VMware with Dell VxRail Support: UPS with Outlet Groups

Example 1a: Standard Cluster. Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, no shutdown command file or SSH action configured, PowerChute deployed as a VM.

PowerChute is deployed as VM inside the Cluster, configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration. The option to Turn off the Outlet Group is enabled on the Shutdown Settings page. No shutdown command file or SSH action configured. The durations in this example are as follows:

• VM and vApp Shutdown Duration = 120 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Delay = 60 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Duration = 180 seconds

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 issues a command to turn off the Outlet Group and the Outlet Group turn off starts.
3. PowerChute starts to shut down User VMs and vApps.
4. After 2 minutes (VM/vApp Shutdown Delay), PowerChute sends a request to the Network Management Card to shut down the cluster using the VxRail REST API.
5. PowerChute then starts a local OS shutdown to power itself off. All user VMs must be powered off before cluster shutdown can proceed.
6. After 60 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Delay), the NMC issues the VxRail cluster API shutdown command. At this point, all user VMs including the PowerChute VM should be off.
7. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Duration), the cluster and ESXi hosts are shut down and the UPS will turn off shortly after this.

8. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configurable on the Configuration – Outlet Group page in the NMC user interface) 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.

Example 1b: Stretched Cluster. Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, no shutdown command file or SSH action configured, PowerChute deployed as a VM.

PowerChute is deployed as a VM on the Management host outside the Cluster, configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration. The option to Turn off the UPS is enabled on the Shutdown Settings page. vCenter Server is deployed as a VM on the Management Host outside the Cluster. No shutdown command file or SSH action configured. The durations in this example are as follows:

• VM and vApp Shutdown Duration = 120 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Delay = 0 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Duration = 180 seconds
• vCenter Server Appliance Shutdown Duration = 240 seconds

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 issues a command to turn off the Outlet Group and the Outlet Group turn off starts.
3. PowerChute starts to shut down User VMs and vApps.
4. After 2 minutes (VM/vApp Shutdown Delay), PowerChute sends a request to the Network Management Card to shut down the cluster using the VxRail REST API. The NMC issues the VxRail cluster API shutdown command. At this point, all user VMs should be off.
5. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Duration), the cluster and ESXi hosts are shut down.
6. PowerChute shuts down the vCenter Server Appliance.
7. After 240 seconds (vCenter Server Appliance Shutdown Duration), PowerChute shuts down the Management and Witness hosts, including the PowerChute VM. The UPS will turn off shortly after this.

8. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configurable on the Configuration – Outlet Group page in the NMC user interface) 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.

Example 2a: Standard Cluster. Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, shutdown command file configured, PowerChute deployed as a VM.

PowerChute is deployed as VM inside the Cluster, configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration. The option to Turn off the Outlet Group is enabled on the Shutdown Settings page. A shutdown command file is configured. The durations in this example are as follows:

• VM and vApp Shutdown Duration = 120 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Delay = 180 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Duration = 180 seconds

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 issues a command to turn off the Outlet Group and the Outlet Group turn off starts.
3. PowerChute starts to shut down User VMs and vApps.
4. After 2 minutes (VM/vApp Shutdown Duration), PowerChute sends a request to the Network Management Card to shut down the cluster using the VxRail REST API.
5. PowerChute starts to execute the shutdown command file.
6. After the delay configured for the command file has elapsed, PowerChute then starts a local OS shutdown to power itself off. All user VMs must be powered off before cluster shutdown can proceed.
7. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Delay), the NMC issues the VxRail cluster API shutdown command. At this point, all user VMs including the PowerChute VM should be off.
8. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Duration), the cluster and ESXi hosts are shut down and the UPS will turn off shortly after this.

9. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configurable on the Configuration – Outlet Group page in the NMC user interface) 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.

Example 2b: Stretched Cluster. Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, shutdown command file configured, PowerChute deployed as a VM.

