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Schneider Electric Extends PowerChute Network Shutdown Support For Virtual Cluster Environments

Schneider Electric has extended PowerChute Network Shutdown Software Support for Virtual Cluster Environments. By supporting virtual machine migration in virtual cluster environments, virtual machines affected by power disturbances can be migrated to hosts not impacted by the specific UPS event, ensuring the virtual systems stay online as long as possible and affording IT managers the time needed to assess and address the power issue.

Schneider Electric released an updated version of PowerChute Network Shutdown , a network-based server shutdown solution for IT equipment, providing users with the assurance that mission critical equipment will be protected in the event of an extended power failure.

In version 3.1, Schneider has added support for virtual machine migration in virtual cluster environments. This allows virtual machines affected by power disturbances to be migrated to hosts not impacted by a specific UPS event, ensuring the virtual systems stay online as long as possible and affording IT managers the time needed to assess and address the power issue.

“While virtualization has changed the IT landscape, the need for power protection remains,” said Paul Bohan, vice president, Network Management, Schneider Electric’s IT Business. “PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.1 draws on APC by Schneider Electric’s history as a provider of dependable network management solutions by ensuring safe handling of virtual machines during downtime.”

Working with a APC by Schneider Electric Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Network Management card, PowerChute enables automatic virtual machine migration and graceful virtual machine and host shutdown in VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V clusters. This protects mission critical equipment in the event of an extended power failure. 

Additional key features of PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.1 include:

  • VMware Ready certification
  • Easy installation: Users can opt to deploy the solution as a virtual appliance for VMware environments, simplifying installation.
  • Industry-leading usability: A patent pending “Virtual Cluster View” dashboard displays a graphical representation of the virtual cluster environment and UPS setup on a single screen. In VMware environments, this user interface can also be monitored via the vSphere Client using the new PowerChute vCenter Plugin option.
  • Compatibility with current virtualization software: Built-in support for the latest virtual platforms including VMware vSphere 5.5 and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2.

In the past, users with virtual cluster environments could only support graceful virtual machine shutdown using customized scripts. With PowerChute, VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V platforms are integrated, allowing for seamless configuration and protection via an easy to use setup wizard.

PowerChute Network Shutdown v3.1 is bundled with current UPS Network Management Cards and available as a free download via the APC by Schneider Electric product website. Users may also download the software as a virtual appliance from the VMware Solution Exchange.

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