Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 Frequently Asked Questions Summary PowerChute Business Edition ships with Smart-UPS 5kVA & below. This software provides UPS management, graceful system shutdown for servers and workstations using dedicated serial or USB connections. Questions Page # 1) What s new in PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? ) What languages does PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 support? ) I m using PowerChute Business Edition v9.1.1 or 9.2; why should I upgrade? ) Do upgrade features differ by Smart-UPS model? ) What are the primary differences observed on upgrade to v9.5? ) What is the effect of discontinued support for console & server components in v9.5? ) How does the battery re-order link on the battery management screen work? ) What Smart-UPS does PowerChute Business Edition support? ) What operating systems are supported by PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? ) Where can I get PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? ) What are the skus for PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? ) What s new in PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 brings in significant additions including, a. A single, unified Agent with a uniform web User Interface to manage any Smart-UPS (5kVA and below) b. Multiple Agents can now be managed via SNMP v1 or v3 as the legacy console has been removed. c. Support for 64-bit Linux operating systems. d. Support for SUSE Linux via USB. e. Security Enhancements i. SNMPv3 (in addition to SNMPv1) support for Windows operating systems. ii. SNMPv1 and SNMPv3 support for Linux operating systems. iii. Minimum supported RSA key size is now set to 2048 bits. Additionally, to enhance the overall security of PowerChute Business Edition, we ve now discontinued the less secure Console and Server components, while enhancing the SNMP capabilities of the Agent.

2 The PCBE v9.5 JRE has been upgraded to JRE 8 and is bundled with JRE 8 Update 144. To upgrade your JRE for future updates, please use the JRE Configuration Tool (SFPCBEJRE). Please refer to the JRE Configuration Tool Guide online for more details. 2) What languages does PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 support? The PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 user interface is available only in English. 3) I m using PowerChute Business Edition v9.1.1 or 9.2; why should I upgrade? Here s a summary of what PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 offers, FEATURE v9.1.1/v9.2 v9.5 Enhanced SNMP support including SNMP v1, v3 support on Windows SNMP v1 only Enhanced SNMP support including SNMP v1, v3 support on Linux Multiple UPS management Linux (Red Hat & SUSE) over USB Support Limited to 5 or 25 nodes Red Hat Linux only Unlimited nodes 64-bit Linux support ** JRE 8 (update 91 & above) support and enhanced security *** Authenticated support allowing users with SMTP password protected to receive notifications. Sequenced shutdown and restart of equipment in a pre-determined order* Outlet group control to turn on/off, reboot or shut down select outlet groups* Load Shedding to turn off select outlet groups to shed less critical equipment and conserve runtime* Automatic Update Notifications which customers can opt in to receive and be notified when a new software version is released IPv6 Support Support for VMware and Hyper-V virtual platforms * Smart-UPS with switched outlet groups only (Sequenced shutdown is supported on all Smart-UPS). ** Steps detailed in Knowledge base FA at required to be followed for PowerChute Business Edition installation on 64-bt Linux Operating systems. *** Steps detailed in Knowledge base FA304446, FA264735, FA & FA at required to be followed for PowerChute Business Edition v9.2 or less, to work with JRE 8 update 91 or higher.

3 4) Do upgrade features differ by Smart-UPS model? Apart from the following features, which are specifically available only on Smart-UPS with switched outlet groups, all the other features are available with all Smart-UPS, a. Load Shedding b. Turn-On sequence of outlets, when AC utility power returns c. Control outlet reboot d. Control immediate outlet turn off, shutdown For operating system support and the latest features, APC recommends that customers should download the latest software version available, in this case, PowerChute Business Edition v9.5. 5) What are the primary differences observed on upgrade to v9.5? On upgrade to PowerChute Business Edition v9.5, the following differences are observed, Features v9.1.1/v9.2 v9.5 Server & Console Supported Discontinued Agent User Interface (UI) Different user interfaces for Smart-UPS with Single user interface for all Smart-UPS. & without switched outlet groups. Application Shutdown Supports applications shutdown for older applications, using legacy Smart-UPS* Provides option to run command files via the Shutdown Settings screen Sequenced & scheduled Supported only for Smart-UPS with Supported on the Agent for all Smart-UPS Shutdown Switched outlet groups SNMP service Requires Windows SNMP service Does not require the Windows SNMP service. If the Windows SNMP service is being used, an alternate port can be used by the PowerChute, allowing it to work side by side with existing SNMP applications Community support Supports only default user on SNMPv1; No Supports communities to be configured for (SNMPv1) community support SNMPv1 Authentication & Privacy Only SNMPv1 supported (considered Supports SNMPv3 with multiple authentication Protocols (SNMPv3) insecure) (MD5, SHA1, SHA256, SHA512) and privacy (AES128, AES192, AES192 Ex, AES256, AES256 EX, DES) protocols.

