UPS advice?

[zeitghost]

Any details on how the shutdown software works?

I'm assuming it loads a driver but how does the driver communicate with or monitor the UPS?

RS232 or USB...

[vetran]

depends.

NT technology (NT,2000 & XP) natively support dry contact based shutdown so the UPS just closes relays when the mains fails and NT responds accordingly. This is connected using the serial port and a special cable.

Most manufacturers provide software that communicates via serial port or USB and provide full information about the UPS. Connected via serial or USB port.

Finally the network option. The UPS is connected via either a hardware box or a software agent. The clients connect to the agent over the network and again provide full information.

Now if you want a real ups, try Powerware or MGE Ops ups.

[KevinS]

Any details on how the shutdown software works?

I'm assuming it loads a driver but how does the driver communicate with or monitor the UPS?

For the unit you have bought, you have the choice of USB or RS232.. When the machine boots, the 'Belkin Bulldog' software loads connects to the UPS.. When the power goes, I get a little console popup on the screen with the 5 minute countdown.. The console remains if the power returns before the shutdown event..

[TheFaQQer]

which is more than enough time.

[DimPrawn]

I use laptops as servers now.

One as a web server, another as a database server etc.

A dual core 2GB RAM laptop is about £400 inc VAT.

Gives me about an hour of uptime even with no power. I use a small UPS for the router, firewall appliances etc only.

[gadgetman]

Nice idea but doesn't help with my 2TB RAID array unfortunately

[hyperD]

I use an APC Smart 3000

http://www.apcc.com/resource/include...ku=SURT3000XLI

and run 3 servers, 1 laptop and 2 workstations (and several monitors) off it. Had a power outage before Christmas and was able to carry on for 45 minutes, gracefully shutting down the non-essential machines.

Laser printers cannot be run off them as they tend to surge IIRC...

[Sockpuppet]

I use laptops as servers now.

One as a web server, another as a database server etc.

A dual core 2GB RAM laptop is about £400 inc VAT.

Gives me about an hour of uptime even with no power. I use a small UPS for the router, firewall appliances etc only.

I've got a server farm of laptops at ClientCo.

They all run the same program currently there are 4 stacked on top of each other on my desk. Actually quiet cool..the "program" is an entire scripting language that is written in excel/vba by a client bod. Its actually quiet clever.

[gadgetman]

Finally got the Belkin unit installed last night.

The Bulldog software looks useful (I'm remote monitoring it over the net) but the only thing is that the email notification seems limited i.e. there's no way to specify non-standard ports or to specify a login for the smtp server.

Is there a way to do this?

Alternatively I presume I could get the s/w to run an external command that sends me an email. If so any suggestions on a command line driven app for Windows that can do this e.g. something like sendmail on Unix?

[KevinS]

Blat - not sure if it still being developed, but the page is still live..

Edit: Appears to be as the last release is Feb last year..