Installation Guide

PowerChute™ Serial Shutdown v1.2

TME10992A-001
Publication Date: February 2024
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Table of Contents
Installation Overview.......................................................... 1
PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Operating Systems and UPS Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Supported UPS Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

System, UPS, and Cable Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

System Requirements for Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
UPS Communications Cable Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Installing the PowerChute Agent ....................................... 5

Before you Install PowerChute Serial Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Compatibility of Different Versions and Components . . . . . . . . .5
Upgrading PowerChute Serial Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Username and Password Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
IPv6 Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Windows Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Install the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Windows . . .7
Silent Installation of a Windows Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Starting and Stopping the PowerChute Agent on Windows . . .12
Uninstalling the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Windows 12
Windows Server 2012/2016/2019/2022 Server Core: Installing and Uninstalling
PowerChute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Linux Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Install the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Linux . . . . .14
Starting and Stopping the PowerChute Agent on Linux . . . . . .15
Accessing the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent behind a firewall 15
Uninstalling the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Linux .15
Using the Sample Script for Linux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) disabled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
RPM Package Signing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Verify RPM Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide i

 Simple Signaling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Supported UPS Devices and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Simple Signaling Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Smart Signaling Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Supported Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown for Simple Signaling . 19
Shutdown Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Accessing the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent Interface . . . . . . . 22

Troubleshooting ...............................................................23
Installation Messages that can occur as you install PowerChute Serial Shutdown 23
Error Codes for Silent Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Linux Installation Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Possible Issues When Uninstalling on Windows . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Communications Help – Troubleshooting Automatic and Manual UPS Detection 26
Checking UPS Communications on Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Installing without a USB Cable Connected on Windows . . . . . 28
Unexpected Shutdown and Lost Communications . . . . . . . . . 28
Standby Mode Disables the Agent Temporarily on Windows . 28
Standby Can Postpone a Scheduled Shutdown on Windows . 28
Issues when Changing the Date and Time on the Operating System 29
Changing the UPS following Installation or an Upgrade . . . . . 29
UPS does not Turn On after Scheduled Shutdown . . . . . . . . . 29

ii PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Installation Overview
This installation guide serves as an introduction to PowerChute™ Serial Shutdown (PowerChute) and
includes a description of the product, the installation procedure, and various troubleshooting resolutions.

See:

• PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent

• Operating Systems and UPS Devices
• System, UPS, and Cable Requirements
• Installing the PowerChute Agent
• Troubleshooting

IMPORTANT:
After installing and configuring PowerChute Serial Shutdown, we strongly recommend that you
test your configuration before relying on it in a production environment.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent

PowerChute Agents with Smart-UPS devices
protect your servers
Network
PowerChute Agents installed on your servers

Network Management System

monitoring PowerChute
Agents via SNMP

upsBasicIdentName
Revision
upsAdvIdentFirmware
anufacture
upsAdvIdentDateOfM

upsAdvIdentSerialNumber

UPS Devices

The Agent provides UPS status monitoring and, in the event of an extended power outage, system
shutdown capabilities for your UPS-connected servers. See Operating Systems and UPS Devices.

This software must be installed on each computer that is directly attached to one of the UPS devices
mentioned in Supported UPS Devices and Accessories.

You can also monitor your PowerChute Agents using a Network Management System (NMS), via SNMP
and through EcoStruxure IT™.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 1

 Operating Systems and UPS Devices
When installing PowerChute, the configuration of the Agent installed will depend on your operating
system and UPS device:

• For Windows operating systems, see Windows Installation.

• For Linux operation systems, see Linux Installation.
• Manual installation will occur if the automatic detection is unsuccessful, if no UPS is attached, or if
you select manual installation. See Supported UPS Types, and Installing the PowerChute
Agent.
• If you are using your UPS with an Interface Expander 2 card (AP9624) or a Share-UPS (AP9207)
to support multiple servers with one UPS, you will need to configure the PowerChute Agents
running the devices connected to the card/Share-UPS with Simple Signaling. See Simple
Signaling.

Supported UPS Types

During manual installation you will be asked to select your UPS from a list of UPS model prefixes:

1. Select the model of your UPS from the list provided. The UPS model is found on the printed label
at the rear of your UPS.
2. If your UPS model prefix (e.g. SMT, SMX) is not available in the drop-down list, see the definitions
below to find your UPS model type:
– Type A
Smart-UPS models with prefix SMT, SMX, SURTD, SRT, SMTL, SCL, SMC, and SRTL
including models SRC2KUXI, SRC3KUXI, and SRC3KUXIX709.
– Type B
• Smart-UPS models excluding UPS models with prefix SMT, SMX, SURTD, SRT, SMTL,
SCL, SMC, SRTL, and models SRC2KUXI, SRC3KUXI, and SRC3KUXIX709.
• Easy Online UPS models with SRV prefix.
– Back-UPS
All Back-UPS models are supported except models with the BP, BF, BG,
and BC prefixes.

Visit Knowledge Base article FA315835 on the APC website to find out more about UPS model types.

See also: Compatibility of Different Versions and Components.

System, UPS, and Cable Requirements

Your computers must meet the requirements listed in the following sections:

• System Requirements for Installation

• UPS Communications Cable Requirements

For UPS devices with outlet groups, the default outlet group is selected automatically by
PowerChute.
If the UPS has Switched Outlet Groups, the default outlet group will be the first Switched Outlet
Group. Otherwise, the default outlet group will be the Main Outlet Group if Switched Outlet
Groups are not present.
The outlet group can be changed in the Outlet Setup screen in the PowerChute Agent and
also in the Initial Setup Wizard after installation.

2 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 System Requirements for Installation
For up-to-date information on the operating systems, JRE, service packs, and processors with which
PowerChute Serial Shutdown is compatible, see the latest revision of PowerChute Serial Shutdown
Operating System and Processor Compatibility Chart available on the APC website.

The computer on which you install PowerChute Serial Shutdown must be a 64-bit operating system and
have:

• An active TCP/IP network connection

• Minimum 512MB RAM
• A Pentium® 4 1.3 GHz processor, or higher.

Port Requirements
See Knowledge Base article FA159597 on the APC website for more information on the ports used by
PowerChute Serial Shutdown.

Browser Requirements
Supported browsers

• Mozilla Firefox
• Google Chrome
• Microsoft Edge

To use the Agent Web user interface:

• Enable JavaScript™ in your browser settings.

