Automatic restarting of server after a power failure.

Assuming you are talking about the PowerEdge 850 1U rack server:

Go to BIOS Setup (F2), System Security, and set AC Recovery to ON.

"Last" will work too but only if the server was on when it lost power.  The reason this might become important is if you have UPS software that shuts down the server in the event of power loss, in which case, the "last" power state would have been off.  If using "Last", the server would stay off.  Setting this to On will ensure it always turns on when power is lost then returns.

It does NOT startup in my case.

I have R630 with Redundant power supplies that are working great. The Bios setting for "AC Recovery" is set to "ON". I have PSU1 connected to wall outlet while PSU2 connected to UPS battery backup. On an event of power failure, PSU1 goes offline of course and the UPS management software initiates a graceful shutdown of the OS. so far so good.

When power is back ON, the server stays OFF. I can confirm from iDRAC that PSU1 is back online and is working as redundant but server does NOT startup.

Please help. I need to get the server to startup after power failure.

Hello Habab,

I think is because the server is gracefully shut down and is not seen as a power loss.

Can you try a test:

Try boot into BIOS and let it sit there.

Pull both power cables at the Power supply unit, it should shut down.

Then reconnect power, It should power back up.

See if you can find some configuration in your UPS software.

Example form Dell UPS Management Software:

Common Software Installation Scenarios

Page 11

To support automatic server restart after a shutdown event, ensure that the “Outlet Shutoff Active” box is checked and check the server BIOS settings to ensure that “Auto Power On” or “Last State” is set as active.

https://dell.to/3Dd5ykG

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes I tested that already and I know it works great (i.e. it does auto-startup) if BOTH PSUs lost power completely (NO UPS connected) and then power is back to either PSU.

So how do I go about configuring the server to auto-startup after a graceful shutdown from the UPS software? How do others do it? there must be a way especially when running a server in a remote location. Else we don't really take full advantage of a UPS.

Thanks, yes my UPS is CyberPower and does have the option to "Shutdown UPS" after x mins of graceful OS shutdown and it would work that way with no issues. i.e. after OS graceful shutdown, it would shut off power completely to UPS and all outlets, and then when grid power is back ON, the UPS would turn on and then server would auto-start of course.

I was looking for a method to startup the server AFTER OS graceful shutdown AND before UPS runs out of battery (Before UPS shuts off). Say for example, battery runtime is 60 mins, grid power just turned off, server PSU2 becomes OFF, UPS is now providing battery power to server PSU1, 20 mins later UPS initiates graceful shutdown, (we still have 40 mins of runtime left), server is now shutdown with PSU1 ON (on battery power) and PSU2 is OFF, UPS is still running, 20 mins later grid power is back ON (before 60 mins mark is elapsed), UPS is still powered up (never did shut off anyway), power is back to PSU2, server STAYS in shutdown. In this particular scenario, I wanted somehow to force server to startup.

I guess what I am looking for is a feature in Dell Servers, to force startup if one of the PSUs lost power (OFF) and then gets power (ON) WHILE Server is in shutdown mode.

I guess I have no choice except to enable the option "UPS shutdown after OS shutdown".

Thanks for your quick help.

How can I set auto shutdown time for my server (Dell PowerEdge R630 Rack Server)