Nutanix Shutdown - VM Prioritization - Single UPS Configuration

In this example, there are two Nutanix hosts, and the physical PowerChute server being powered by a single UPS. PowerChute is installed on a physical machine outside of the Cluster. VM Prioritization is enabled and VMs are prioritized into High, Medium, Low, Group 1, Group 2 priority groups.

The following shutdown sequence occurs when the shutdown action is enabled for the On Battery event.

  1. The UPS has been running on Battery power for x number of seconds. PowerChute starts the shutdown sequence on each protected host.
  2. PowerChute issues a command to turn off the UPS, if configured.

  3. PowerChute begins to shut down the VMs on Nutanix hosts A and B in the order in which they are prioritized:

    First, the un-prioritized VMs are shut down sequentially. As the duration for un-prioritized VMs elapses, the Group 2 VMs are shut down sequentially, followed by Group 1 priority VMs, then Low priority VMs, and Medium priority VMs, and finally the High priority VMs are shut down sequentially. The VMs within each priority group are not shut down in a particular order.

  4. PowerChute runs the shutdown command file or SSH action.
  5. After the shutdown command file duration has elapsed, PowerChute shuts down the Nutanix hosts.
  6. PowerChute shuts down the operating system on the physical machine running PowerChute.
  7. The UPS shuts down.


Nutanix Shutdown - VM Prioritization - Advanced UPS Configuration

In this example, a UPS device is powering the vCenter Server, and a single UPS is powering the two Nutanix hosts in the Cluster. PowerChute is installed on a physical machine outside of the Cluster. VM Prioritization is enabled and VMs are prioritized into High, Medium, Low, Group 1, Group 2 priority groups.

Critical event on UPS #2: Option to shut down virtual hosts is enabled for this UPS. VM Prioritization is enabled.

  1. UPS #2 goes on battery.
  2. A UPS critical event is triggered for Host A and Host B and PowerChute issues a shutdown command on the hosts.
  3. PowerChute issues a command to turn off the UPS, if configured.

  4. VMs will be shut down in the VM Shutdown sequence, in the order in which they are prioritized:


    First, the un-prioritized VMs are shut down sequentially. As the duration for un-prioritized VMs elapses, the Group 2 VMs are shut down, followed by Group 1 priority VMs, then Low priority VMs, and Medium priority VMs, and finally the High priority VMs are shut down. The VMs within each priority group are not shut down in a particular order.

  5. After the shutdown command file or SSH action duration has elapsed, PowerChute shuts down Host A and Host B.

  6. The UPS shuts down.