Dell VRTX and UPS setup

[mjs_mjs]

Interesting, I've not played with command line to the chassis on the VRTX much, but I wonder if I could script this from my VMware Virtual Appliance.... would have to be careful with timings and sequencing etc, but could be workable!

 

ssh in

 

racadm chassisaction -m chassis nongraceshutdown

 

will kill the chassis. 'help chassisaction' gives you the other options for power commands from the command. (can also be done over serial into the back of the CMC.)

 

if you can script like a boss you can query the power state of each blade also. kill blades by ('-a' is all '-m server-1' for a blade)

 

racadm serveraction -a graceshutdown

 

and 'help serveraction' gives you the rest of the commands, but

 

racadm serveraction -m server-6 powerstatus

 

is the query for a blades power state...... if you want to write a script that does a query then kill, then kill chassis you should be running along swimmingly.

 

btw i have a m1000e with 16 blades if you want me to try the scrip in a non production environment for you. i don't have the storage element like the VRTX but the options are there in the cmc by the looks of it.

[mjs_mjs]

you could also have a fire up script to run from the management pc/network/appliance to trigger fire ups in the right order.

[clickrgs]

@Linfit and @DaveAshworth - Thank you both fro the information. If I message you my email address, would you both be happy to give a review of the VRTX? Our Business Manager would like to hear a view from someone who currently uses the VRTX as their main school system.

[Linfit]

No problem.

[DavR]

Sure - can't comment on purchase and set up though, I wasn't around for that bit.

[-ahmed-]

Hi Guys,

 

I have been having the same issue with my VRTX setup. My blades shutdown with the help of APC PowerChute tool but the chassis doesn't shutdown when the main power fails and it doesn't power up when the power is restored. Ironically all my 10 year old servers work as expected but my state of the art tech fails with dealing with a power outage.

 

I have been talking to dell support but then have been useless =/

 

Did you guys figure out how to get the chassis to communicate with your UPS' or how to issue remote shutdown and boot up commands to the chassis ?

 

Thanks

[mjs_mjs]

how to issue remote shutdown and boot up commands to the chassis ?

 

ssh into the CMC;

 

racadm chassisaction -m chassis graceshutdown

 

the problem you might be having is on the following;

Dell PowerEdge M1000e Chassis Management Controller Firmware Version 5.1 User?s Guide

 

so maybe have an external machine fire the start chassis command (can be done from a raspberry pi)

 

*edit: these are for the m1000e which is slightly different but very similar.

Edited January 19, 2017 by mjs_mjs
just realised for m1000e

[DavR]

Hi Guys,

 

I have been having the same issue with my VRTX setup. My blades shutdown with the help of APC PowerChute tool but the chassis doesn't shutdown when the main power fails and it doesn't power up when the power is restored.

 

Hi @-ahmed-, and welcome!

 

Odd that you are seeing this behaviour. While the VRTX doesn't seem to have something inbuilt for graceful UPS shutdown, it should at least turn back on when power is restored.

 

Reading this thread on Spiceworks, the VRTX chassis behaviour is to go to last known state when power is restored after an outage, so if it was on it will turn back on, if it was off, it will stay off. I can confirm that this is what ours does.

 

Is everything getting adequate power? If your server room power is fairly clean I would be inclined to run a few PSUs off mains and a few off UPS. Maybe the UPS isn't correctly advertising the return of power.

[SpaceInvader83]

Sorry to resurrect an oldish thread, but can anyone with a Vrtx let me know if they have split the supplies over multiple UPS? I am running in 3+1 PSU and just wondering what would be the best practice.

[DavR]

I run two on mains, two on UPS. That way either UPS or mains can fail, and the servers stay up.

[howartp]

As far as I recall, my VRTX is all on one UPS.