UPS for A Dell T300 server running SBS2008

[Anonymous user]

I am running Small Business Server 2008 on a Dell T300. I have the server, a switch and a router/modem powered by a APC BS1500LCD. However, I can not find any SW for SBS2008 for server shutdown.

Can anyone help me out?

[Techie_apc]

Terry,

APC Power Chute Business Edition version 8.0.1 software supports Windows 2008 Operating System. The PCBE version 8.0.1 will not work via the USB cable that came with the BR1500LCD. The PCBE version 8.0.1 software requires 940-0128D(RJ45 to Serial) cable in order for it to communicate with the Back UPS. It is an optional cable which does not ship with the UPS. You may find this cable on online retailer website or on ebay.

Click here to download the PCBE version 8.0.1.

Secondly, you can also configure the USB native support in Windows 2008 OS via the RJ45 to USB cable to shutdown your Server gracefully in the event of extended power failure. You do not need to use the PCBE software if you want to use the USB native support. Connect the USB cable from the UPS to the PC. The 'New Hardware Found' screen will appear for about 5 seconds and then disappear. Once the Server detected the UPS via the USB cable, you can go to Power Options applet to configure the USB native support. Please make sure that Hibernation is enabled.

I hope that this helps.

Message was edited by: Techie

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the tip Techie. I do not have the optional serial cable and would not be able to use it even if I had it as I am using the serial port to control my managed switch.

I decided to use the USB connection with the native support. When I plugged the USB connector into the Server, it recognized the UPS and installed some software. When I look at the power options there is now a 'Battery' section. Under the 'Battery' selection there is a action of Hibernate as a critical battery action On battery.

The Critical Battery Level is set to 10% and I noticed that I can change that.

There is also a 'Low Battery Level' section and I noticed that I can set the threshhold for 'Low Battery Level'. Default was 50% I can modify this setting.

There is also a 'Low Battery Action' setting that is currently set to 'Do Nothing' but can be set to 'Shut Down'

If I change the 'Low Battery Level' threshhold to say 25% and set the 'Low Battery Action' to Shut Down then I would assume that the server would go through a shut down when the Battery Level reached 25%. Is this better than having it hibernate? I have never had a computer return to proper working order after a hibernate.

Do you know if the UPS will signal the server to restart when power is restored?

There is also a 'USB Selective Suspend' when on battery setting that is currently that is currently disabled that I can toggle to Enable. Do I also toggle this setting to Enable?

[Techie_apc]

The Alarms tab is used to configure how the system will react to a power failure. The low battery alarm section is used to configure how soon a low battery warning will be issued. The critical battery alarm section is used to configure how soon a critical battery condition warning will be issued. Each battery alarm can be configured through its corresponding 'Alarm Action' button. Pressing this button will bring up a configuration menu that will allow you to configure each alarm to trigger an audible alarm, a message popup box, initiate a graceful shutdown, and/or to run a specific file.

Restarting a Server is controlled by the BIOS of the Server, not our unit or our software. The APC Management software or the native support will do the shutdown in the event of extended power failure. If you want to restart your Server when power is restored, then that is a setting on the Server itself.

Follow the below K-base documents in order to set the Server to restart automatically when power is restored.
http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1003
http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=948

If you need more information on how to configure the BIOS settings, please contact your Server or BIOS manufacturer to know the exact instructions to set the BIOS settings on your particular Server.

I hope that this helps.

[Anonymous user]

Techie:

Thanks for the quick response. However, there is no 'Alarms Tab' and no 'Alarm Action' button in the Power Options section. Remember I am running the UPS with the USB in native mode only and have not installed the APC Power Chute Business Edition version 8.0.1 software as it does not work with the USB connection.

The options I have in Power Options are:
+ HardDisk
+ USB Settings
+ Power Buttons and Lid
+ PCI Express
+ Display
+ Battery
| + Critical battery Action
| + Low Battery Level
| + Critcal Battery Level
| + Low Battery Notification
| + Low Battery Action

That being said, what do I set to initiate a graceful shutdown when the power drops and the battery is running low?

Message was edited by: TJLocke

[Techie_apc · Accepted solution]

Terry,

I have not set the USB native support yet in Windows 2008 server. However, It looks like that the Low Battery Action and Level settings need to be configured in order to shutdown the Server gracefully during power failure. And the Battery options which you mentioned appear to be user configurable settings.