Shutting down ESXI and physical windows servers using PCNS using network and not power outlets

[SystemUpLtd_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 7/14/2015

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Hello

I have just purchased an SMT750RM2U UPS and am looking to use it to setup a controlled shutdown of my servers.

The UPS is plugged into the building MAINS, no servers are plugged into the UPS power outlets.

All the devices and servers are plugged into the building UPS, which lasts for about an hour.

I want to setup the Powerchute Network Shutdown and Powerchute Network Management Card software so that when the building mains power is lost, the UPS goes onto battery (runtime is over 4 hours as i have nothing plugged into it).

I want to run on battery for 30 minutes before starting a controlled shutdown of my physical windows servers and physical ESXI 5.5 hosts running VCentre server and 20 virtual windows machines.

I have installed the PCNS and PCMC software but am confused over the conflicting options on which should be configured first.

Also, if i want to shutdown physical machines via the network, do i need to install PCNS full software on each and every machine or is there a small agent that is installed that cannot control PCNS servers?

Thanks in advance

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 7/15/2015

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Mark,

You should install PowerChute on each of the physical Windows server and configure them to power down the OS after UPS has been on battery for 30 minutes. To shutdown the ESXi host/s and VMs you can configure 1 of the physical Windows server to communicate with vCenter and shut down the host/s and VMs that way. Or you can install the PowerChute Appliance as a VM on a host and have it communicate with vCenter and the host/s for shut down.

Application Note 180 describes the option with VMware. You should review PowerChute Network Shutdown Standard Users Guide for help with the Windows setup. VMware Users Guides for help configuring for VMware. For help with the installation review PowerChute 4.0 Installation Guide.

[SystemUpLtd_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 7/15/2015

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Thanks Bill, much appreciated

I have also installed the software for the APC UPS Network Management Card, do the settings for this override any of the PCNS settings?

I have installed the PCNS on each physical windows machine and they shutdown perfectly.  I have also installed the PowerChute Appliance as a VM on one of the ESXi Hosts and it communicates with the hosts and i can shut them down fine, however, the ESXi hosts do not shutdown, but remain in Maintenance mode.

Is it possible to also shutdown the ESXi hosts?

I do not need any automated startup configured.

Many thanks

Mark 

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 7/15/2015

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Mark,

Yes. The hosts should be shut down. Review the PowerChute event log and in /opt/APC/PowerChute/group1 there is an error.log file that will list why the hosts were not shut down. In most cases it is caused be permissions but it can also be caused by a DNS issue.

If you see this error in the event log “Cannot connect to vCenter Server. PowerChute may not be able to issue commands to Virtual Machines or Hosts." then the issue is permissions. If you review the PowerChute Users Guide starting on page 110 of the PDF you will find errors and solutions.