APC PowerChute

2013: APC PowerChute Business Edition 9.1

In March, 2013 the Schneider Electric company announced updating of the free software APC PowerChute Business Edition to version 9.1 used for control of work of uninterruptible power supply units of a product line of APC Smart UPS.

APC PowerChute Business Edition is the software allowing to manage work of uninterruptible power supply units of APC Smart UPS, to configure automatic switching off of servers at low battery power and to control electricity consumption. The application allows to calculate volumes of the electric power consumed by Smart UPS devices and also calculates volumes of emission of hydrocarbon in the atmosphere for each item of equipment connected to uninterruptible power supply unit.

Version of PowerChute Business Edition 9.1. includes the following additions:

• the step-by-step guide for the UPS initial setup;
• the improved mechanism of management of switching off of the managed groups of sockets;
• the improved algorithm of calculation of cost of the electric power;
• support of IPv6-networks;
• display of the recommended term of replacement of batteries in the software interface.

Updating: APC PowerChute Business Edition 9.1.1

On October 10, 2013 the Schneider Electric company announced release of updating of the APC PowerChute Business Edition (PCBE) program which provides integration of uninterruptible power supply unit of APC Smart UPS and the server. Updating of version 9.1.1 supports the Red Hat Linux operating system of version 6.4 above for sources of Smart UPS SMT/SMX.

2014: PowerChute Network Shutdown of version 3.1

On February 11, 2014 the Schneider Electric company announced release of new version 3.1 of the software of PowerChute Network Shutdown with expanded support of virtualization.

Scheme of connection PowerChute Network Shutdown

The solution is intended for network management of completion of operation of several servers protected by one uninterruptible power supply unit. The PowerChute Network Shutdown 3.1 program during the work together with a payment of network management of the UPS of production APC by Schneider Electric provides automatic migration of virtual machines, correct completion of operation of virtual machines and hosts in clusters of VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V that allows to protect the equipment in case of long interruptions in power supply.

A system supports migration of virtual machines in the environment of virtual clusters and allows machines to migrate, if necessary, per the hosts which are not affected by interruptions thanks to what the virtual systems remain in readiness the longest time during which the IT personnel will have a possibility of diagnostics and elimination of the reasons of failures in power supply.

PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.1 - only ^[1] for the UPS, capable to start migration of virtual machines without the need for use of additional technologies of migration, such as scheduler of the distributed resources (DRS). At power supply failure the program will automatically check availability of DRS and if it is available, this scheduler involves. Otherwise, PowerChute will execute migration independently.

When migration of the virtual systems is impossible, PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.1 correctly completes system operation for prevention of data loss or damage to machinery.

PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.1 provides integration of platforms VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V, executes an exact configuration and protection of virtual machines using the program of setup. In the environment VMware it is possible to configure the sequence of switching off and start of virtual machines, using virtual applications of vApps.

The product has certification of VMware Ready and has advantages:

• Simplicity of installation - for installation process simplification users can unroll PowerChute in the form of the virtual application in the environment of VMware.
• User-friendly interface: The patent Virtual Cluster View graphical interface ("The overview of virtual clusters") provides display on one screen of information on the environment of virtual clusters and about the UPS installations. In the environment of VMware this user interface can be displayed the vSphere Client program if to set the new option vCenter Plugin in PowerChute.
• Compatibility with the existing virtualization software: The built-in support of the latest virtual platforms, including VMware vSphere 5.5 and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

The software solution PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.1 is available complete with the offered payments of network management of the UPS (UPS Network Management Cards) or in the form of free download from the website APC by Schneider Electric. Users can load the program using VMware Solution Exchange service.

2015: APC released release of the version of PowerChute Network Shutdown v.4

On March 24, 2015 the Schneider Electric company announced release of PowerChute Network Shutdown v.4.

In this version of the software product opportunities for work in virtual environments are expanded: using PowerChute Network Shutdown together with a payment of network administration of APC UPS Network Management Card, customers can protect IT infrastructure from the threats arising because of failures of power supply.

Representation of PowerChute Network Shutdown, 2014

The software helps to complete correctly the work of physical servers and virtual machines without participation of the operator that promotes preserving of integrity of data, increases fault tolerance and reduces a downtime of a system in emergencies. The scalable architecture supports the different client systems in clusters of VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V.

"The new, fourth version of PowerChute Network Shutdown, supports integration into Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM), provides load distribution from the switched-off servers among the distributed virtual machines working geographical and also is integrated in the form of a plug-in in the web client of VMware, - Pyotr Petrov, the manager on single-phase products of division of IT Business of Schneider Electric company reported. - The program provides simultaneous safe switching off of several servers which are powered from one uninterruptible power supply unit".

PowerChute Network Shutdown is configured via the web interface, supports configurations with one UPS, the reserve UPS, or several UPSes working in parallel. In the program the possibility of start of migration of virtual machines on unaffected by interruptions hosts is implemented that considerably increases fault tolerance of virtual clusters. At the same time, PowerChute Network Shutdown is capable to do without use of additional technologies of migration, like the scheduler of the distributed resources (DRS). If migration is impossible, the program will correctly complete system operation and will allow to avoid damage or data loss.

PowerChute Network Shutdown v4 is delivered complete with payments of network management of the UPS (UPS Network Management Cards).