Setup APC + Network stutdown difficulty

[Anonymous user]

HI,

I am working on a new setup with 2x APC's with Hyper-V 2016 x2 with Replication.

I am finding it difficult to understand some terminology and documents, and it seems to be confusing after reading lots of pdfs and some youtube.

Both APC's are on the network. I have enabled HTTPS also.

Both Models:SMT1500RMI2U

1 APC for each Hyper-V server.

So, firstly, for the outlets issue, the back of the APC(s) has written: Group1 underline 2 plugs, and the last 2 plugs have no writing or lines, BUT

APC Manual- documentation says: The Main Outlet Group and the Switched Outlet Group  

from:p9 http://www.apc.com/salestools/EALN-85BQQ8/EALN-85BQQ8_R1_EN.pdf

Then login into 1 of the APC's, Configuration, outlets group configuration page, Main: UPS Outlets + Group 1: Outlet Group 1

So, which is which? all i have done is plug 2 power cables into the Group1 on the back of the APC with it underlined.

I got more questions as the documentation is not clear.

Thanks

[BillP]

Hi,

The SMT1500 has 2 outlet groups. Group 1 is a switched outlet group meaning it can be turned on and off independently of the main. The main outlet group can also be turned on and off however group 1 must be turned off prior to or in conjunction with the main. Think of how a circuit breaker panel works. You can turn off individual circuits and the remainder stay energized but if you turn off the main all circuits are de-energized. With the SMT if you turn off group 1 those outlets are de-energize. If you turn off the main all outlets are de-energized. 

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the answer, i got that part sorted now.

Next, for the install (which i have Not done yet), at the end it says to run the wizard on a different PC, so what if i do the settings and then i need to make changes after? can i change the settings from the wizard another way or something?

I am looking at UPS Basic/Advanced, etc and the HTTPS/HTTP protocol.

Thanks

[BillP]

Hi,

To run the wizard you need to launch your favorite web browser and enter https://computer ip address:6547. That will launch the PCNS web interface. To configure PCNS without using the web interface open the directory / folder you install PCNS into and edit the pcnsconfig.ini file. You should stop the PCNS service prior to editing the file and then restart the service once the edits are complete. See the attached pdf for assistance with pcnsconfig.ini 

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for answering Bill, you didnt read my question correctly, But i figured out a lot more from you answer anyway.

I am getting closer now to completing the setup of 2 APC's.

I noticed the wizard has extra steps Not listed in the setup PDF's. Also noticed i can re-run the wizard again if i need to.

Got email working now:)

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for answering my questions so far Bill.

I have a few more:

I have set the PCNS software, configure events, UPS on battery event system shutdown to 480sec, and also set on the NMC interface Outlet Group Delay to 600sec.Will this work? I have 4 VM's running here.

I got info from here: https://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/2013/07/howto-configure-low-battery-duration-and-pcns-to-shut-down...

And some reading here: http://www.apc.com/salestools/PMAR-9E5LP4/PMAR-9E5LP4_R3_EN.pdf

If this can work OK, then the last thing is testing...

[BillP]

Hi,

With those settings PowerChute will start the shutdown process after the UPS has run on battery for 4 minutes. The UPS will continue to provide power for another 10 minutes and they stop output of AC. Assuming your systems can all power down in less than 10 minutes your settings are good. If the systems need greater than 10 minutes to power down you will need to increase the outlet off delay.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I have been super busy, so sorry for the delay.

Anyway, your 4minutes is confusing, so i went back to the documentation again, and found 1 problem, fixed, so here is my setup:

PCNS       Event>480sec (8min) Configure Events/UPS: On Battery event/VMx4 120sec/Skip file/10sec wait/ 60sec wait/Shutdown Hyper-V

UPS/MNC                               Low Batt/Max Delay 15min/2min delay/small delay/turn Off

                                          (Outlets Delay is also 15min)

So, i think this can work, i am starting to understand, but its very difficult!

Regards