UPS/PowerChute Testing -- Best Way to Test

[Mgregory2K_apc]

Hardwre: Server 2003, PCNS v2.2, APC Symmetra 40K

So, I have PowerChute installed and configured on all 20 of my servers, registered the IP's with the NMC, and I want to test it out and troubleshoot any issues but I don't know the best way cuz I'm pretty much a noob!

First, I just want to test that each server shuts down gracefully with a Server Shutdown command from the UPS. Would my best option be to log into the NMC and go to Control>Initiate a UPS Control Action>Put UPS in Bypass and check "Send PowerChute Server Shutdown"? I just want to verify that all servers are receiving the command and actually shutdown gracefully. If so, then I'll do a full power failure test.

If not, what's better?

I'm trying to avoid servers going down hard if something isn't right.

I did a little searching but I couldn't really find much on this subject. Any info on testing PowerChute would be super duper gang!

Thanks in advance.

[voidstar_apc]

That's an interesting point... it would be nice if there's a way you could easily test PCNS without actually dropping power to the computers. Ordinarily, the NMC attempts to make sure that the UPS will turn off (and back on if AC is good) during a PCNS shutdown in order to make sure that any computers that have shut down will turn back on again.

The only option I can think of at the moment is to power the computers from the unprotected AC or another UPS, then pull the plug on the UPS you wish to test. Perhaps the other folks here have another option.

[upsguy_apc]

I would try setting the command for servers to shutdown on loss of communication.... Then just pull the cat5 cable from the UPS NMC card and see what servers shut down.

If you want to test the UPS actually shutting down on low battery you can pull all of the batteries except for 1 row to cut down on the wait time for UPS shutdown.. and then after the shutdown you can push another string in to run another test. Just don't deplete all the strings of batteries without recharging or you wont be able to restart the UPS.

Message was edited by: upsguy

[Mgregory2K_apc · Accepted solution]

I did discover that putting it in bypass will not send a shutdown command...even if you choose the option to.

However, I still don't know the best way to test this.