PowerChute is deployed as a VM on the Management host outside the Cluster, configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration. The option to Turn off the UPS is enabled on the Shutdown Settings page. vCenter Server is deployed as a VM on the Management Host outside the Cluster. The durations in this example are as follows:

• VM and vApp Shutdown Duration = 120 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Delay = 0 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Duration = 180 seconds
• vCenter Server Appliance Shutdown Duration = 240 seconds

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 issues a command to turn off the Outlet Group and the Outlet Group turn off starts.
3. PowerChute starts to shut down User VMs and vApps.
4. After 2 minutes (VM/vApp Shutdown Duration), PowerChute sends a request to the Network Management Card to shut down the cluster using the VxRail REST API. The NMC issues the VxRail cluster API shutdown command. At this point, all user VMs should be off.
5. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Duration), the cluster and ESXi hosts are shut down.
6. PowerChute shuts down the vCenter Server Appliance.
7. After 240 seconds (vCenter Server Appliance Shutdown Duration),  PowerChute starts to execute the shutdown command file.
8. After the delay configured for the command file has elapsed, PowerChute shuts down the Management and Witness hosts, including the PowerChute VM. The UPS will turn off shortly after this.

9. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configurable on the Configuration – Outlet Group page in the NMC user interface) 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.

Example 3a: Standard Cluster. Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, SSH action configured, PowerChute deployed as a VM.

PowerChute is deployed as VM inside the Cluster, configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration. The option to Turn off the Outlet Group is enabled on the Shutdown Settings page. A SSH action is configured to execute before host shutdown, with a delay of 30 seconds applied. The durations in this example are as follows:

• VM and vApp Shutdown Duration = 120 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Delay = 180 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Duration = 180 seconds

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 issues a command to turn off the Outlet Group and the Outlet Group turn off starts.
3. PowerChute starts to shut down User VMs and vApps.
4. After 2 minutes (VM/vApp Shutdown Duration), PowerChute sends a request to the Network Management Card to shut down the cluster using the VxRail REST API.
5. PowerChute waits the 30 second delay configured for Execute SSH Action before Host Shutdown, and starts to execute the SSH action.
6. PowerChute then starts a local OS shutdown to power itself off. All user VMs must be powered off before cluster shutdown can proceed.
7. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Delay), the NMC issues the VxRail cluster API shutdown command. At this point, all user VMs including the PowerChute VM should be off.
8. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Duration), the cluster and ESXi hosts are shut down and the UPS will turn off shortly after this.

9. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configurable on the Configuration – Outlet Group page in the NMC user interface) 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.

Example 3b: Stretched Cluster. Turn off the Outlet Group enabled, SSH action configured, PowerChute deployed as a VM.

PowerChute is deployed as a VM on the Management host outside the Cluster, configured for a Single/Redundant UPS configuration. The option to Turn off the UPS is enabled on the Shutdown Settings page. vCenter Server is deployed as a VM on the Management Host outside the Cluster. A SSH action is configured to execute before host shutdown, with a delay of 30 seconds applied. The durations in this example are as follows:

• VM and vApp Shutdown Duration = 120 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Delay = 0 seconds
• Cluster Shutdown Duration = 180 seconds
• vCenter Server Appliance Shutdown Duration = 240 seconds

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 issues a command to turn off the Outlet Group and the Outlet Group turn off starts.
3. PowerChute starts to shut down User VMs and vApps.
4. After 2 minutes (VM/vApp Shutdown Duration), PowerChute sends a request to the Network Management Card to shut down the cluster using the VxRail REST API. The NMC issues the VxRail cluster API shutdown command. At this point, all user VMs should be off.
5. After 180 seconds (Cluster Shutdown Duration), the cluster and ESXi hosts are shut down.
6. PowerChute shuts down the vCenter Server Appliance.
7. After 240 seconds (vCenter Server Appliance Shutdown Duration), PowerChute waits the 30 second delay configured for Execute SSH Action before Host Shutdown, and starts to execute the SSH action.
8. After the delay configured for the SSH action has elapsed, PowerChute shuts down the Management and Witness hosts, including the PowerChute VM. The UPS will turn off shortly after this.

9. The Outlet Group will turn off after the Power Off Delay (configurable on the Configuration – Outlet Group page in the NMC user interface) 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.

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:

• VM/vApp Shutdown and Startup Duration

• Cluster Shutdown Delay

• Cluster Shutdown Duration

• Delay Host Maintenance Mode (for stretched cluster configurations)

• 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 Low Battery Duration set on the NMC should be equal to or greater than the Power Off Delay for the outlet group.