Question : Problem: Using APC Powerchute with ESX 3.5

Hi,

I'm trying to use PowerChute Network Shutdown to shut down running VM's and power off the host in the event of a power failure. I'm using ESX 3.5U2 and PowerChute Network Shutdown pcns-2.2.1-100.i386.rpm

I have installed it as per these instructions http://vmetc.com/2007/11/18/how-to-use-apc-powerchute-to-shutdown-vmware-esx-3/ and set up the agent to talk to the network management card in the two UPS's.

I can ping the UPS network management cards from the service console.

I have configured PowerChute via the web interface on the host, and pointed the 'Run this command file (full name)' to the shutdown script which is in
/usr/local/bin/PowerChute/shutdown.sh on the host.

However when I initiate a shutdown from PowerChute nothing happens ie the script doesn't run.

I am able to run the script from the service console and it works.

I have sniffed for packets from the UPS with tcpdump -i vswif3 udp port 3052 and they arrive as follows. I am not sure if these are shutdown packets.

20:53:58.345343 192.168.10.91.44003 > 192.168.10.255.3052: udp 483
20:54:01.808220 192.168.10.90.47222 > 192.168.10.255.3052: udp 670
20:54:23.986166 192.168.10.91.44003 > 192.168.10.255.3052: udp 469
20:54:27.353714 192.168.10.90.47222 > 192.168.10.255.3052: udp 475

I'm wondering if permissions are the problem, root has r+x on the shutdown script but I'm not sure what the PowerChute runs as - I figured probably root as it need's sufficient permissions to shut down the host.

Has anybody else got this working?

Cheers,

Mark

Answer : Problem: Using APC Powerchute with ESX 3.5

I believe that the 2.2.1 is not supported with 3.5 specifically, it should work but something may have changed.

How are you handling the shutdown of the virtual machines before the host shuts off?