Installing APC UPS PowerChute Network Shutdown Software on VMware vSphere Management Assistant for use with VMware ESXi Hosts Walkthrough Guide

The examples in this walkthrough use the current latest versions (01 Dec 2011) of PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.0.0 and vMA 5.0.0.0

Part 1: Download PowerChute Software

Select a Product Name = PowerChute Network Shutdown
Filter by Operating System = VMware ESXi
Download PowerChute Network Shutdown


The downloaded file will be named something like pcns300ESXi.tar.gz
*Note: Requires a login account for www.apc.com

Part 2: Download and deploy VMware vSphere Management Assistant (vMA)

*Note: If already have a vMA, please ignore this part
Select VMware vSphere → Select Drivers & Tools → Download VMware vSphere Management Assistant (vMA)
*Note: vMA version 5 will work fine in a vSphere 4.X environment


The downloaded file will be named something like vMA-5.0.0.0-472630.zip
Extract the files from the zip file


Deploy the vMA via a vSphere Client → File menu → Deploy OVF Template... and follow the prompts to complete, deploying from the .ovf file extracted previously.


Power on the vMA on a suitable virtual network, follow the prompts to apply a network configuration, provide a password for the vi-admin user, and this part is done!

Example configuration:


*Note: vMA 5 uses virtual hardware version 4, so will run on old ESX 3.X hosts.
*Note: the vMA can be managed via https://IP_of_vMA:5480

Part 3: Uploading and installing PowerChute Network Shutdown into vMA

Use a tool lke WinSCP to copy the PowerChute Network Shutdown software (pcns300ESXi.tar.gz) to the tmp directory on the vMA


Using the vMA command line via the console or a remote SSH session, and logged in as vi-admin, run the following commands in turn:

sudo chmod 777 /etc/rc.d
sudo mkdir /etc/rc.d/init.d
cd /tmp
sudo gunzip pcns300ESXi.tar.gz
sudo tar -xvf pcns3000ESXi.tar
cd ESXi
sudo ./install_en.sh

Press any key to display and scroll through the End User License Agreement
Type yes to the question 'Do you agree to the above license terms? [yes or no]'
Press enter to accept the default installation directory (/opc/APC/PowerChute)
Type yes to the question 'Are you sure you want to install PCNS to /opt/APC/PowerChute [Yes|No]?'
Type /usr/java/jre-vmware/bin to the question 'Please enter java directory if you want to use your system java or press enter to install the bundled Java:'
*Note: vMA 5.0.0.0 comes with Java pre-installed and this is suitable for PCNS
Type q to skip entering an ESXi host IP for now
Installation complete!

*Note: See Output in Appendix below

Part 4: Adding the ESXi Hosts

From the vMA command line, use the following command to add ESXi Hosts

vifp addserver IPADDRESSofESXiHOST

Part 5: Configuration via the PCNS Web UI

Connect to: https://vMA_IP_Address:6547 to access the Configuration Wizard, and follow through the Wizard to complete the configuration of PCNS.


Configuration Wizard: Welcome
Click Next

Configuration Wizard: Security
Enter User Name (This must be the username used to log on to the Network Management Card (NMC) Web UI. It is used both to communicate with the NMC, and log into PCNS)
Enter Password (This password will be used to log into PCNS)
Enter Authentication Phrase (This must match the PowerChute authentication phrase configured on the NMC)
Click Next

Configuration Wizard: UPS Electrical Configuration
Select how the UPS's are configured
Options are:
Using power from a single UPS
Redundant: Two or more UPS providing redundancy, with multiple power cables from the computer
Parallel: Two or more UPS combined in parallel as a single power supply
Click Next

Configuration Wizard: UPS Details
Enter NMC Protocol
Enter NMC Port
Enter NMC IP address(es)
Click Next

Configuration Wizard: Miscellaneous
Choose whether PCNS will automatically check for updates
Choose whether the UPS should turn off after shutdown finishes
Click Next

Configuration Wizard: Confirm
Click Apply

Appendix: vMA Command Line Output

login as: vi-admin
Welcome to vSphere Management Assistant
vi-admin@10.122.130.130's password:
vi-admin@localhost:~> sudo chmod 777 /etc/rc.d

We trust you have received the usual lecture from the local System
Administrator. It usually boils down to these three things:

#1) Respect the privacy of others.
#2) Think before you type.
#3) With great power comes great responsibility.

vi-admin's password:
vi-admin@localhost:~> sudo mkdir /etc/rc.d/init.d
vi-admin@localhost:~> cd /tmp
vi-admin@localhost:/tmp> sudo gunzip pcns300ESXi.tar.gz
vi-admin@localhost:/tmp> sudo tar -xvf pcns300ESXi.tar
ESXi/
ESXi/Installation.pdf
ESXi/install_en.sh
ESXi/jre1.6.0_24_linux64.tar.gz
ESXi/pcns300.tar.gz
ESXi/relnotes.htm
ESXi/silentInstall.sample
vi-admin@localhost:/tmp> cd ESXi
vi-admin@localhost:/tmp/ESXi> sudo ./install_en.sh

...

