[ubuntu-uk] Uninterruptible power supply question

[alan c]

David Pashley wrote:
> On Mar 07, 2007 at 15:23, Eamonn Sullivan praised the llamas by saying:
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> I've just built a home/soho server and I'm hoping someone here could
>> help me with a couple of questions. It's a headless server (dual-core,
>> three 320GB hard drive with RAID5) where I'm running the increasingly
>> complicated applications that I use for home and work. It runs the
>> MoinMoin wiki, BackupPC, subversion and Samba filesharing, supportingr
>> two Ubuntu PCs, an iMac and a laptop.  (I have five children in
>> secondary/college/university, a busy nurse wife and I use the wiki and
>> subversion from both home and work -- that network gets *heavy*
>> use...)
>> 
>> I'm thinking of using a UPC for the first time. Quick questions:
>> 
>> - The server has a 500W power supply (an Antec Phantom), although I
>> did that on the hope that an overpowered power supply will be quieter
>> (and it's very quiet). Does that mean I need a UPS rated at 500W or
>> would a smaller one be OK? The £80-range ones do something like 380
>> watts. The 500W ones quickly get into the £200 range.
> 
> I have around 4 computers hanging off a 700VA APC SmartUPS, including
> one with an Antec power supply, and it's not fully loaded yet. 380VA
> should be more than enough for one server.
>> 
>> - Am I correct that, even in Feisty, all UPS-related software is in
>> universe? There's no fully-supported way of monitoring and reacting to
>> UPS signals?
>> 
>> - Does anyone have any recommendations on UPS/software combos?
>> 
> I have always liked APC SmartUPSs. I believe NUT is the software de
> jour.

NUT? I will look for it.

I have an apc 500va ups and I see that APC have predicted time holdup 
information on their site.
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm
http://www.apc.com/products/runtime_for_extendedruntime.cfm?upsfamily=17

I use the APC UPS only to be able to shut down a PC elegantly. I do 
not attempt to continue using it. I also usually do not powere the crt 
monitor from the ups either. In a power cut I just need the tidy 
shutdown I think.

The APC ups I have has a USB connection to communicate with the PC, 
and using the (repositories) I use the  package
apcupsd

I know the PC does go through a shutdown sequence.

However, since my previous experience was  (suse) where a distro 
offered good pre configuartion (no work on my part :-)  ) I am still a 
bit out of my depth when it comes to various simple tasks in related 
activities.
(I will post in more detail soon I guess)

-- 
alan cocks
Kubuntu user#10391