Suggestions with our setup

[Anonymous user]

Hello,

Hope this is teh correct area to post this.

We have 3 server cabinets containing about 20 Dell servers with redundant PSU, these are connected to 8 APC SMartUPS 3000 or 3000XL UPS.
As the servers have 2 PSU in each we have connected 1 PSU to 1 UPS and the other PSU to another UPS for backup purposes.

We would like to be able to monitor the UPS and initiate graceful shutdowns, but im unsure as to the best way to achieve this.

Whilst it would be possible to change the PSU cabling, we'd prefer to not do this if possible.

We would be prepared to buy 8x Network Management Cards and PowerChute deluxe to control but how would we configure the shut down procedure?

Are there any alternatives to the NMC and software route?

Thanks in advance

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Powerchute deluxe is used with a serial or usb connection. We would recommend purchasing the Network Management Cards and using Powerchute Network shutdown(which is free). You would install this on each server and could set up in a redundant setup so the software would look at both Network management cards before doing a shutdown(if one UPS went down but the other didn't) Please take a look at the document below for a more detailed(and visual) explanation.


http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3143/kw/PCNS%20redundant