Automatic Server startup

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TokoZAR

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I have a question about auto starting them after the power comes back on.

We have +- 1 Hour worth of UPS power for our server room (approx 40 servers) and a generator to back this up.

In the unlikely event that all of these run dry I have set up the UPS client to "gracefully" shut down the servers before power cuts out.It does this using an application on the client and uses the LAN to connect to the UPS utility.

Unfortunately this application cannot start them up again once the power comes back on and I want them to be fully automated while I am chilling over the Dec holiday.

I'd like the DC to start up +- 10 mins before the others.

Best case so far is to use the DRAC or the PDU to start the DC and start the others using Wake on Lan but this still requires user input.

If I could gippo the "Automatically restart after power failure" in the bios to work even after a proper shut down that might work.

Any ideas to fully automate this?
 
I use the Power On on AC Fail option in BIOS.

My services start in Windows Server as services so I can add a delay for them to start up.

But you can check, some of the newer servers/desktops offer a delay option. Otherwise add some kind of delay to the OS boot process somewhere.

Remote startup is possible, I could easily build one using an Arduino and Ethernet shield which would start up the server as soon as a command is sent to it VIA ethernet (basic HTML).

Not sure if such devices exist out there inexpensively.
 
Hmm. Interesting thread.

@Gnome & Avert: I think you guys misread the OP.

The only thing I can think of is an ugly hack: Add another non-server box & have that one die ungracefully...then use "Automatically restart after power failure" on that one to bring the rest back up via Wake on LAN once AC is restored. This will also give you a few minutes delay as the graceful shutdown will occur a few minutes before the UPS runs dry & taking down the non-server box so it'll work for very short interruptions too.
 
Thanks for the quick responses guys, as per the OP I already use WOL but I like HavocX's plan to let one crash out and start the others when it's power comes back on.

Awesome plan, will give it a try just now :)
 
Use a DD-WRT router. The best option IMHO is the Linksys WRT54GL. Stable as a rock (mine with special routing scripts and running downloads all the time never needs a reboot).

Example:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/WOL

Flashing the router itself with DD-WRT is easy also:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_WRT54GL

I would personally just put it in the startup script of the router (easy through the web-GUI).

The command is simple:
/usr/sbin/wol [mac address]

Do that for each PC, as soon as the router boots (takes about 1min max) it will send WOL packets to each computer.
 
Last edited:
Awesome link Gnome(bookmarked it), thx a lot for all the replies!!!

I used Havoc's plan to let one crash and reboot when the power comes back.

I wrote a bat that will start the DC on bootup and did the same on the DC that will start the rest.

So worst case I will have to start the DC using the PDU or the DRAC.

If anyone wants I can mail the WOL.exe that runs via the bat file.
 
TokoZAR said:
Awesome link Gnome(bookmarked it)
Click to expand...

LOL, I have one of those routers at home and never thought of doing it that way. I also have some PCs that start up when the power comes back (after UPS fail), my NAS and download "server" (Atom PC). I'm thinking that I should change my setup soon :)
 
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