery condition occurs or the UPS is commanded to turn off. Shutdown cannot be disabled for these events using the PowerChute user interface.

On the Battery/UPS itself, I configure:

1. Configuration -> Start of Shutdown -> Low Battery Duration to the time that the UPS thinks it needs to shutdown. I have no clue what this means. But I guess this is when Powerchute above shutdown everything correct, the Battery is still on. Then, when there is only 2 minutes left, that is the minimum. The battery than triggers signal to powerchute and/or other clients

1. I do not know what this is "Basic Low Battery Duration. Sombody?

1. It is not clear what the sleep time is...

Below is from the Network card help file

Low Battery Duration

A runtime remaining threshold, below which a low battery condition is triggered on the UPS. For example, if the Low Battery Duration is set to ten minutes, and the UPS predicted runtime remaining reaches ten minutes or below, a low battery condition is triggered. If input power is not restored to the UPS, it will turn off when the battery has exhausted.

Maximum Required Delay

• It is the longest shutdown delay needed by any server listed as a PowerChute Network Shutdown client.
• It is calculated whenever the management interface of the UPS turns on or is reset, or when the Force Negotiation option is selected and you click Apply.

Basic Low Battery Duration

For a UPS on battery, this defines a runtime remaining threshold, below which a low battery condition is triggered on the UPS. The UPS will then:

• Display the low battery notification on the UPS display.
• Send the low battery notification from the UPS to connected devices via the simple signaling cable.

If input power is not restored to the UPS, it will turn off when the battery has exhausted.

Duration of Shutdown

Sleep Time

Defines how long the UPS sleeps (keeps its output power turned off) when you use the "Put UPS to Sleep" option of the "Control" menu.

My Conclusion – please correct if wrong

So I guess than logically it works like this:

- Mains Power is removed

- Battery -> management Network card -> notifies Powerchute Client. Correct

- Powerchute client waits till an even is triggered Or the UPS signals low battery 

- Remaining time comes under the threshold -> Powerchute start shuting down vmWare servers (Runtime exceeded ) If configured to do so yes. 

Question: When will the last virtual server be shut down? When are the hosts (servers) shutdown?

See the PowerChute VMware User's Guide starting on page 163 

- After some time, perhaps quicker than expected, the battery might give a message Battery Low Duration. Than what happens? Does Powerchute respond to this message? 

By default, PowerChute will trigger a shutdown sequence if a low battery condition occurs or the UPS is commanded to turn off. Shutdown cannot be disabled for these events using the PowerChute user interface.

If it going to shutdown the hardware (esxi host to maintenance?)? Yes

Is there a diagram / flow on how events occur and where to configure?

Diagrams are available starting on page 113 of the PowerChute VMware User's Guide 

We also have published Application Note 180 and I have attached a copy to this post.  

[Anonymous user]

Thank you! Will look into that soon. Very helpful since I find the given help often not so clear.