• Enable cookies in your browser settings.
• To access the Agent web interface using HTTPS, enable either TLS 1.2, 1.3, or higher in your
browser settings. (No other versions are currently supported).
When you view the Agent, the browser will give an error saying the security certificate is not trusted. See
Accessing the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent Interface to manage this.

UPS Communications Cable Requirements

You can connect your UPS to a server using the communications cable that is included in the box with
your UPS:

• The PowerChute Agent communicates with the UPS through the communications cable that
connects the UPS to the communications port on the server running the PowerChute Agent.
• PowerChute supports the connection of only one type of communications cable (USB or Serial
interface) from the UPS to the server at once. NOTE: PowerChute was not tested for usage with
serial-to-USB or USB-to-serial adapters.
• IMPORTANT: Do not connect your UPS to the server with more than one communications cable at
once (e.g. Serial and USB cable), as it may lead to unexpected shutdown behavior.
• See your UPS operation manual on the APC website for more information on the communications
cable that is included with your UPS. Further information is also available in Knowledge Base
article FA163632 on the APC website.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 3

 IMPORTANT: If you use an unsupported UPS, or an incorrect UPS communications cable to connect the
UPS and server, you may not be able to complete the PowerChute Agent installation, because the
PowerChute Agent will not be able to communicate with the UPS.

PowerChute installation cannot detect a device connected by a simple-signaling cable.

Therefore, during installation, choose manual installation when your UPS is connected
through the basic port of an Interface Expander 2 Card or a Share-UPS, and specify the
port and UPS type.

See Communications Help – Troubleshooting Automatic and Manual UPS Detection.

NOTE: A UPS can only protect one computer running a PowerChute Agent at a time, unless an Interface
Expander 2 card (AP9624) or a Share-UPS (AP9207) is used.

Supported UPS Devices and Accessories

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent can manage any UPS that is shipped with the software, including
most Smart-UPSTM devices (3kVA and below) communicating using serial or USB connections and Back-
UPS communicating using USB connection. Depending on the cable and accessory used, both Smart and
Simple Signaling are supported. See also: Supported UPS Types.

NOTE: For UPS devices with outlet groups, see the Choosing which individual outlet groups to turn
off in a shutdown section of the Shutdown chapter in the PowerChute Agent help. This details how outlet
groups work in shutdowns.

4 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Installing the PowerChute Agent
See the following sections:

• Before you Install PowerChute Serial Shutdown

• Windows Installation
– Starting and Stopping the PowerChute Agent on Windows
• Linux Installation
– Starting and Stopping the PowerChute Agent on Linux.
• Simple Signaling

Before you Install PowerChute Serial Shutdown

Make sure the date and time on your operating system is accurate before you begin installation.

Before you perform the installation, note the following information about the installation process.

• Compatibility of Different Versions and Components

• Upgrading PowerChute Serial Shutdown
• IPv6 Compatibility
• Username and Password Requirements

Compatibility of Different Versions and Components

PowerChute Serial Shutdown v1.2 is a 64-bit only application and cannot be installed on a 32-
bit operating system.

Upgrading PowerChute Serial Shutdown

PowerChute Serial Shutdown v1.2 supports upgrades from your existing PowerChute version. The
upgrade process does not uninstall your existing PowerChute version, but installs a newer version over
your older version, retaining your configuration settings.

PowerChute v1.2 is a 64-bit only application and cannot be installed on a 32-bit

operating system. If you have a 32-bit operating system, you cannot upgrade to v1.2.

Upgrade Notes
• See Operating Systems and UPS Devices.
• Following an upgrade, clear your browser cache before accessing the Agent web interface to see
the latest changes.
• The Initial Setup Wizard does not show following an upgrade as your configuration settings are
carried forward.
If you are unsure whether you can upgrade or not, please contact APC Worldwide Customer Support
(https://www.apc.com/support/).

When the upgrade is completed, check your configuration settings to ensure that they have carried
over as expected.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 5

 Username and Password Requirements
• The username must be between 6 and 128 characters in length.
• The password requires:
– Minimum 8 and maximum 128 characters in length.
– One upper and lower case letter.
– One number or special character (#?!@$%^*-).
• The username cannot be part of the password.
• The username and password can only contain US-ASCII characters. It is not supported to include
whitespace.
It is possible to reset your username and password following installation. See topic Resetting your
Username and Password in the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent User Guide, available in the
Agent web interface, and on the APC website.

IPv6 Compatibility
The IPv6 address must be in one of these formats:

IPv6 Format Description

fe80:0000:0000:0000:0204:61ff:fe9d:f156 full form of IPv6
fe80:0:0:0:204:61ff:fe9d:f156 drop leading zeroes
fe80::204:61ff:fe9d:f156 collapse multiple zeroes to :: in the IPv6
address
fe80:0000:0000:0000:0204:61ff:254.157.241.86 IPv4 dotted quad at the end
fe80:0:0:0:0204:61ff:254.157.241.86 drop leading zeroes, IPv4 dotted quad at the
end
fe80::204:61ff:254.157.241.86 dotted quad at the end, multiple zeroes
collapsed
::1 localhost
fe80:: link-local prefix
2001:: global unicast prefix

6 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Windows Installation
Follow the steps below to install PowerChute Serial Shutdown on Microsoft® Windows™.

See also:

• Silent Installation of a Windows Agent

• Windows Server 2012/2016/2019/2022 Server Core: Installing and Uninstalling PowerChute

NOTE:
You must uninstall other types of PowerChute applications before trying to install PowerChute Serial
Shutdown. These applications include PowerChute plus, PowerChute Personal Edition, PowerChute
Business Edition, and PowerChute Network Shutdown.
PowerChute Serial Shutdown v1.2 supports upgrades from PowerChute Business Edition v10.x, and
the installer will uninstall PowerChute Personal Edition v3.1 if it is installed on your PC. Earlier versions
of PowerChute Business Edition and PowerChute Personal Edition must be manually uninstalled before
attempting to install PowerChute Serial Shutdown.
Install the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Windows
Install the PowerChute Agent on each of your UPS-connected computers. See UPS Communications
Cable Requirements.

You can install the Agent on Windows and Linux operating systems, see also Linux Installation.

Download the PowerChute pcss.zip file from the APC website, unzip the contents, and double-click the
pcsssetup.exe file to start the installation.

