GE 1019070, 1019071, 23954 6 MULTI-SERVER NETWORK SHUTDOWN (RCCMD)

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OPM_CNT_SNM_BAS_CRD_1GB_V012.doc Operating Manual SNMP/Web Adapter

6 MULTI-SERVER NETWORK SHUTDOWN (RCCMD)

The SNMP/Web adapters include a module for Multi-Server Network Shutdown. This module allows the

configuration of a shutdown strategy for several servers powered by the UPS when the batteries are

running low following a prolonged mains failure.

RCCMD (Remote Console Command) is a mechanism that allows the execution of commands on remote

systems. With the SNMP/Web adapters this mechanism is used to shutdown servers powered by the

UPS. The SNMP/Web adapter acts like the master (RCCMD Sender) while the servers and remote

systems act as slaves (RCCMD Listener).

RCCMD is based on standard TCP/IP network protocols, therefore allowing the shutdown of servers

running different operating systems and operating in a heterogeneous network.

RCCMD does not include the command that is to be executed in the sending process but instead

deposits the command with the receiving process. This provides additional security, as the receiving

process may check which network node sent the RCCMD-signal and determine whether to process it.

Both the SNMP/Web adapters and the servers need to be correctly configured in order to use the

Network Shutdown functionality.

The installation on the controller servers of the RCCMD SW (known as RCCMD Listener or RCCMD Client

module) is clearly a prerequisite. A detailed description of the installation and configuration steps is out

of the scope of this document – for details please refer to the applicable product documentation (User

Manual). However, there are a few general recommendations.

First of all, the RCCMD Client software is a licensed software. A license code can be used for only one

installation. If more servers are to be included in the shutdown process, more licenses are needed.

For increased safety, a list of trusted RCCMD Servers can be defined in the RCCMD Client. This way, the

RCCMD Client will accept only messages coming from the trusted Servers, and will discard any other

RCCMD message. If such functionality is used, the SNMP/Web adapter IP address must be added to the

list of trusted RCCMD Servers.

Finally, a shutdown routine needs to be defined in each remote system. This may be a batch file, a shell

script or other. It shall include all commands for a graceful shutdown of the system.

The SNMP/Web adapter can be configured using the web interface or the command-line console.

First of all, in order to use the RCCMD Sender embedded in the SNMP/Web adapter the Network

Shutdown functionality must be enabled.

Then, the various servers must be added to the list of RCCMD Clients on the SNMP/Web adapter. For

each client, the Hostname or IP Address and the port on which the RCCMD process will be listening need

to be specified (the standard RCCMD port is 6003).

NOTE: Although it is possible to identify the servers with their hostname, it is strongly recommended to

specify their IP addresses. Using symbolic hostnames may cause the network shutdown to fail in case

the DNS server is not available, unreachable or mis-configured.