Can A Back-UPS Pro 1000 shut down a Windows Server 2008 machine ?

[Anonymous user]

I have a Back-UPS Pro 1000 (BR1000G) that I would like to use with a Windows Server 2008 machine (communicating via USB cable). It's a Dell PowerEdge server, although that probably makes little difference, and I'm running the 64-bit version of Windows 2008 Server, which may make a difference). However, it appears that APC does not intend for their customers to use any of their "Back-UPS" products to protect server hardware, and they are not marketed for that purpose.

From what I've researched and been told by APC support, PowerChute Business Edition (which I installed) works with Windows Server 2008, but it does not support monitoring of their "Back-UPS" units. PowerChute Personal Edition will support their "Back-UPS" units, but it is not guaranteed to work on Windows Server 2008, and APC will not support its use on that OS.

Does anyone have experience using PCPE on a Windows 2008 Server ? Will PCPE install and reliably shut down the server during a power outage ?

Thank You !

Message was edited by: SineWave

[BillP]

PCPE is not recommended to be installed on Server 2008. Server OSs are generally designed to user Server Type UPSs, like a Smart UPS or Symmetra LX. They do indeed utilize PowerChute Business Edition versus Back UPS that utilize PowerChute Personal Edition.

I understand that there are other computers out there though using Server OSs but do not require a Smart UPS.

Ultimately, Server 2008 will not be supported by APC for use with PCPE. It is not on the compatibility chart and you may run into issues installing/uninstalling it. I would recommend against it but for your application it may work.

PCPE compatibility chart -> http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/JNOE-7GSAQJ_R8_EN.pdf

[Anonymous user]

Thank you, picKed, (who responded)... "PCPE is not recommended to be installed on Server 2008"

Yes, that was my understanding also, but I was hoping to hear other people's experience, such as "I could not get it to work no matter what I tried", or perhaps someone replying with something like "It's not officially supported, but it should work just fine... I've had personal edition running on my Win Server 2008 box for a year now without any problems", or something similar.

I guess I'll attempt to install PCPE on my server and see what happens. It's a brand new system with no production stuff running on it yet, so even if something horrific should happen, like the server hanging or failing to shutdown during an outage, no big deal. Besides, I like adventure.

(If this message board lets me quote a previous post in my reply, I can't figure out how to do it.)

Message was edited by: SineWave

[BillP]

alrighty. i agree with clarkson here. many people ask for the manual uninstall instructions after botched installs. i have seen a small success rate on server *2003* but not really with 2008.

[Anonymous user]

Well, I did install Powerchute Personal Edition 3.0 for Windows 7 (although I don't know if the PCPE 3.0 downloads for Vista, XP, etc on APCs website are in fact different than the one labeled specifically for Win 7) on my Windows 2008 Server (64-bit) before I read the advice against doing so fron Clarkson & PicKed.

It installed without any obvious problems, and it appears to be functioning correctly. It displays correct status info for the UPS, and I can control the UPS settings (ie: turn on/off audible alarm when on battery power). When I get a chance, I will configure it to shut down after five minutes on battery, and see if my server shuts down gracefully.

That brings up another question... Is it possible to have my server (a Dell Poweredge T110) power itself on when commercial power is restored ? There is a BIOS setting that causes the machine to resume the same state (powered on or off) when power is restored, but the server will not have shut down because power failed. It will have shut down because the PowerChute software told it to shut down. In fact, in a scenario such as a ten minute power failure, where Powerchute shuts down the server five minutes into the event, the line voltage at the UPS battery-supplied receptacles will have never failed. Could someone clarify this issue for me ? I would think it's impossible for the UPS to issue a power-on command to a computer that is powered off. Does a little robot crawl out of the UPS, walk over to my server, and press the ON/OFF button ?
: -- )

Message was edited by: SineWave

[BillP · Accepted solution]

That brings up another question... Is it possible to have my server (a Dell Poweredge T110) power itself on when commercial power is restored ? There is a BIOS setting that causes the machine to resume the same state (powered on or off) when power is restored, but the server will not have shut down because power failed. It will have shut down because the PowerChute software told it to shut down. In fact, in a scenario such as a ten minute power failure, where Powerchute shuts down the server five minutes into the event, the line voltage at the UPS battery-supplied receptacles will have never failed. Could someone clarify this issue for me ? I would think it's impossible for the UPS to issue a power-on command to a computer that is powered off. Does a little robot crawl out of the UPS, walk over to my server, and press the ON/OFF button ?

Yes, that BIOS setting is explained in these knowledgebase articles:

http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1003/

http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/948

also, here is a general timeline of what normally happens:

Shutdown time line, software not installed:_

1. UPS goes to battery, the on battery beep sounds

2. The UPS will sound the on battery beep until it reaches the last few minutes of run time. The length of time depends on the load and how old the battery is.

3. When the unit reaches the last few minutes of battery life it will then sound its low battery alarm.

4. Just before the battery is completely exhausted the ups will turn itself off.

5. If the UPS went to battery due to a brown out the unit at this point will be in LVSM until the voltage becomes acceptable again.

PowerChute Personal Edition default shutdown time line:_

1. UPS goes to battery and PCPE starts its preserve battery power counter.

2. When the counter expires it sends a command to the UPS to start counting its turn off delay and then commands the OS to shutdown.

3. The operating system shuts down and the UPS continues to count its turn off delay. (Once the UPS finishes counting its turn off delay it will reboot and nothing can stop this from happening.)

4. The UPS cuts power to the outlets then rechecks to see if the incoming power is acceptable. If it is not it waits there until power returns.

5. If the UPS went to battery due to a brown out the unit at this point will be in LVSM (low voltage sleep mode) until the voltage becomes acceptable again.


The outlets "reboot" to sort of change the power state to the outlets and then if the BIOS is set correct, tell the attached server to turn on again.