Follow the steps below:

1. Run the Nullsoft Scriptable Install System (NSIS) Setup Launcher (pcsssetup.exe). A wizard
guides you through the installation process. Select the required language from the language
selector pop up. Click OK to proceed.
2. Accept the license agreement.
3. At “Would you like to automatically search all communications ports for a UPS,” we recommend
clicking Yes to allow the installation to automatically detect your connected UPS. If you select No,
see Manual UPS Detection below.
NOTE:
– A USB driver is required for Easy Online SRV UPS devices to communicate with
PowerChute over USB. For more information, please refer to Knowledge Base article
FAQ000223363.
–If you want to use simple signaling with your UPS, click No to use manual UPS
detection. See Simple Signaling.
– You are not asked to select a UPS during an upgrade installation. The UPS identified
during the original installation is used.
– If the installation program cannot detect a UPS connected to your computer, it will ask
you to manually select your UPS model. See Manual UPS Detection below.
4. PowerChute will ask you if you want to automatically detect a connected UPS. If PowerChute
cannot detect a UPS, click Run Auto Detect to attempt to detect your UPS again, or click Next to
proceed with the installation without detecting a UPS.
5. Choose the destination location for the PowerChute Agent files. You are not asked for a location
during an upgrade installation. The previous location is used by default.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 7

 Manual UPS Detection
a. To manually detect your UPS, you are asked to select your UPS model from a list. See
Supported UPS Types.
b. You are asked to select the Communications Port to which your UPS is connected. If you
are not sure, check the cable connecting the UPS to the server.
See: Communications Help – Troubleshooting Automatic and Manual UPS Detection.
6. Enter a username and password. See Username and Password Requirements.
7. If a Windows firewall is detected by PowerChute, you can automatically enable the Agent
Service in the Windows firewall exception list. Click Yes to enable this.
8. PowerChute installs. Click Next when the installation is complete.
9. Click Finish to close the installer. You have the option to automatically open the PowerChute
Serial Shutdown user interface (UI) in a web browser.
For each new UPS added to your network, repeat steps 1-9 on the computer connected to the new UPS.

Silent Installation of a Windows Agent

With a normal, non-silent installation it is usually necessary to respond to prompts during the installation.
Silent installations do not prompt for input, as the configuration is already defined in the answer file. If you
are applying the same configuration to multiple copies of PowerChute, you can use the configuration file.

If you are performing an upgrade, see important information in Upgrading PowerChute Serial
Shutdown.

NOTE: If you are installing using a download, unzip pcss.zip and extract the
pcsssetup.exe file before continuing.

1. Edit the silent installation file to set the required parameters. See Editing Your Silent Installation
File.
2. Enter the following command in Administrator Command Prompt:
pcsssetup.exe /S /F silentInstall.ini
If silent installation is unsuccessful, an error code will be written to the PCSSInstall.log file. See Error
Codes for Silent Installation.

It is recommended to delete the silentInstall.ini file after successful installation as it contains the
PowerChute Serial Shutdown credentials in plain text. The installer does not modify the INI file
during installation.

NOTES:

• Silent upgrade from PowerChute Business Edition v10.x is not supported.

• Silent uninstall of PowerChute Personal Edition v3.1 is not supported.
• Silent install of required Visual C++ Redistributable is not supported.

Silent Uninstall
To uninstall in silent mode, enter the following command in Administrator Command Prompt:

“C:\Program Files\APC\PowerChute Serial Shutdown\Uninstall.exe” /S

Editing Your Silent Installation File

On Windows operating systems, the file that guides silent installations is named silentInstall.ini.

8 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 The file is a plain text file and can be edited with a standard text editor. Each field or line has a value that
the installer needs in order to carry out the installation. The table below explains the fields available in the
silent installation file.

Field Name Description Default Value

Upgrade yes | no Enable or disable Silent Upgrade of
PowerChute Serial Shutdown. If enabled, the
installer will check if upgrade from existing
version to new version is supported. During
upgrade installation the existing PowerChute
configuration and data will be preserved.

The upgrade will fail if no existing installation

is found, or if upgrade from installed version
to new version is not supported. It is possible
to upgrade to the same version (repair
install).

NOTE: During Silent Upgrade only the

'Upgrade' and 'AcceptEULA' fields are
processed. All other fields and their values
are ignored.
ApplicationDirectory The directory in which to install PowerChute. C:\Program
This must be the absolute path, including the Files\APC\PowerChute Serial
drive letter. Shutdown

NOTE: If the path does not contain

“PowerChute Serial Shutdown”, then
“\APC\PowerChute Serial Shutdown” will be
appended to the path.
AcceptEULA yes | no Yes signifies acceptance of software license Yes
agreement. The installation will not proceed
unless yes is specified here.
AutoDetect yes | no Enable or disable auto-detection. If auto- Yes
detection is enabled, the installer will scan all
communication ports for a supported UPS.
The installer will abort if no supported UPS is
detected.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 9

 Field Name Description Default Value
UPSModel The UPS model to use for this installation. 0
This can be found on a printed label at the
rear of your UPS. Enter a numeric value
matching your UPS from the below list.

If your UPS is not available in below listed

UPS models, then choose either “Other
Type-A” or “Other Type-B” depending on
below definitions.

Type A:
• Smart-UPS models with prefix SMT, SMX,
SURTD, SRT, SMTL, SCL, SMC, and
SRTL, and models SRC2KUXI,
SRC3KUXI, and SRC3KUXIX709.

Type B:
• Smart-UPS models excluding UPS models
with prefix SMT, SMX, SURTD, SRT, SMTL,
SCL, SMC, and SRTL, and models
SRC2KUXI, SRC3KUXI, and
SRC3KUXIX709.
• Easy Online UPS models with SRV prefix.

NOTE: The UPSModel value will be ignored

if AutoDetect is specified as yes.

UPS Models:

0 = SMT, 1 = SMC, 2 = SRT, 3 = SRTL, 4 =

SU, 5 = SUA, 6 = SURT, 7 = SY, 8 = SC, 9 =
SURTA, 10 = SURTD, 11 = SU4G, 12 = SRV,
13 = SMX, 14 = Back-UPS, 15 = Other Type-
A, 16 = Other Type-B

10 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Field Name Description Default Value
ShareUPSMode The ShareUPSMode value should be set to a 0
value greater than 0 if you are using your
UPS with an Interface Expander 2 card
(AP9624) or a Share-UPS (AP9207) to
support multiple servers with one UPS.

NOTES:
• The ShareUPSMode value will be ignored if
AutoDetect value is specified as yes.
Auto-detection of Interface Expander 2 and
Share-UPS is not supported.
• If UPSModel value is either 12 (SRV) or 14
(Back-UPS), then ShareUPSMode value
must be 0.

Are you connected to a Share-UPS,

Interface Expander 2, or Simple Signaling
mode?

