This document provides examples of network designs and software configurations for managing Dell UPS devices with Dell UPS management software. It includes examples for small to large environments, with both non-virtualized and virtualized server setups. The key points covered are: - Overview of Dell UPS Local Node Manager (ULNM) and Multi-UPS Management Console (MUMC) software - Recommendations for connectivity based on environment type, including using a network management card for virtualized servers - Examples of software and network designs for single SMB setups, including non-virtualized and virtualized servers - Examples of designs for larger environments with multiple racks, covering non-virtualized, virtualized with

1. Dell UPS Management Software
Network Design Examples
Andy McDonald & Stéphane Moulin
November 2011

2. UPS Communications: General Information
UPS Management Software
• Dell UPS Local Node Manager (ULNM)
– Primary function - is shutdown of device(s) after power failure
– Extended function – visibility of power status & shutdown configuration
• Dell UPS Multi-UPS Management Console (MUMC)
– Primary function – visibility & configuration of multiple UPS & LNMs
– Primary function – management of multi-host virtualized installations
– Extended function – shutdown of device after power failure
Connectivity
A UPS can be connected via USB (default, cable included), RS232 or Network Card (H910P). All communication types allow full UPS
management software functionality with the following considerations:
• Virtualization – always use the optional H910P Network Management Card (many hypervisors don’t have good USB support)
• Multiple servers – always use the option H910P Network Management Card (USB could be single point of failure)
• Single servers – USB is acceptable (but user doesn’t have the use of Network Card functions such as SNMP)
Nodes
Nodes are any UPS or ULNM agent monitored or managed by the Dell MUMC. Only UPSs & PDUs count as nodes for licensing
purposes. Up to 32 UPSs can be managed without a license. An almost unlimited number of ULNM agents (servers) can be managed
by MUMC (see users guide for test results in large environments).
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3. UPS Communications: General Connectivity Guide
Network (LAN or WAN)
Management Console USB / RS232, single server USB / RS232, multi-server Network Card, multi-server
(MUMC)
MUMC Network Switch Network Switch
Network Switch
ULNM Servers or ULNM Servers or
Server or
ULNM
Workstation ULNM Workstations ULNM Workstations
UPS with USB ULNM ULNM
UPS Node
UPS Node
UPS with USB UPS Node UPS with NMC
- MUMC can monitor and manage - UPS connects to server over USB - UPS connects to server over USB - UPS connects directly to network
any Dell UPS and ULNM on the
network, connected by either - ULNM relays UPS status to network so it - ULNM on host server relays UPS status & - All servers communicate directly with
USB, serial or network card. can be monitored / managed remotely alarms to other servers across network UPS
- When clients use vCentre MUMC through MUMC - Each ULNM & UPS can be monitored / - All UPSs & ULNM agents communicate
directly manages the ESXi servers managed remotely through MUMC directly with MUMC for remote
- MUMC can also monitor non- - USB is a single point of failure, monitoring & management
Dell UPSs (see compatibility recommend network connection for
guide) this design
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4. Devices without an operating system
Servers and virtual servers can be easily managed by using UPS management software, but devices that don’t have an operating system
(network switches, routers, storage) are not able to utilize UPS management software. For this reason we manage their start-up and
shutdown profiles using load segments (LS) on the rear of the Dell UPS.
Some storage devices can be controlled via a command line interface and in this case the UPS software agent running on a server can
“execute script before shutdown” in order to shut down the storage controller.
Example: 2700W Rack/Tower UPS Load segment 2: 2 x C13
Best Practise Power Connectivity
• Connect all servers to load segment (LS) 1*
Load segment 1: 6 x C13 & 2 x C19 sockets
• Connect storage and network switch to LS2*
• Configure LS2 to power off after [X] + 5 mins on battery (5 minutes after servers start shutting down)
• Configure LS1 to power on @ LS2 + 5mins (5minutes after storage/networking starts providing time to initialize before servers require storage access.
• Load segment configurations can be made in and of 3 places: UPS LCD Panel, Network Card Interface, UPS Management software
* Depending on your configuration you may choose to connect servers to LS2 and storage/networking to LS1. You may also choose to add PDUs to the UPS to create more
power connection points for your IT hardware.
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5. SMB Focus 1
4200W UPS with 4 Rack servers, 1 storage array, 1 switch. Non-virtualized
Software Design Guide
• Install ULNM on each physical server (Linux or Windows)
• Install MUMC on a client PC (Windows only)
Switch
• MUMC: Configure each instance of ULNM (use template if many servers)
• Configure software to shut servers down after [X] mins on battery
Storage
• Monitor status of the UPS & each ULNM through MUMC
• Storage & switch has no operating system so is controlled using UPS “load segments” (see below)
Servers
UPS Connectivity Options:
• Where no virtualization is used, any UPS connectivity option is valid
• If USB/RS232: Server connected to UPS relays UPS status information to each ULNM agent
UPS
• If NMC: UPS communicates directly with each ULNM via network switch with NMC
• In all cases, MUMC will monitor the status of the UPS and each ULNM agent or USB
• NOTE: when >1 server is present, NMC is highly recommended
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6. SMB Focus 1
4200W UPS with 4 Rack servers, 1 storage array, 1 switch. Non-virtualized
Network
MUMC
Load Segment 1
UPS
with NMC Switch Storage
Power
UPS Node
WindowsTM client
Servers
Load Segment 2
Power
ULNM ULNM ULNM ULNM
MUMC Managed
Components (Nodes):
1 * Network UPS
1 * ULNM Linux
3 * ULNM Windows
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7. SMB Focus 2
4200W UPS with 4 Rack servers, 1 storage array, 1 switch. Virtualized w/vCentre
Software Design Guide
• Install MUMC on a client PC (Windows only). Switch
• MUMC: Add VMware Supervisor, each ESXi hypervisor will auto-populate into node list
• MUMC: Configure shutdown settings for each ESXi through ‘node settings’ menu Storage
• Enable “maintenance mode” if you wish to use vMotion in the event of a power outage
• No need to install ULNM on any VM, hypervisor or any other device in this scenario. MUMC handles the
shutdown messaging to the ESXi through vCentre
Servers
UPS Connectivity Options:
• Where virtualization is used, NMC is the only valid UPS communication option
• MUMC monitors UPS & each ULNM through network
• MUMC monitors each ESXi hypervisor through a vCentre connection, no ULNM is required
UPS
& NMC
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8. SMB Focus 2
4200W UPS with 4 Rack servers, 1 storage array, 1 switch. Virtualized w/vCentre
Network
MUMC
Load Segment 1
UPS
with NMC Switch Storage
Power
UPS Node
WindowsTM client
Servers
Load Segment 2
Power
ULNM ULNM ESXi ESXi
MUMC Managed
vCentre
Components (Nodes):
1 * Network UPS
1 * ULNM Linux
1 * ULNM Windows
2 * ESXi (via vCentre)
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9. SMB Focus 3
4200W UPS with 4 Rack servers, 1 storage array, 1 switch. Virtualized without vCentre
Software Design Guide
• Install MUMC on a client PC (Windows only).
Switch
• MUMC: Add VMware Supervisor, each ESXi hypervisor will auto-populate into node list
• MUMC: Configure shutdown settings for each ESXi through ‘node settings’ menu
Storage
• Enable “maintenance mode” if you wish to use vMotion in the event of a power outage
• No need to install ULNM on any VM, hypervisor or any other device in this scenario. M
UMC handles the shutdown messaging to the ESXi through vCentre
Servers
UPS Connectivity Options:
• Where virtualization is used, NMC is the only valid communication option
• MUMC monitors UPS & each ULNM through network
• MUMC monitors each ESXi hypervisor through a vCentre connection, no ULNM is required UPS
& NMC
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10. SMB Focus 3
4200W UPS with 4 Rack servers, 1 storage array, 1 switch. Virtualized without vCentre
Network
MUMC
Load Segment 1
UPS
with NMC Switch Storage
Power
UPS Node
WindowsTM client
Servers
Load Segment 2
Power
ULNM ULNM ULNM ULNM
MUMC Managed
Components:
ESXi ESXi
1 * Network UPS
1 * ULNM Linux
1 * ULNM Windows
2 * ULNM ESXi
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11. LE Focus 1
9 Racks, each with 4200W UPS, multiple servers, storage & networking.
Mix of non-virtualized & virtualized systems with vCentre
Software Design Guide
• Install ULNM on each physical non-virtualized server (Linux or Windows)
• Install MUMC on a client PC (Windows only)
• MUMC: Add VMware vCentre in Virtualization menu (each ESXi hypervisor will auto-populate into node list)
• MUMC: Configure shutdown settings for each ESXi through ‘node settings’ menu
• MUMC: Enable ‘maintenance mode’ if you wish to use vMotion in the event of a power outage
• MUMC: Configure each instance of ULNM on non-virtualized servers (use template if many servers)
• Configure software to shut servers down after [X] mins on battery
• Monitor status of the UPS & each ULNM through MUMC
• Storage & switch has no operating system so is controlled using UPS load segments
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12. LE Focus 1
9 Racks, each with 4200W UPS, multiple servers, storage & networking.
Mix of non-virtualized & virtualized systems with vCentre
19” rack, x9
Network
MUMC
Load Segment 1
UPS
with NMC Switch Storage
Power
UPS Node
WindowsTM client
Servers
Load Segment 2
Power
ULNM ULNM ESXi ESXi
MUMC Managed
vCentre
Components:
9 * Network UPS
9 * ULNM Linux
9 * ULNM Windows
18 * ESXi (via vCentre)
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13. LE Focus 2
9 Racks, each with 4200W UPS, multiple servers, storage & networking.
Mix of non-virtualized & virtualized systems without vCentre
Software Design Guide
• Install ULNM on each physical non-virtualized server (Linux or Windows)
• Install ULNM on each ESXi hypervisor
• Install MUMC on a client PC (Windows only)
• MUMC: Perform network scan to find non-virtualized servers and ESXi hypervisors
• MUMC: Configure each instance of ULNM on non-virtualized servers (use template if many servers)
• MUMC: Configure shutdown settings for each ESXi through ‘node settings’ menu
• Configure software/hypervisors to shut servers down after [X] mins on battery
• Monitor status of the UPS & each ULNM through MUMC
• Storage & switch has no operating system so is controlled using UPS load segments
13

