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    Auto Restart pc after extensive power failure

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      If it's proper server grade hardware there is usually a setting to disable power off.
      You could simply adjust your UPS settings so that they don't power off your servers though. That would leave you open to data corruption etc.
      How are your UPS's connected?
      Generally speaking your UPS hardware/sofware should take care of it. Clearly it's correctly shutting down the servers cleanly. It there not a power-on via USB or equivalent?

      Steve

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      • B
        biomecanoid
        last edited by

        I have several servers with Smoothwall, Pfsense and Mikrotik.

        This is the worse case scenario for me:

        https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.456774370902.244507.545300902&l=daabf33b17&type=1

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6-1MlTOx4k

        In this setup a Nilox 1100VA ups powering a P4 2ghz and a small Access Point. It can last about 30 min and it doesnt have any com or usb connection.

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        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          Ah well if it's not a smart UPS (or not smart connected) then presumably it just powers off the servers as soon as the batteries run flat with no clean shut down. In which case you just need to set the bios to come on in case of power failure. Or is it that the UPS doesn't come back on when power resumes?

          Steve

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          • B
            biomecanoid
            last edited by

            I already have the relevant setting in the bios but it doesnt work when the batteries run flat. The pc used to restart before putting the ups in the equation.

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            • D
              dreamslacker
              last edited by

              You can get the DCDC-USB 'UPS' from mini-box.  Use the automotive mode and an external wall-wart to trigger the ignition.  This will basically make the device manually trigger the motherboard's power switch pins to power it on when the ignition voltage is high enough (the DC/DC wallwart will provide enough voltage to trigger this upon restoration of power).

              http://www.mini-box.com/DCDC-USB?sc=8&category=1264

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                @biomecanoid:

                I already have the relevant setting in the bios but it doesnt work when the batteries run flat. The pc used to restart before putting the ups in the equation.

                So it's the UPS failing to restart?

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                • D
                  dreamslacker
                  last edited by

                  @stephenw10:

                  So it's the UPS failing to restart?

                  No, it's his board.

                  I must have been stoned out when I replied earlier.

                  @biomechanoid:  Have you tried replacing the CMOS battery on your systems?  Sounds like the boards are not retaining the improper shutdown information (when the UPS are not fully drained, there is still standby power to the boards from the PSU).

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    I'm confused.  ???
                    If the UPS is not connected to the server via serial or USB then in the event of a power failure the servers will simply continue to function until the battery is exhausted. Then the supply from the UPS to the server will simply be cut.
                    When the power is restored to the UPS it will restore power to the server, unless it's set to remain off, and the server will come back on if it is set to do so in the bios.
                    If the server comes on OK without the UPS in place then the only reason it would not come on with the UPS in place is if the UPS is not providing power to the server.
                    I agree that if the CMOS battery is flat in the server then if will go to the default bios settings every time which may be 'stay off'.

                    Steve

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                    • B
                      biomecanoid
                      last edited by

                      Last week i went to the roof and and installed a NEW cmos battery and took a screen with me to check the bios and it was like i had configured it. There was a power failure since to test if it was just the cmos battery

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                      • jimpJ
                        jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                        last edited by

                        Is your BIOS set to actually power it on, or just to retain the last status? If you have a "power on" option instead of a memory/last-state choice, try that.

                        Another higher-tech way around such a problem is to have a lights-out management card (DRAC, iLO, etc) that lets you power on the box remotely if it was powered off on purpose (say, by a connected UPS signalling a clean shutdown)…

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                        • D
                          Darkk
                          last edited by

                          @jimp:

                          Is your BIOS set to actually power it on, or just to retain the last status? If you have a "power on" option instead of a memory/last-state choice, try that.

                          Another higher-tech way around such a problem is to have a lights-out management card (DRAC, iLO, etc) that lets you power on the box remotely if it was powered off on purpose (say, by a connected UPS signalling a clean shutdown)…

                          Yeah but looking at the pics it's not a server class motherboard.  However, most modern NICs and BIOS you can wake it up via LAN. Look up Magic Packet.  In his case since his entre setup is hosting a wireless network it's going to be a little hard to do that.

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