0 = No - Connected to the UPS port

1 = Yes - Interface Expander 2 port

2 = Yes - Share-UPS advanced port

3 = Yes - Share-UPS basic port

UPSPort The communications port the UPS is 0
connected to. This can either be a USB port
or a serial (COM) port.

NOTES:
• The UPSPort value will be ignored if
AutoDetect value is specified as yes,
• If you specify USB, ensure the UPS is
connected to a USB port during installation.
If no UPS is connected, then the required
driver cannot be installed, and installation
will be unsuccessful.
• If UPSModel value is 12 (SRV), only COM
port values are allowed.
• If UPSModel value is 14 (Back-UPS), only
USB port value (0) is allowed.
• If ShareUPSMode value is greater than 0,
only COM port values are allowed.

Port Values

0 = USB

1 = COM1

2 = COM2

<n>=COM<n>

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 11

 Field Name Description Default Value
Username The username to use for PowerChute Serial
Shutdown.

Username requirements:
• The username must be between 6 and 128
characters in length.
• The username cannot be part of the
password.
• The username can only contain US-ASCII
characters. It is not supported to include
whitespace.
Password The password to use for PowerChute Serial
Shutdown.

Password requirements:
• The password requires:
-Minimum 8 and maximum 128
characters in length.
-One upper and lower case letter.
-One number or special character
(#?!@$%^*-).
• The password can only contain US-ASCII
characters. It is not supported to include
whitespace.
AddToFirewall yes | no Add exception to the Windows Firewall. Yes

If value is specified as yes, and the

Windows Firewall is enabled on the system,
the installer will add an exception for the
PowerChute Agent in the Windows Firewall.
This will allow remote monitoring and
management of PowerChute.

Starting and Stopping the PowerChute Agent on Windows

On Windows, after the installation process is completed, the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent begins
running automatically. The Agent runs automatically each time the operating system is started.

To start the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent manually after it has been deliberately stopped, go into
Windows Services under Administrative Tools in the Control Panel. The display name there is
PowerChute Serial Shutdown.

The PowerChute Agent can also be stopped under Services.

Uninstalling the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Windows

1. On Windows, visit Control Panel > Programs and Features
2. From the Uninstall or change a program list, select PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent.
3. Click Uninstall.
4. When prompted to completely remove the application, select OK.

12 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Windows Server 2012/2016/2019/2022 Server Core: Installing and Uninstalling
PowerChute

PowerChute Agent and Windows Server Core

The PowerChute Agent can be installed to Windows Server 2012 Server Core, 2016 Server Core, 2019
Server Core, or 2022 Server Core (all 64-bit operating systems).

Installing
From the APC website, download pcsssetup.exe to a non-Server Core version of Windows. Copy the
file to a temporary directory on the Server Core machine, 2012, 2016, 2019, or 2022.

In the command prompt window, go to the temporary directory and run pcsssetup.exe by typing its
name and pressing Enter.

For example,
cd \temp
pcsssetup.exe

Uninstalling
Open Command Prompt, and enter “C:\Program Files\APC\PowerChute Serial Shutdown” Uninstall.exe

For example,
cd "\Program Files\APC\PowerChute Serial Shutdown"
Uninstall.exe

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 13

 Linux Installation
For prerequisites, see Before you Install PowerChute Serial Shutdown, System, UPS, and Cable
Requirements, and Operating Systems and UPS Devices.

If your Linux operating does not use one of the Supported browsers by default, upgrade your
browser to meet the required version before installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown.

For up-to-date information on the PowerChute Serial Shutdown compatibility with various Linux
distributions, see the latest revision of PowerChute Serial Shutdown Operating System, Processor,
JRE and Browser Compatibility Chart.

To install PowerChute Serial Shutdown, you must have root privileges on the Linux computer.

Install the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Linux

Install the PowerChute Agent on each of your UPS-connected computers. See UPS Communications
Cable Requirements.

If your system supports IPv6 but not IPv4, then you must read the UPS hardware descriptions
that are presented during the installation.

1. Download the PowerChute Serial Shutdown installer for Linux from the APC website.
2. Download the installation package suitable for your system: pcssagent-1.X.X-301-
EN.x86_64.tar.gz

IMPORTANT: To install PowerChute on a Chinese system, you must configure the LANG” and
“LC_ALL” system variables.

a. Open the profile file using the following command: vi /etc/profile

b. Add the following to the end of the profile file:
#Chinese
export LC_ALL=zh_CN.utf8
export LANG=zh_CN.utf8
export LANGUAGE=zh_CN.utf8
#English
export LC_ALL=en_US.utf8
export LANG=en_US.utf8
export LANGUAGE=en_US.utf8
c. Remove any lines in the profile file that contain “export LANG=C.utf8”.
d. Save the file and reboot your system.
e. Confirm that your system locale successfully changed by executing the locale command.

3. Use the tar command to extract and decompress the contents of the file: pcssagent-1.X.X-
301-EN.x86_64.tar.gz
4. If you are not logged on as the root user, you need to run the installer using sudo, or switch to root
user context using the su command and then run the installer:./
install_pcssagent_linux.sh

14 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 After a web download you need to grant execute permissions: chmod
+x install_pcssagent_linux.sh

5. Accept the license agreement.

6. The config.sh script will run automatically.

• Enter a username and password.

• Select the UPS model.
• Select the cable type and port used to connect the computer running PowerChute to the UPS.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) versions 6.3 and earlier do not support USB communication
with PowerChute v9.5+. PowerChute v9.5+ does not provide USB communication to Type B
UPS devices on Linux machines.

Once all requested configuration parameters are provided, the PowerChute Agent service starts.

To troubleshoot Linux communications, see Knowledge Base article FA163608.

Starting and Stopping the PowerChute Agent on Linux

The PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent runs automatically each time the operating system is started. To
manually start the Agent, enter one of the following commands in a command prompt:

/etc/init.d/PBEAgent start
service pbeagent start
systemctl start PBEAgent

To manually stop the Agent, enter:

/etc/init.d/PBEAgent stop
service pbeagent stop
systemctl stop PBEAgent

Accessing the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent behind a firewall

To access the Agent web user interface remotely, use the following port:

• HTTPS: 6547

Uninstalling the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on Linux

Use the erase rpm option (-e) to uninstall the Agent:

rpm -e pcssagent

Using the Sample Script for Linux

A default.sh file is included in the installation at <PowerChute folder>/Agent/cmdfiles/

This file has basic information on running a command file on Linux.

Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) disabled

A HAL policy file is automatically installed on Linux systems to disable the hald-addon-hid-ups
module as it may conflict with the PowerChute Agent’s control of the UPS over USB.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 15

 This policy file is automatically removed when the Agent is uninstalled.

RPM Package Signing

The RPM package for PowerChute Serial Shutdown is signed by the GNU Privacy Guard (GPG). The
public key details are listed below which can be used to verify this RPM package.

Download Public Key

1. Download the public key from the APC website.
2. Import the public key to your operating system by using the following command: gpg --
import /path/to/SE_GPG.key
3. Execute one of the following commands to retrieve the fingerprint from the downloaded public key:
gpg --quiet --with-fingerprint SE_GPG.key
gpg --show-keys SE_GPG.key
gpg SE_GPG.key
NOTE: The correct command will differ depending on your operating system and operating
system version.

The output of this command is:

pub rsa2048 2020-04-16 [SC]

0762DEF64373A1BBEC65EE65258A486C7AD50E69

uid Schneider Electric GPG Code Signing

Where 0762DEF64373A1BBEC65EE65258A486C7AD50E69 matches the fingerprint.

Verify RPM Package

The Linux web download contains both an RPM file <filename>.rpm and a signature file
<filename>.rpm.sig.

1. Execute the following command to verify the RPM package: gpg –verify
<filename>.rpm.sig <filename>.rpm
For example: gpg –verify pcssagent-1.1.0-301-EN.x86_64.rpm.sig pcssagent-
1.1.0-301-EN.x86_64.rpm
Example output of this command is:
gpg: Signature made Mon 15 May 2023 02:51:46 PM CEST
gpg: using RSA key 258A486C7AD50E69
gpg: Good signature from "Schneider Electric GPG Code Signing"
[unknown]
gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature!
gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the
owner.
Primary key fingerprint: 0762 DEF6 4373 A1BB EC65 EE65 258A 486C 7AD5
0E69

The warning in the output can safely be ignored. This warning is displayed because the GPG
private key is not imported to your operating system. The RPM signature file matching the
downloaded public key (good signature) is sufficient trust.
2. Verify that the output of this command matches the fingerprint of the downloaded public key.

16 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Simple Signaling
Supported UPS Devices and Accessories
The UPS Interface Expander 2 (AP9624) card provides two additional computer interface ports for a UPS
equipped with a SmartSlot™ accessory slot. By using the Interface Expander 2 with PowerChute Serial
Shutdown, you can provide a graceful system shutdown for up to three network servers (or other devices)
during a power outage, by using only one UPS and simple signaling.

This guide details simple signaling using the Interface Expander 2 card only. Previous generation
accessories such as the UPS Interface Expander 1 (AP9607) and the APC Share-UPS (AP9207) also
provided graceful system shutdown for multiple servers, using a single Type B UPS and PowerChute
Serial Shutdown. For more information on the operation of the Share-UPS or Interface Expander 1, see
their associated user guides available on the APC website, and Knowledge Base article FA156051.

NOTES:

• Some Type B UPS devices with the prefix SRC do not support simple signaling. For example:
SRC1KI, SRC2KI, SRC1KI-IN and SRC1KUXI.
• UPS devices with the SRTL prefix do not support simple signaling with Interface Expander cards.
• UPS devices with SRV prefix do not support simple signaling.
• BackUPS devices do not support simple signaling.

Simple Signaling Cables

Use: Part Number
DB9-DB9 connection 940-0020
Type A UPS 940-0128D
Interface Expander Card 940-0020

Smart Signaling Cables

Use: Part Number
DB9-DB9 connection 940-0024
RJ45-DB9 connection 940-0625A or 940-1525A
USB connection:

Type A UPS 940-0117B

Type B UPS 940-0273A

NOTE: The smart signaling cable used will depend on your UPS. Use the cable that is included
in the box with your UPS. For more information on the communication cables used with
PowerChute, see Knowledge Base article FA163632.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 17

 Supported Configuration
For Type A UPS devices:

Interface Expander 2
and PowerChute
Serial Shutdown
Master Server
Connected to the smart computer
interface port of the UPS, using a smart
signaling cable.

Status
OK
Basic STARTING Basic
Port 1 Config COM ERROR Port 2
FAULT
1234

0Ļ1Ĺ
USB
AP9624 UPS Interface Expander 2

PowerChute Server
Connected to the IE2 card basic
port using a simple signaling
cable.

PowerChute Server
Connected to the IE2 card basic port
using a simple signaling cable.

UPS with SmartSlot

For Type B UPS devices:

Interface Expander 2
and PowerChute
Serial Shutdown
Master Server
Connected to the smart computer
interface port of the UPS, using a smart
signaling cable.

Status
OK
Basic STARTING Basic
Port 1 Config COM ERROR Port 2
FAULT
1234

0Ļ1Ĺ
USB
AP9624 UPS Interface Expander 2

PowerChute Server
Connected to the IE2 card basic
port using a simple signaling
cable.

PowerChute Server
Connected to the IE2 card basic port
using a simple signaling cable.

UPS with SmartSlot

To use PowerChute simple signaling with an Interface Expander 2 (IE2) card, install the IE2 card in your
UPS following the Installation and Configuration steps in the User’s Guide available on the APC website,
then:

18 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 • Connect the power cable of the UPS directly to a wall outlet.
• Connect the power cable of each server to the outlets at the back of the UPS.
• Connect one server to the UPS directly to the smart computer interface port of the UPS, using the
appropriate cable provided for your UPS model (see Simple Signaling Cables above).
This server connected to the smart port is defined as the Master Server.

NOTE: UPS models with the prefix SURTD or SRC do not have a USB port. In this case, the
server must be connected to the smart computer interface port of the UPS using a simple signaling
cable.
• Connect the other two Slave Servers to the IE2 card, using the simple signaling cables provided
with the card.
NOTE: If you disconnect a communication cable in an active simple signaling configuration,
PowerChute will not detect the disconnected cable, and you may experience unexpected
shutdown behavior. Disconnecting communication cables during simple signaling is not
supported.

See Knowledge Base article FA176957 available on the APC website for information on the valid
configurations of the IE2 card with Simple Signaling.

Installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown for Simple Signaling

Each server connected to the UPS must have a PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent installed. Read
Installation Overview for more information on Operating Systems and UPS Devices and System,
UPS, and Cable Requirements before you begin.

Install the PowerChute Agent on each connected server, following the initial steps for Windows
Installation or Linux Installation as appropriate.