14. LE Focus 2
9 Racks, each with 4200W UPS, multiple servers, storage & networking.
Mix of non-virtualized & virtualized systems without vCentre
19” rack, x9
Network
MUMC
Load Segment 1
UPS
with NMC Switch Storage
Power
UPS Node
WindowsTM client
Servers
Load Segment 2
Power
ULNM ULNM ULNM ULNM
MUMC Managed
Components:
ESXi ESXi
9 * Network UPS
9 * ULNM Linux
9 * ULNM Windows
18 * ULNM ESXi
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15. LE Focus 3
Multiple Branch Offices & Central Office, each with multiple UPSs & mix of IT solutions
Software Design Guide
• Install MUMC on a head-office client PC (Windows only). This will be the central
monitoring location.
• Install ULNM on each physical non-virtualized server (Linux or Windows).
• Mass-deployment options: a) pre-loaded OS image; b) silent remote installation;
c) import configuration file into ULNM; d) configure multiple ULNM agents Multiple
nodes
simultaneously from MUMC console
Multiple Multiple
• Install ULNM on any ESXi hypervisors nodes nodes
• MUMC: Perform network scan to find non-virtualized servers and ESXi hypervisors
which are not managed by vCentre
Multiple Multiple
nodes nodes
Multiple Multiple
nodes nodes
Multiple
nodes
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16. LE Focus 3
Multiple Branch Offices & Central Office, each with multiple UPSs & mix of IT solutions
Network, WAN
Head Office Satellite Office, NMC Satellite Office, USB Satellite Office, USB
WindowsTM MUMC
client
Network Switch Network Switch Network Switch
Server / Workstation Server / Workstation Server / Workstation
ULNM ULNM ULNM
UPS Node UPS with NMC UPS Node UPS with USB UPS Node UPS with USB
MUMC Managed
Components:
Many * USB UPS
Many * ULNM Lin/Win
Many * ESXi (optional)
Note: Up to 32 UPSs supported for free. License upgrade required for >32 UPSs.
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17. ULNM Supported Platforms*
17 *See software user guide for latest supported versions

18. MUMC Supported Platforms
18 *See software user guide for latest supported versions

19. End of slides
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