Do you agree to the above license terms? [yes or no]
yes

Please enter the installation directory or press enter to install to the default directory (/opt/APC/PowerChute):

Are you sure you want to install PCNS to /opt/APC/PowerChute [Yes|No]?
yes
Creating /opt/APC directory ...
PCNS will be installed to /opt/APC/PowerChute

Please enter java directory if you want to use your system java (example:/usr/local/bin/jre/jre1.6.0_24) or press enter to install the bundled Java:
/usr/java/jre-vmware/bin
Checking version of Java ...
Detected Java Version: 1.6.0.20
Acceptable version

java version "1.6.0_20"
Java(TM) Platform, Standard Edition for Business (build 1.6.0_20-b02)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 16.3-b01, mixed mode)

JAVA_DIR=/usr/java/jre-vmware/bin/

Copying the installation files ...
Extracting PCNS files ...
PCNS is extracted to /opt/APC/PowerChute
Configuring startup files ...
Startup script=/etc/rc.d/init.d/PowerChute
Updating Linux symbolic link ...
PowerChute: unknown service
PowerChute: unknown service

In order for PCNS to shutdown the ESXi host, it must be added as a target server.
Please enter ESXi host IP (XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX) or (q) to skip:
q

Skipping configuration of ESXi Host Shutdown.
Configuring uninstall script ...
Setup the m11.cfg file

PowerChute Network Shutdown, v3.0.0
Copyright (c) 1999-2011, Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved.
Startup completed.

Installation has completed.
PowerChute Network Shutdown can be accessed through your browser at https://:6547
Please complete the configuration wizard so that PowerChute Network Shutdown can protect your server.

vi-admin@localhost:/tmp/ESXi> vifp addserver 10.122.130.51
root@10.122.130.51's password:
vi-admin@localhost:/tmp/ESXi>


Comments

  1. Thanks for the very nice instructions. I did not manage to user WinSCP or any other (S)FTP Software to connect to the vMA 5.0. How do you enable that.

    PS: Error message is somithing like "No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it.
    Connection failed".

    ReplyDelete
  2. PPS: I did manage to do WinSCP into a vMA 4.x machine allright without changing any settings but there the APC Agent would not run smoothly...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Anonymous, thank you for the comment. By default the vMA 5.0 allows access via SSH and port number 22 which WinSCP uses by default, so you should be fine. If you can telnet to the vMA IP on port 22, double-check the credentials for the vi-admin user (try logging into the console.) The vMA 5.0 default password complexity policy is pretty strong. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I ran accross the same issue as I could not log into the the VMA via WinSCP, but figured it out...My VMA was on a different vLAN than my PC. When I logged into a PC on the same vLAN it worked fine

    ReplyDelete
  5. hi vidad, can help me or post how to install powerchute in redhat os

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Unknown, if you follow the above at part 1 (for the download from www.apc.com/tools/download), and choose Linux for operating system, then APCs website should give you the manual and the pcns220lnx. Without reading the instructions nor having a RedHat box, I'm guessing you need to extract from the downloaded file onto your RedHat server, and the run the install (./install or install) Cheers!

      Delete
  6. i have same problem "I ran accross the same issue as I could not log into the the VMA via WinSCP, but figured it out...My VMA was on a different vLAN than my PC. When I logged into a PC on the same vLAN it worked fine"

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello Vivad,

    I have noticed that rebooting VMA machine causes port 6547 to be no longer opened and hence no management of pcns is available. Is it OK? Does it mean that pcns is no longer running? How can I restart it, or open the 6547 port again? (Opening requires root account, which as I understand is disabled).

    Regards,
    Jacek

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jacek,
      If just the managemement port 6547 is closed then should be fine. You should be able to login to the VMA (perhaps using a user account and 'su -' to root) and edit the firewall properties config file so that the port stays open.
      Cheers
      VCosonok

      Delete
  8. @Vidad +1

    Great write up. Appreciate your time in making this information available.

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  9. To shut down gracefully you only have to check the Virtual machine Startup and Shutdown Systems Settings in the configuration tab.
    Change the Shutdown Action to Guest Shutdown.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank You For Such a Great Information!!!!!
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