Run external command with BR1500i (RS Series) with PowerChute Personal?

[Anonymous user]

Hi All,

I've just bought an APC BR1500i. The unit is attached to two computers (one running Server 2003 the other Server 2008 SBS to which the APC BR1500i is attached) and suits the load fine.

I'd like to run an external script as I did with the unit (non-APC) that I just replaced it with to shut down the second machine.

Looking at Powerchute Personal, it doesn't look possible to run external scripts programs - is this indeed the case? Is there another way to achieve this?

Many Thanks,
Jonathan

[BillP]

Unfortunately, Personal Edition doesn't have the option to run the script, though [Business Edition|http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=125] does. You could install PCBE - it should auto-detect the Back-UPS - and enable command file execution. You'll have to create a .cmd script and put it in the designated folder (C:\Program Files\APC\PowerChute Business Edition\agent\cmdfiles by default), then you can select the script from the drop-down menu in PCBE.

You want version 8.0.1. I just installed it fine with my BR800BLK.

Darn... Erasmus beat me to it. 😛

[Erasmus_apc]

Hi,

PCPE does not allow the execution of command files, unfortunately. The software used with our Smart-UPS units does (PowerChute Business Edition), but this software is not technically compatible with the Back-UPS you have. You could try downloading the free PCBE 8.0.1 (SFPCBE801 is the web SKU) agent from our website and seeing if you can set the communication type to "Simple Signalling" or "Back-UPS" when it asks you for the communication type, and see if that works. You may need to skip the autodetect part of the PCBE installer. If you go this route you will be able to set up a command file in the event of on battery for x seconds, low battery warning, and a few other miscellaneous events, but the information you get from the GUI about the UPS will be extremely limited.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the replies!

I did try PCBE 8.0.1 Single Node Agent (before reading your posts) and allowed it to do the auto detect. When I logged into the web interface, it couldn't detect the unit, so I eventually gave up with it.

I'll try reinstalling it again by skipping the auto-detect.

Will let you know how I go.

Cheers,
Jonathan

[Anonymous user]

Hi All,

I've just tried the PCBE again, this time with the manual configuration - still to no avail I'm afraid.

I tried both "Simple signalling to any APC UPS" and "Back-UPS Pro (Simple Signalling)" - selecting the USB port (I only received a USB cable with the unit).

Interestingly, when I click Auto-Detect, the software correctly reads the model of the UPS, but the web console doesn't recognise it.

For those who have PCBE working on similar UPSes, what model/protocol are you using during set up?

I hope I can get this working - the PCBE looks like it's exactly what I need.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[Anonymous user]

Hi All,

I thought I found a solution to this - when the APC PCPE detects a power failure, it logs a message in the event log.

Because I'm running Windows SBS 2008, I was able to attach a task to the event and this turns off the second host.

I'm currently set to Medium sensitivity and have noticed a few times this week that the unit has indicated power failures for around 5 seconds (most unusual).

I'm tempted to set the unit to "Low" sensitivity, but would rather keep the sensitivity on Medium and attach my script to an event that gets logged when the APC initiates a shutdown.

Does anyone know what the Event ID is when PCPE instructs the host to shut down?

I see that 174 is logged when the PCPE detects a power failure, and 61455 when the power returns, but I've never had a situation in my environment where the UPS has instructed the host to shut down.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Message was edited by: jonthorpe

[Erasmus_apc]

ID 176 is what PCPE will generate for OS shutdown.

[Techie_apc]

i am not sure if this helps..the USB native support can allow the user to run a program. the USB native support can be configured without using the apc power chute software. please see the attached screen shot for your review.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the tip Techie - I was hoping to do this, but it seems that Microsoft have removed Native UPS support in Windows Server 2008.

If this proves not to be reliable, the other host I have is running Windows Server 2003 which I could possibly use as well.

I'll try Erasmus's suggestion for the OS power off event and see how that goes for the time being.

It would be so nice if we had this functionality in PCPE 🙂

Message was edited by: jonthorpe

[Erasmus_apc]

They removed native serial in Win2008, but they did not remove native USB UPS support. Windows 2008 can recognize an APC USB UPS and it will effectively treat it as a "battery", and add new "on battery" options in the Power Management section of the Control Panel/Server Manager.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Very interesting! I'll have a look into this further.

Thanks again!