Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ucla-cs!kona.cs.ucla.edu!tj From: tj@kona.cs.ucla.edu (Tom Johnson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: UPS and shutdown software???? Keywords: Uninterruptable Power Supply, shutdown software, UPS Message-ID: <1991Jan4.001113.25442@cs.ucla.edu> Date: 4 Jan 91 00:11:13 GMT References: <1991Jan3.201116.3056@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Sender: news@cs.ucla.edu (Mr. News) Organization: UCLA Computer Science Department Lines: 80 Nntp-Posting-Host: kona.cs.ucla.edu In article <1991Jan3.201116.3056@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> jacobson@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (R J Jacobson) writes: > >I am looking at the American Power Conversion UPS (uninteruptable power >supply) for my BBS. The software is >connector." I have a question about this software whether it would work >with just the BBS machine attached to it, but it sounds like it would. >Anyone familiar with this software/hardware? Or any other that does the >same thing. I would like to have a UPS with software that would shutdown >the BBS software then the hardware and leave it down til I get back. I am > > >Russ Jacobson >Illinois Geological Survey >Champaign, IL 61820 >217-244-2425 We recently purchased a couple of APC UPSs. We bought the larger models-- 520ESs. The numbers tell the story. The 110 provide 100 Volt-Amps, the 370ci provides 370 VA and the 520 provides 520 VA. The 110SE is designed to be visually compatible with the compact mac line--platinum color, zero footprint, etc... The 370ci provides more power for the Mac II series computers and has a few more bells and whistles (indicator lights and such). It is designed to sit under the monitor. They sell a bunch of other models too. 200, 360, 450, 800, 1200VA plus 750 and 1500VA online systems. The 520, 800, 1200, the 110SE, the 370ci and both of the online systems have the network interface. The network interface is simply a DB-9 serial connector: pin 1 Control input--lo-to-hi shuts down UPS pin 2 RS232 line fell signal--lo-to-hi signals failure pin 3 closed = line fail pin 4 switch com pin 5 closed = low batter pin 6-8 unused pin 9 ground The PowerChute software simply monitors pin 3. When it detects it is closed, it starts posting events to shutdown AppleShare. Unfortunately that is the only software it works with. I've written my own code which basically does the same thing, but instead of posting events it triggers off a QuickKeys 2.0 sequence, which can do just about anything. We use this since we are protecting mail servers and have other applications running in the foreground of AppleShare, so PowerChute won't work for us. My hardware co-worker is building the hardware part of the interface to control several machines (instead of one per UPS), and to automatically restart the machines when the power has come back up. My informal test of the 520ES was to plug in a IIcx with internal 105Mg quantum hard disk, ethernet and video cards, an SE/30 with 40Mg HD, an SE w/ 20Mg HD, and a Wren 170Mg external HD and then pulling the plug. We got a little over 27 minutes of time on the backup before we got a low battery warning. Not too bad. They provide sizing charts so you can figure out how much power you need to deliver....for example: Mac+ 75VA Mac IIcx w/o monitor 120 Mac IIfx w/o monitor 180 Typical external drive 70 CD-ROM drive 50 etc... Give them a call and ask for their product catalog--it's very informative: (800) 541 8896 or (401) 789 3710 Hope this helps-- Tom BTW: I'm not in any way affiliated with APC except as a satisfied customer. -- Tom Johnson UCLA Computer Science Department 3413 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles CA 90024 (213)825-2145 Internet: tj@cs.ucla.edu