Server 2012R2 on VMware ESXI Sees UPS, Powerchute Doesn't

[lmleser_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/2/2015

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Running Windows Server 2012R2 on VMware ESXI virual machine.  Configured USB and serial port passthrough on VM and Windows Server (via Device Manager) sees the APC UPS under Batteries and American Power Conversion USB UPS under Human Interface Devices.  Shows under Devices as Smart UPS-1000 FW:UPS 09.3/ID=18.  Powerchute Business Edition 9.1 does not see the UPS,Server either connected to the USB port or the serial port.

Has anyone had this situation and been successful getting PCBE to see the UPS?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 6/3/2015

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I am not sure what other users have done but that configuration is not supported by Schneider Electric Technical Support. We offer PowerChute Business Edition for ESXi that would be install on VMware vMA and configured to communicate with the UPS over serial comm. PowerChute would then use RCLI to command the host down and the host would in turn command the VMs down. Note: you need to have VMware tools installed on all of the VM for them to be powered down properly.

One troubleshooting step you can try is to run the USBTerm.exe utility discussed in this Forum Post 50941. If the utility discovers the UPS then I suggest uninstalling and reinstalling the USB driver. I would change the driver to HIB USB Battery and change back to APC UPS. Instruction describing how to switch the driver are in Kbase FA159743

[lmleser_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 6/3/2015

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Bill,

Thanks for your response.  It would be helpful to know that Windows Server 2012R2 in a virtual environment doesn't support PCBE.

I ran USBTerm.exe and reponse is: Found a UPS.  Error opening device.

I uninstalled and reinstalled the USB  driver with no success.