During the Windows installation, you are prompted to select the type of connection to the UPS:

• Connected to the UPS Port - select this option when installing PowerChute on the Master Server
that is connected directly to the smart communications port of the UPS using a smart-signaling
cable.
• Interface Expander Port - select this option when installing on a Slave Server connected to the
basic port of the IE2 card using a simple-signaling cable.
• Share-UPS Advanced Port - this option is available for a Master Server connected to the
advanced port in a Share-UPS using a smart-signaling cable.
• Share-UPS Basic Port - this option is available for a Slave Server connected to any basic port in a
Share-UPS using a simple-signaling cable.

For more information on the operation of the Share-UPS or Interface Expander 1, see their
associated user guides available on the APC website, and Knowledge Base article FA156051.
Select the connection to the UPS and complete the installation for your operating system.

Shutdown Configuration
In a simple signaling configuration, multiple servers are supported by one UPS, and all are provided with
graceful shutdown in the event of a power outage. All connected servers are shut down at the same time.
There are two ways to configure shutdown using an Interface Expander 2 card - using PowerChute Serial
Shutdown, or using the physical DIP switches on the IE2 card.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 19

 NOTE: Do not edit the shutdown settings in the PowerChute UI when the IE2 card is in timer
mode as PowerChute relies on the default configuration (“When the UPS signals the Low
Battery event”) to shut down the connected servers in this mode. The PowerChute shutdown
settings should only be modified when the IE2 card is in confirmed mode. For more information
on the IE2 modes of operation, see Knowledge Base article FA156051 on the APC website.

Shutdown Configuration via PowerChute Serial Shutdown

In this configuration, PowerChute Serial Shutdown is used to specify the shutdown settings and the IE2
card is in confirmed mode.

NOTE: If you are using this configuration, you must ensure that:

• All PowerChute Agents have the same shutdown settings.

• All command files, if configured, use the same time required to run.
• The IE2 card DIP switches are set to:
• 0001 for Type A UPS devices.
• 0000 for Type B UPS devices.
Shutdown Configuration via Interface Expander 2 DIP switches
In this configuration, the DIP switches on the IE2 card are used to configure when to shut down the
connected servers and the IE2 card is in timer mode. A PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent is installed
on all connected servers, and the shutdown settings are set to the default configuration “When the UPS
signals the Low Battery event” - PowerChute will shut down the server when the Low Battery event
occurs.

The IE2 DIP switches are used to define the shutdown mode:

Switch Setting ( =0,  =1)

Shutdown Mode 1 2 3 4

Confirmed 0 0 0 *

Until Low Battery 0 0 1 N/A

Timer 2 min. 0 1 0 N/A

5 min. 0 1 1 N/A

10 min. 1 0 0 N/A

15 min. 1 0 1 N/A

30 min. 1 1 0 N/A

60 min. 1 1 1 N/A

Server on Await 0 0 0 0
UPS port Confirmation

Treat as 0 0 0 1
Confirmed

For more information on configuring the IE2 card, see the Interface Expander 2 User Guide and
Knowledge Base article FA176957, both available on the APC website.

20 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Installation and Configuration with Simple Signaling and Type A UPS devices
Provide a high delay in the Time for operating systems to shut down field in the Shutdown Settings
screen in the Master Server. Setting a high value here will give the operating system more time to shut
down.

Connect all servers, including the simple clients, to a PowerChute outlet group. Doing this will ensure that
the servers turn off in accordance with the Outlet Sequence screen in the Master Server.

Shutdown Functionality with Simple Signaling and Type B UPS devices

After the Interface Expander 2 card issues a shutdown command to simple clients, a turn off command is
also issued to turn off the UPS. To ensure graceful shutdown, the delay of this turn off command is forced
to be equal to the values set for Time for operating systems to shut down and At runtime limit in the
Shutdown Settings screen of the Master Server.

Set the At runtime limit value in the Master Server appropriately, as this decides the turn off delay of the
UPS. See Knowledge Base article FA335089 available on the APC website for more information.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 21

 Accessing the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent Interface
When you first access the Agent, the browser gives an error saying the security certificate is not trusted.

Some browsers display a message box with an option to click on a button to trust the certificate. Click on
the button to avoid getting the error message. With other browsers, you must add the certificate manually
by adding the <servername> as a trusted site.

See the Knowledge Base article FA165288 on the APC website for information on installing the
certificate on different browsers.

Local and Remote Access

You can access the user interface of the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent in two ways, locally and
remotely.

To access the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent on a local machine, select the Windows start button,
then select PowerChute Serial Shutdown > PowerChute Serial Shutdown.

To access the PowerChute Agent remotely, in a Web browser type the servername and port:

https://servername:6547

For example, if your server is named COMP1, enter:

https://COMP1:6547

22 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Troubleshooting
These sections discuss the issues and problems that can occur when installing PowerChute Serial
Shutdown.

See the following sections:

• Installation Messages that can occur as you install PowerChute Serial Shutdown
• Linux Installation Issues
• Error Codes for Silent Installation
• Possible Issues When Uninstalling on Windows
• Communications Help – Troubleshooting Automatic and Manual UPS Detection
• Checking UPS Communications on Windows
• Installing without a USB Cable Connected on Windows
• Unexpected Shutdown and Lost Communications
• Standby Mode Disables the Agent Temporarily on Windows
• Standby Can Postpone a Scheduled Shutdown on Windows
• Issues when Changing the Date and Time on the Operating System
• Changing the UPS following Installation or an Upgrade
• UPS does not Turn On after Scheduled Shutdown

Installation Messages that can occur as you install PowerChute Serial Shutdown
The following messages may occur while you are installing the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent.

NOTE:
If the problem persists, contact APC Worldwide Customer Support (https://www.apc.com/support/).

Message Description
An unidentified program wants This message is a security feature of Windows and occurs if User
access to your computer. Account Control (UAC) is enabled. Click Allow to continue the
installation.
Service failed to start. Aborting Setup could not install the PowerChute service. Ensure that no
installation. PowerChute files are already installed and that the computer uses a
supported operating system. Restart your PC before you retry the
installation.
The username must contain only US- The username must contain only US-ASCII characters and no
ASCII characters. whitespace. See Username and Password Requirements.
The password must contain only US- The password must contain only US-ASCII characters and no
ASCII characters. whitespace. See Username and Password Requirements.
The password requires: Ensure that the provided password meets the password
• Minimum 8 to maximum 128 requirements. See Username and Password Requirements.
characters in length
• 1 upper and lower case letter
• 1 number or special character
The username must be 6 to 128 The username must have at least 6 but no more than 128
characters in length. characters. See Username and Password Requirements.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 23

 Message Description
PowerChute Serial Shutdown You must have administrative access to the computer before you
requires administrator privileges to can install PowerChute.
install and run. Please log off and
rerun Setup using an administrator-
privileged account.
Passwords do not match! The passwords you entered in the Password and Confirm fields
must match.
Windows needs your permission to This message is a security feature of Windows. Click Continue.
continue
Error Codes for Silent Installation
The following error codes will be written to the PCSSInstall.log file if the silent installation was
unsuccessful.

