Information and download page for Citrix PowerSmart Utility for Presentation Server

Update:

Here is a short video demo of this utility in action. The demo uses the HP ILO2 script included in the download package.

Background

Today, it's common to find dozens to hundreds of Presentation Servers at typical customer sites powered up and running all night and throughout weekends, with very little actual user loads present.  These servers are needlessly consuming power and generating data center heat.

Overview

This free Citrix PowerSmart Utility attempts to help customers reduce power consumption by powering off idle Presentation Servers during off business hours.

It's not only about saving money. The saved energy also translates to reduced green house gas emission.

The first version of this utility is mainly targeted at people who are interested in trying out innovative methods to proactively reduce Presentation Server power consumption and people who are interested in building tools for "Green IT".

This version of the utility is NOT part of Citrix product offering. Thus it provides only forum support.

It's a conscious decision to keep the first version simple to make the utility available as quickly as possible. We are providing a platform for users to exchange ideas. We'd love to hear from you and continue to improve the tool with your help! Please use the MFCOM forumto discuss topics related to this project. We will monitor this forum for keyword "PowerSmart" and try to respond to your questions.

Thus we feel it is more appropriate to call this release a Beta release.

Installation Requirements

At least two Presentation Server 4.5 servers in a farm.

Sample scripts are included to support powering on/off HP servers with ILO2support. Support to power on other types of servers can be added with scripting and simple configuration changes.

Related Links

FAQ page for the PowerSmart Utility 

Discussion Forum 

You can contribute your enhancement ideas for PowerSmart on this page

Ray's blog post about PowerSmart Project. It describes our thought process and how the project was born.

What other people are saying about the PowerSmart Project 

HP white paper describing how Citrix PowerSmart and HP ILO work together 

Download

Download the installation program from cdn:here

Download user guide from cdn:here 
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How it works

Installed as a windows service on one Presentation Server which is kept running. We will refer to this server later as the controller. The modification to the controller is small: a small number of files are copied to the installation directory and a windows service is added. There is no registry changes, COM registration etc. Uninstall is supported.

Minimal changes are required on other presentation servers being managed if any.

Use an XML based configuration file on the controller to configure

-         the group of Presentation Servers to be power managed

-         the "idle power management hours" (also referred to as "off business hours"): the period during which the servers may be powered off

-         How frequent the tool checks time and the state of the machines

Configure Load Balancing rules using Presentation Sever consoles to prevent the Presentation Servers which are being power managed to accept new connections during "idle power management hours".

Once configured, the utility will monitor user activity during off business hours using CPS SDK and power off those servers with no active or disconnected sessions.
It can be configured to power on servers automatically after getting out of off business hour.

A default mechanism is included to shutdown servers.It can be configured to invoke any custom script/program to power on/off servers. Sample scripts are included to power on/off HP ILO2enabled servers.

Power events are logged in controller event log. Additional debug/test tools are included in the install.

For more details please see cdn:the user guide.

Sample Configuration File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<Config   xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"   xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"   xmlns=http://tempuri.org/config.xsd    

      checkInterval="300000"

      startIdleManagementTime="7:00pm"

     endIdleManagementTime="5:00am"

     includeAllDaySaturday="true"

     includeAllDaySunday="true"

>  

  <server a="cpsHP1-ILO">cpsHP1</server>

  <server a="cpsHP2-ILO">cpsHP2</server>

  <server a="cpsHP3-ILO">cpsHP3</server>

</Config>

HP Server Support

•        Designed and tested to work with HP ILO2 servers

•        Take advantage of the more reliable ILO2 intelligent management processor and firmware integrated on most HP ProLiant servers

•        Script based to allow easy customization

•        Leverage Windows Remote Management

•        Utilize WS Managementweb service standard

Here is a sample HP power on script:

winrm i power_on http://www.hp.com/servers/lights-out -r:https://%2 -auth:Basic -username:testuser -password:testpwd -skipCAcheck -skipCNcheck

Disclaimer
These software applications are provided to you as is with no representations, warranties or conditions of any kind. You may use and distribute it at your own risk. CITRIX DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, WRITTEN, ORAL OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you acknowledge and agree that (a) the software application may exhibit errors, design flaws or other problems, possibly resulting in loss of data or damage to property; (b) it may not be possible to make the software application fully functional; and (c) Citrix may, without notice or liability to you, cease to make available the current version and/or any future versions of the software application. In no event should the code be used to support of ultra-hazardous activities, including but not limited to life support or blasting activities. NEITHER CITRIX NOR ITS AFFILIATES OR AGENTS WILL BE LIABLE, UNDER BREACH OF CONTRACT OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER ARISING FROM USE OF THE SOFTWARE APPLICATION, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR OTHER DAMAGES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. You agree to indemnify and defend Citrix against any and all claims arising from your use, modification or distribution of the code.