4 Supported Traps Supports Information traps Does not support information traps, instead traps for critical, Communication lost and update available events are supported Password reset No password reset mechanism, instead Supports password reset mechanism without agent needs to be uninstalled and the need to uninstall & re-install. reinstalled * Applications supported were, Microsoft IIS V7 / v8, Lotus Notes / Domino v 7 / v8, Microsoft SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 / ) What is the effect of discontinued support for console & server components in v9.5? The following features supported on console, server are affected in v9.5, Feature Supported in Console / Updated in v9.5 Server (v9.2 or less) Combined status of Agents Console, limited to 5 or 25 in Deluxe edition) agents Using any 3 rd party Network Management System (NMS), status of unlimited number of agents can be monitored Voltage Analysis Console, provided as a graph Using SNMP OID upsadvoutputvoltage and 3 rd party NMS tools, voltage analysis can be carried out. Power event summary, Power analysis Console, provided as graph Using SNMP traps and 3 rd party NMS tools, power analysis & event graph can be plotted. Risk Assessment Console Values used in risk assessment are available on SNMP (please refer to Note 1 below) Configuring Shutdown Console, provides the option to select a power protection Using the event configuration screen on the Agent, this configuration can be achieved. policy, either stay on as long as possible, or preserve battery. Changing Username and Password Console, provides the option to change username and password (please refer to Note 2 below) Username and password can be changed on the Agent (without the need for uninstallation and reinstallation), please refer to the help or the installation guide for the reset mechanism. Software Auto updates Via PCBE Server Only Users will be notified via a log file entry and an update section added to status, on the agent. An SNMP trap which will notify NMS of the need to update is also added. Smart Events Via PCBE Server Only Smart events are now included with other events, which allow logging, , shutdown and command file execution.

5 Note 1: Following values are used by console for risk assessment & corresponding SNMP OIDs can be used by the user to assess the risk: Value Source Battery Age upsbasicbatterylastreplacedate.0 Runtime upsadvbatteryruntimeremaining.0 Load upsadvoutputload.0 UPS Age upsadvidentdateofmanufacture.0 Bad Batteries upsadvbatteryreplaceindicator.0 Agent Version is Old powerchutebuisnessedition.pcbealarms.pcbeupdateavailableflag Internal Temperature upsadvbatterytemperature Ambient Temperature mupsenvironambienttemperature Ambient Humidity mupsenvironrelativehumidity Wiring Fault Not supported Note 2: Changing the username and password on v9.2 or less, only changes the credentials on the Server/Console, NOT on the agent. To change the password on the Agent, it needed to be uninstalled and reinstalled. 7) How does the battery re-order link on the battery management screen work? On the battery management screen, PowerChute reads the battery serial number directly from the UPS and then links that serial number to the correct part of the web site to easily order a replacement battery by simply clicking on the re-order link. If this link brings you to a web page displaying that none are available this is because the actual replacement battery has not been released yet. Please contact customer support in this instance. 8) What Smart-UPS does PowerChute Business Edition support? PowerChute Business Edition is included with APC Smart-UPS 5kVA and below. Whether your Smart-UPS is a new Smart- UPS model with switched outlet groups or not, PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 provides UPS management, graceful shutdown and energy reporting for servers and workstations using dedicated serial or USB connections. 9) What operating systems are supported by PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? PowerChute Business Edition is tested with new Windows and Linux operating systems and service packs. v9.5 supports Windows, Linux, VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V platforms. Keep up-to-date on the latest support with our operating system compatibility chart on the APC web site which is regularly updated. To be one step away from the latest information, save the following link to your favorites: [Please Note: As this is a re-direct link, once you save the chart as a favorite, go to the favorite drop-down list, right click the bookmark, select properties and enter the actual URL address above and click ok. You need to do this to ensure that your favorite link will automatically direct you to the latest chart].

6 10) Where can I get PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? You receive a PowerChute Business Edition CD in the box with your APC Smart-UPS (5kVA & below). However, if you did not receive a v9.5 CD or are currently using an older version and would like to upgrade, you can download the newest version from the APC web site. To go to the PowerChute Business Edition product information pages, go to select Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) under popular products, and click UPS Management and PowerChute Business Edition. To go directly to the download section, go to select Software & Firmware under Popular Links, in the Filter by Software / Firmware Field, select Software Upgrades PowerChute Business Edition and submit. 11) What are the skus for PowerChute Business Edition v9.5? SKU PRODUCT DESCRIPTION DISTRIBUTION SFPCBE95 PowerChute Business Edition v9.5 Free download from the APC web site