Error
Error Message Description
Code
3 Installer is already running Another instance of the installer is already
running.
4 Installation on 32-bit OS is not supported PowerChute Serial Shutdown must be installed
on a 64-bit operating system.
5 PowerChute Network Shutdown installation Uninstall PowerChute Network Shutdown before
detected installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown.
7 This version of PowerChute Serial Shutdown
does not support Japanese language OS
8 Upgrade from this version of PowerChute Uninstall PowerChute Business Edition before
Business Edition is not supported installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown.
9 Silent upgrade from PowerChute Business Run normal PowerChute Serial Shutdown
Edition 10.x is not supported installation, where the installer guides you
through the upgrade steps. Alternatively,
uninstall PowerChute Business Edition before
installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown.
10 Silent installation of Visual C++ Redistributable Run normal PowerChute Serial Shutdown
is not supported installation, where the installer guides you
through the Visual C++ Redistributable
installation. Alternatively, download and install
the latest Visual C++ Redistributable version
before installing PowerChute Serial Shutdown.
11 Silent uninstall of PowerChute Personal Edition Run normal PowerChute Serial Shutdown
is not supported installation, where the installer guides you
through uninstalling PowerChute Personal
Edition v3.1. Alternatively, uninstall PowerChute
Personal Edition before installing PowerChute
Serial Shutdown.
12 Upgrade entry missing in ini file Supported upgrade path found, but upgrade
entry in ini file is missing.
13 APCPBEAgent service already exists The PowerChute Agent service uninstallation
has not completed. Reboot and run the
PowerChute Serial Shutdown installation again.
14 Upgrade not enabled Supported upgrade path found, but 'Upgrade'
entry in ini file is not specified as 'yes'.

24 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Error
Error Message Description
Code
15 Stopping Agent service did not succeed Agent service of existing PowerChute Serial
Shutdown installation could not be stopped. It is
not possible to perform upgrade installation if the
Agent service is still running.
16 No supported upgrade path found Upgrading from an installed version of
PowerChute Serial Shutdown to a new version is
not supported.
20 “/F” command line parameter for silent
configuration ini file is missing
21 Silent configuration ini file doesn’t exist
22 AcceptEULA entry missing in ini file
23 EULA not accepted
24 UPSModel entry missing in ini file
25 Invalid UPSModel value
26 ShareUPSMode entry missing in ini file
27 Invalid ShareUPSMode value
28 Interface Expander and Share-UPS are not
supported on UPS model
29 UPSPort entry missing in ini file
30 Serial port COM<n> for UPSPort value <b>
doesn’t exist on the system
31 SRV UPS model requires serial port
32 Interface Expander and Share-UPS require
serial port
33 Back-UPS requires USB port
34 Disabling native OS UPS support did not
succeed
35 Username entry missing in ini file
36 Password entry missing in ini file
37 Username length must be between 6 and 128
characters
38 Username must contain only US-ASCII
characters and no spaces
39 Password must contain only US-ASCII
characters and no spaces
40 Username cannot be part of the password
41 Password length must be between 8 and 128
characters
42 Password does not contain lowercase letter
43 Password does not contain uppercase letter
44 Password does not contain number or special
character
45 AddToFirewall entry missing in ini file
46 AutoDetect entry missing in ini file
47 No supported UPS detected
50 ApplicationDirectory entry missing in ini
file
51 Installation directory could not be created

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 25

 Linux Installation Issues

Message Description
When installing using rpm on Linux, a To avoid getting this error message, see Knowledge Base
warning about a key is received. article FA350955. Alternatively, you can ignore the message,
the installation will proceed as normal.

During the Agent installation there is no There is a known issue in relation to Linux kernels where a
option to communicate using the USB port. panic can occur when a USB cable is disconnected. If the
PowerChute installation cannot determine whether your
kernel has the necessary patch that addresses this and does
not display the USB port option, then you need to check with
your OS provider whether your kernel has the fix included in it
or not.

The USB option is available in RHEL v6.4 and above and

SUSE 11 SP2 and above, as the fix has been applied to its
kernel.

The commit number for the patch is

1a8e8fab790ea7af81b8f964fdec706ad1ec2271.

See also http://git.kernel.org.

Possible Issues When Uninstalling on Windows

The following issues can occur when you are uninstalling PowerChute Serial Shutdown on Windows:

• After you uninstall PowerChute Serial Shutdown, you might need to remove some files and folders
manually. Delete the installation folder, including its contents, if it still exists (the default folder
\Program Files\APC\PowerChute Serial Shutdown or the non-default folder you
specified during the installation). If PowerChute Serial Shutdown is the only PowerChute product
installed, also delete the APC folder.

Communications Help – Troubleshooting Automatic and Manual UPS Detection

Use the following troubleshooting checklist if PowerChute Serial Shutdown does not detect the UPS
automatically, or if you are having difficulty with manual UPS detection.

NOTE:
Setup cannot automatically detect a device connected by a simple-signaling cable. Therefore, during
setup, when your UPS is connected through the basic port of an Interface Expander 2 Card, use manual
detection and specify the port and UPS type. See Simple Signaling.

