What are my options?

[Anonymous user]

Hi. I need help identifying the best (& most cost effective) way to control the auto shutdown of the workstations and servers in my office. The equipment is located in 3 different areas of the office; all areas have access to the LAN.

Area 1 – rack housing Server, NAS, switch etc.
Area 2 – desk with two desktops
Area 3 – desk with two workstations

In the rack, I currently have a Smart-UPS 1500VA (SUA1500RMI2U ) that has a smart slot - and I need to purchase two more UPS to control the auto shutdown of the workstations upon power loss. I need to connect two systems to each of the additional 2 UPS units.

It would be ideal to be able to have the current sua1500rmi2u update the other two UPS with shutdown command upon power loss.

I expect to go for Sine wave units for the UPS in area 2 & 3; probably a SMT750I for area 2 and a SMT1000i for area 3.

I am happy to add a network management card (AP9630 ?) into the current sua1500rmi2u (area1) but cannot afford to put these cards into each of the additional 2 new UPS units as well (as they are £180 each?? ) I have a budget of £700 left.

How can I do what I want cost effectively?
What are the options available to me?
What is the ideal way to do this?
What’s the most cost effective route?
Can I connect two workstations to one UPS using both the USB and serial (with a USB to serial converter?) and can these be controlled across network from the sua1500rmi2u?

Thanks in advance for your help

tech@is

[BillP]

if you have the one client running powerchute network shutdown (PCNS) on your UPS with the management card, PCNS has the capability to execute command files and send a command to a remote machine.

are these UPSs always going to be on the same circuit though and always shutting down at the same time? that would be my concern is in area 1 you have a shutdown but areas 2 and 3 are still up and should not shut down.

it is not really supported to use both USB and serial at the same time is an issue as well.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks IPAW, really appreciate the help.

To confirm, all UPS will be on the same electrical and network/switch circuits and will all be powered down by ups when electrical supply is lost.

Can I confirm then:
I only need a management card in one UPS (in rack/area1)
I need to create a command file to send shutdown command from PCNS (upon power loss) to all 4 computers (on two separate ups) prior to shutting down the server & equipment in area 1 itself.
As per my rather sketchy diagram

Thanks again for your help.

[Anonymous user]

bump

[BillP · Accepted solution]

sorry, must have missed this.

ideally, you should have an NMC in each UPS to tell the individual clients connected to each UPS to shutdown so that would be my official recommendation but unofficially, if all of the UPSs are on the same electrical circuit/breaker at the panel and they'd all lose power at the same time, then you could do what you indicate in the diagram.you'd need to make sure you take note of all of the runtime each UPS has to time your command files and of course i'd definitely recommend some in depth testing on this to make sure it works properly. it might look good on paper but maybe there will be an issue we can't see yet from this discussion.