SCVMM: UPS with Outlet Groups

Example 1:  Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, no shutdown command file configured.

PowerChute is installed on the SCVMM physical machine and configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration with several Hyper-V hosts managed by SCVMM. The option to Turn off the Outlet Group is enabled on the Shutdown settings page. No Shutdown command file is configured.  

When a critical UPS event, such as On Battery occurs, the following sequence is triggered.

1. PowerChute reports that the UPS is on battery.
2. After the shutdown delay configured for the On Battery event has elapsed, PowerChute sends a command to turn off the outlet group that PowerChute is registered with. The outlet group turnoff starts.
3. PowerChute sends a command to SCVMM to start a maintenance mode task on the hosts.
4. After 2 minutes (Maintenance Mode duration), PowerChute issues the host shutdown command.
5. After a few seconds PowerChute issues the Operating System shutdown command.
6. After a 70 second delay the operating system starts to shut down.
7. The outlet group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (set up on the NMC Configuration - Outlet Groups page) has elapsed.

• If registered with the Main Outlet Group, the UPS will wait for any Switched Outlet Groups to turn off before the Main Outlet Group turnoff starts.
• If registered with a Switched Outlet Group, only that delay is counted down.

It is recommended that the outlet group Power Off Delay is configured to allow enough time for the operating system shutdown to complete. You should allow extra time to ensure that the outlet group does not turn off before the operating system.

Example 2: Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, shutdown command file configured.

PowerChute is installed on the SCVMM physical machine and configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration with several Hyper-V hosts managed by SCVMM. The option to Turn off the Outlet Group is enabled on the Shutdown settings page. A shutdown command file is configured.

When a critical UPS event, such as On Battery occurs, the following sequence is triggered.

1. PowerChute reports that the UPS is on battery.

2. After the shutdown delay configured for the On Battery event has elapsed, PowerChute sends a command to turn off the outlet group. The outlet group turnoff starts.

3. PowerChute sends a command to SCVMM to start a maintenance mode task on the hosts.

4. After 2 minutes (Maintenance Mode duration), PowerChute starts to execute the shutdown command file.

5. After the duration configured for the shutdown command file has elapsed, PowerChute issues the host shutdown and operating system shutdown commands.

6. An additional 70 second delay is counted down before the operating system starts to shut down.

7. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configured on the NMC Configuration - Outlet Groups page) has elapsed.

   • If registered with the Main Outlet Group, the UPS will wait for any Switched Outlet groups to turn off before the Main Outlet Group turn off starts.
   • If registered with a Switched Outlet Group only that delay is counted down.

It is recommended that the Outlet Group Power Off Delay is configured to allow enough time for the shutdown command file and the operating system shutdown to complete. You should allow extra time to ensure that the outlet group does not turn off before the operating system.

Example 3: Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, shutdown command file configured, Execute Command File after Host Shutdown enabled.

PowerChute is installed on the SCVMM physical machine and configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration with several Hyper-V hosts managed by SCVMM. The option to Turn off the Outlet Group is enabled on the Shutdown settings page. A shutdown command file is configured and Execute Command File after Host Shutdown is enabled, with a 30 second delay.

When a critical UPS event, such as On Battery occurs, the following sequence is triggered.

1. PowerChute reports that the UPS is on battery.

2. After the shutdown delay configured for the On Battery event has elapsed, PowerChute sends a command to turn off the outlet group. The outlet group turnoff starts.

3. PowerChute sends a command to SCVMM to start a maintenance mode task on the hosts.

4. After 2 minutes (Maintenance Mode duration), PowerChute issues the host shutdown command.

5. Following the configured 30 second delay, PowerChute starts to execute the shutdown command file. After the duration configured for the shutdown command file has elapsed, PowerChute issues the operating system shutdown command.

6. An additional 70 second delay is counted down before the operating system starts to shut down.

7. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configured on the NMC Configuration - Outlet Groups page) has elapsed.

   • If registered with the Main Outlet Group, the UPS will wait for any Switched Outlet groups to turn off before the Main Outlet Group turn off starts.
   • If registered with a Switched Outlet Group only that delay is counted down.

It is recommended that the Outlet Group Power Off Delay is configured to allow enough time for the shutdown command file and the operating system shutdown to complete. You should allow extra time to ensure that the outlet group does not turn off before the operating system.

Recommended Power-Off Delays for Outlet groups

By default, the outlet group Power Off Delay will be the same value as the Low Battery duration configured on the NMC. PowerChute will automatically increase the Power Off Delay for the outlet group it is registered with, if the total shutdown time it needs is greater than the Power Off Delay.

The total shutdown time includes the following values:

• Shutdown Command File Duration

• SSH Action Duration

• Built-in delay of 2 minutes (this consists of a 10 second OS shutdown delay and a 60 second OS shutdown duration; rounded up)

The time required to gracefully shut down your operating system is not covered by the total shutdown time, as PowerChute cannot determine how long it will take to complete. The Power Off Delay for the outlet group should be long enough for the OS to gracefully shut down. You should add extra time to allow for unforeseen circumstances. The Low Battery Duration set on the NMC should be equal to or greater than the Power Off Delay for the outlet group.