IMPORTANT:

• Check that you are using a UPS model that is compatible with PowerChute Serial Shutdown. See
Knowledge Base article FA315835 on the APC website to find out more about supported UPS
model types.
• If another service, such as a terminal emulator, is using the COM port to which the UPS is
connected, stop that service or connect the UPS to another COM port. For automatic detection,

26 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 use Run Detect to have the setup program search again for the UPS. For manual UPS detection,
specify the new COM port.
• Ensure that the service PowerChute Serial Shutdown is running.
• Check the back of the UPS to ensure that you are using the correct cable, and that it is securely
connected. See UPS Communications Cable Requirements. After any changes, stop and restart
the service PowerChute Serial Shutdown.
• Make sure that there is only one communications cable connecting the UPS to the server on which
you are installing PowerChute. If you connect the UPS to the server using both USB and serial
communications cables at once, the incorrect communications type may be installed, and
installation may not be successful.
• If you are using a serial-to-USB or USB-to-serial adapter, ensure that the correct drivers for the
adapter are installed. NOTE: PowerChute was not tested for usage with serial-to-USB or USB-to-
serial adapters.
• If you are using a USB cable:
– Ensure that the Communications Port is set to USB. (To change from a serial to a USB
connection, you must re-install the PowerChute Serial Shutdown Agent.)
– Check your USB device through the Windows Control Panel, by selecting Administrative
Tools > Computer Management > HID. If either HID, or under HID the driver American
Power Conversion USB UPS is not displayed, ensure that the USB port is enabled at your
computer. If you are using a USB hub instead (not recommended), ensure that the hub is
receiving power, check the hub’s documentation to determine if an adapter is needed, ensure
that the USB cable to the UPS is the last cable in the chain, and ensure that all USB devices
upstream from the UPS have are communicating.
• If either of the following is installed or connected, check its configuration:
– A Network Management Card must be fully configured and operational.
– If you are using PowerChute Serial Shutdown to monitor an Interface Expander 2 Card, ensure
that you are using the correct cable (as listed in Simple Signaling Cables), and that “Simple
signaling Accessory” was specified when the card or device was installed. If you are unsure
what type of accessory was specified, reinstall the card or device with the correct settings.
• To check for USB/serial connection issues, use another port and cable, or use a terminal emulator
to check the connection. See Checking UPS Communications on Windows.

NOTE:
If the troubleshooting methods in this section do not solve the problem, contact APC Worldwide
Customer Support (https://www.apc.com/support/).
Checking UPS Communications on Windows
To check the connection between a smart-signaling UPS and your computer’s supported Windows
operating system, use any terminal-emulation program.

NOTE: There is currently no way to check the communication for Type A devices.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 27

 The following procedure describes how to check the serial communication using the PuTTY terminal
emulator.

1. Make sure that no other service is using the communications port.

2. Open PuTTY.
3. On the Putty Configuration screen, enter:
a. Connection Type: Serial
b. Serial Line: Specify the communications port to which the UPS is connected.
c. Speed: 2400 bits/second
d. Click Open
4. When a blank terminal screen is displayed, type an uppercase Y.
– If the screen displays the letters, SM (Smart Mode), there is no problem with the serial
communications link.
– If SM is not displayed, type an uppercase A. If the screen displays OK, the UPS can receive
signals, but it cannot send them. Possible causes of issues are:
• There may be an issue with the serial cable. Replace the serial cable.
• The computer’s serial port may be unable to receive signals because of an interrupt conflict
or a malfunctioning in the port. Try using a different computer.
• There may be a hardware issue with the UPS. Try using a different UPS.
NOTE:
For further help with communications issues, or to troubleshoot Linux communications, see Knowledge
Base article FA163608 on the APC website. If the problem persists, contact APC Worldwide Support
(https://www.apc.com/support/).
Installing without a USB Cable Connected on Windows
On Windows, for Smart-UPS devices with the SMX and SMT prefix and Back-UPS devices, if you
installed the PowerChute Agent without the USB communications cable connected to the UPS, then you
cannot subsequently establish communications.

You need to correctly connect the USB communications cable from the computer to the UPS and then re-
install the Agent.

Unexpected Shutdown and Lost Communications

If communications between the UPS and the server running PowerChute Serial Shutdown are lost,
unexpected shutdown may occur in the event of a power outage, as the UPS cannot communicate with
the PowerChute Agent running on the server.

Standby Mode Disables the Agent Temporarily on Windows

The PowerChute Agent Windows service does not work while the computer is in Standby mode.

Standby Can Postpone a Scheduled Shutdown on Windows

If your Windows computer is on standby at the time for which a shutdown is scheduled, the shutdown
starts after standby mode ends. This is true even if the time scheduled for the shutdown (through the
Shutdown Schedule command) has already passed.

For example, if a shutdown is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and your computer is on standby at 7 p.m., it
will not shut down at that time. But if the computer resumes normal operation at 9 p.m., the shutdown
begins then. The notification will indicate that an administrative shutdown began at 7 p.m., and a minute
later the computer will shut down. The computer will turn on again twelve hours later.

28 PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide

 Issues when Changing the Date and Time on the Operating System
Certain PowerChute functionality uses the operating system’s time settings. Components such as
scheduled shutdowns, event logging, and data logging rely on the time settings to function correctly.
Changing the time or date after PowerChute is installed is not supported.

Changing the UPS following Installation or an Upgrade

It is not supported to change the UPS used after installing PowerChute v1.2 or upgrading to
PowerChute v1.2. You are not asked to select a UPS during an upgrade installation, the UPS identified
during the original installation is used. To use a different UPS to that configured with PowerChute during
the original installation, you must uninstall PowerChute and then reinstall to configure with the new UPS.

UPS does not Turn On after Scheduled Shutdown

With the SMX1000 and SMX750 UPS devices, the UPS might not turn back on after a scheduled
shutdown.

To turn on the device manually:

1. Turn off the UPS using the LCD.

2. Remove the UPS plug from the socket.
3. Disconnect the UPS battery.
Then put the device back into normal usage by reversing these steps:

1. Re-connect the UPS battery.

2. Put the UPS plug into the socket.
Turn on the UPS using the LCD.

PowerChute Serial Shutdown Installation Guide 29

 APC by Schneider Electric
Worldwide Customer Support
Customer support for this or any other product is available at no charge in any of the following ways:
• Visit the APC by Schneider Electric web site, to access documents in the APC Knowledge Base and
to submit customer support requests.
– www.apc.com (Corporate Headquarters)
Connect to localized APC by Schneider Electric web site for specific countries, each of which
provides customer support information.
– www.apc.com/support/
Global support searching APC Knowledge Base and using e-support.
• Contact the APC by Schneider Electric Customer Support Center by telephone or e-mail.
– Local, country-specific centers: go to www.apc.com/support/contact for contact information.

For information on how to obtain local customer support, contact the APC by Schneider Electric
representative or other distributor from whom you purchased your APC by Schneider Electric product.

As standards, specifications, and designs change from time to time, please ask for confirmation of the information given in this publication.
© 2024 Schneider Electric. All Rights Reserved. Schneider Electric, APC and PowerChute are trademarks and the property of Schneider
Electric SE, its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

TME10992A-001 02/2024