Re: UPS anyone?
Here's what I have so far concerning this confusing UPS issue
(prices in Canadian dollars). Thanks to all who contributed.
Please email again if you have more info to add.
Peter
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`Best Power' general comments (http://www.bestpower.com)
- manufacturer has `free' Linux software which may be packaged
for Debian soon (All I have found in the source are lines
like: CheckUPS II BASIC V3.23Copyright (c)1985-99 by Best
Power, All Rights Reserved. They'll need to clarify this).
Both the dumb and smart models listed below use the same
software download, which supports both `basic' and `advanced'
programs for dumb and smart UPS.
- bpowerd Debian pacakge does not currently support the INT-0051 cable
The info listed in the bpowerd package concerning the INT-0027 cable
appears to be obsolete; I infer that Best Power now use the single
INT-0051 cable for all OSes; I sent email to
Service@BestPower.gensig.com to confirm this cabling issue and have
not had a reply. However the source code to the
manufacturer's checkUPS program says:
Enhancements V2.0:
* Complete rewrite to support INT-0051 & INT-0027 cable!!!
So I guess either cable is fine.
Best Power Patriot $219 + $52 for INT-0051 cable
285 W dumb mode
Only model that looks like a big power bar instead of a UPS!
Best Power Patriot Pro $363 (includes cable)
250 W smart mode
See web site for other models.
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APC general comments (http://www.apcc.com/)
- No manufacturer Linux software, but announced for Q3-99.
- They have a Back-UPS line which appear to be dumb-mode only, and a more
expensive Back-UPS Pro line (smart mode).
- Kenneth Scharf <scharkalvin@yahoo.com> says the debian upsd package
works quite well with their ups's in dumb mode. However he uses an
older Back-ups 400 (not sold anymore) and I think he made his own
cable (?). Do we have to make a cable to use upsd?
- Brian White <bcwhite@pobox.com> has a Back-UPS Pro and it works with
the genpower Debian package and the apc-pnp cable. He doesn't think
the Back-UPS works with apcd (no smart signalling) or with standard
genpower (different cable signals) but he says he could be wrong.
APC Back-UPS BK500M $219 (Don't know if cable is included)
330 W dumb mode
APC Back-UPS BK650M $335 (Don't know if cable is included)
400 W dumb mode
- debian@mail.fairfax.com.au can't get his Back-UPS 650 running under
Debian apcd package (confirms what Brian White says).
APC Back-UPS Pro 420 $397
260 W smart mode
APC Smart-UPS 420 $417
260 W smart mode
See web site for other models.
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Unresolved issues:
- Do APC Back-UPS 500 and 600 work with upsd?
- Do APC Back-UPS 500 and 600 include a cable?
- Do we have to make our own cable, or can we get one that works with
upsd from APC?
- Do we really want `smart' for $100 more with `Best Power'?
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