What sort of UPS
doesn't bring down a server safely during an extended powercut?
(tico_24, Thu 24 Sep 2009, 20:00, 2 replies)

Hmm.. Correct but..
.. what if you've got 2 servers coming off 1 UPS, which has 1 serial/usb port?
(MrNorm, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 13:09, closed)

But
If you have a number of servers off a UPS then you really should have one capable of communicating with installed agents via network else you should stick to one server - one UPS model.
(SpangoTheWonderBadger is brewing beer, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 15:44, closed)

That's where Serial comes into its own
The UPS (at least IMHO w/ROV control desks) just sends out a telegram saying "Bugger me, the mains has gone! Turn off!" and the software on the PCs picks it up.
So if you've got multiple PCs hooked up to the same UPS you can split the RS232 Rx signal off to the different machines (either using a Y-adaptor (which cause more trouble than they're worth...) or a few MAX232 ICs).
With USB there's a whole load of other messing about.

Ethernet's probably the best option, though. Or having a set-up where you've got the intended number of servers coming off the UPS. What were you thinking having multiple servers on a single UPS that can't shut even one of them down automatically?!
( uberdeity Wondered why Owen Lars knew of the term "hell" on, Sun 27 Sep 2009, 0:28, closed)

Mine, sadly.
It will happily tell me that the machine is going to be bought down cleanly, then does nothing.

Still, in Windows it just turns off without warning, so I suppose being lied to by it is in an improvement!
(dchurch bah, Fri 25 Sep 2009, 16:14, closed)