Problem With Powerchute Business and ESXi 5.5 Shutdown

[Anonymous user]

Hi all,

I'm configuring an APC SMT1500I UPS for my company. In detail, it has to provide our ESXi server enough time to do a graceful shutdown of the VMs and  power off the physical server.

I'm following this tutorial:

https://community.exchange.se.com/t5/Datacenter-Forum/bd-p/datacenter-forum

But I'm having problems with the shutdown script.

When I click on test script (the default.cmd that launches the powershell script) it says it has been executed, but nothing happens. I've tried writing also a very simple default.cmd consisting in only:

echo %date% %time% >> c:\apc_scripts\log.txt

Strangely, this works. I've followed everything in the tutorial, gave desktop interaction permissions, encrypted the password file etc.. But the powershell script won't run.

Can anybody help me fixing this issue or pointing me to another solution to gracefully shutdown VMs and power off the server?

[BillP]

Hi,

You need to install VMware vMA 5.5 or above on the ESXi 5.5 host. Then install PowerChute Business Edition on the vMA and configure it to shut down the ESXi host. You do not need to write any scripts as they are included in the PowerChute install. 

You should read Schneder Electric FAQ FA165747 "How to install PowerChute Business Edition version 9.1.x and 9.2 on VMware vMA 5.0, 5.1, or 5.5"

and FAQ FA159688 "Configure virtual machine shutdown on standalone VMware ESX and ESXi hosts protected by PowerChute."

Note: The ESXi host must be fully licensed for PowerChute to be able to power the the ESXi host. Acceptable licenses are Standard, Enterprise, Enterprise Plus The free license is not supported. 

[Anonymous user]

Hi, thanks very much for your reply. In the guide, though, doesn't mention about connecting the UPS via USB. Since it's our only viable option, I'd like to ask you if the guide is still valid for USB UPS connection. Thanks very much

[BillP]

Hi,

PowerChute Business Edition for VMware ESXi 5.5 and vMA 5.5 will only communicate with the Smart-UPS using serial comm. USB is not supported at this time. We are researching USB drivers and may add USB support for VMware ESXi and vMA to a future release. 

[Anonymous user]

Hi, Our UPS comeswith a DB9 to RJ45 ethernet cable included. When connecting it to the VM (step 14 of the FAQ) using this cable , do I still have to select Use physical serial port on the host? Or maybe instead Connect via network?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

The cable is DB9 to RJ45 which is 9 pin serial to RJ45 so you need to configure the serial port. If you purchase a network management card for the SMT then you can install PowerChute Network Shutdown on the vMA and communicate over the network. As I wrote earlier PowerChute Business Edition is support from the VMware vMA to the SMT using serial communications only.