VMware ESXi 6.5 Host cannot shutdown cause VCenter 6.5 virtual appliance enter to Maintenance mode

[BillP]

This question was originally posted by Alan on APC forums on 3/4/2019

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Dear APC Support,

Our system infrastructure is listed as following: 

*        2 VM Host ESXi 6.5 (Physical Server)  -  managed by 1 Vcenter 6.5 (virtual appliance as 1 guest of Host cluster)

*        1 APC UPS - Model "Smart-UPS X 3000", SKU "SMX3000RMHV2U" with Network Management Cards - AP9630

Problem: 

 We are installed the PowerChute Network Shutdown 4.2 on a physical server (Windows Server 2012). Config as "Host managed by VCenter Server" with vsphere local administrator account. Client don't have Active Directory config as their VMware environment. 

It was test the VCenter and ESXi Host shutdown by unplug the power on UPS Device.


It found the ESXi Server cannot be shutdown base on the VM host VCenter 6.5 (virtual appliance) enter maintenance mode. 
If Vmotion the VM Host VCenter to Other ESXi Server. It result the ESXi Server can trigger the power shutdown. 
The Event log capture show as following:

May i know have any config incorrect cause the PowerChute network shutdown cannot be shutdown the VMhost just go in the maintenance mode? Have any suggest can be fix the problem?

Best Regards

Alan Cheng

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 3/4/2019

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Hi,

It is difficult to be 100 percent positive but it could be a permissions issue. I suggest un-installing PCNS 4.2 and install PCNS 4.3 that was just release. 4.3  includes enhanced logging that will help troubleshoot the issue. 

Here is a link to PCNS 4.3 https://www.apc.com/shop/hk/en/categories/power/uninterruptible-power-supply-ups-/ups-management/pow...

After installing 4.3 run the shutdown test again. if there is still an issue it will be logged in the event log and in the error.log file. The error.log file will be found in C:\Program Files\APC\PowerChute\group1