[H-GEN] UPS advice

[David Jericho]

Troy Piggins wrote:

>Our shared file server is the main one I want to protect - linux
>based ATX PC.  There is also a plotter server running Win2k. 
>

Easy enough, two white box PCs.

>We have also been recommended to provide a small UPS for our telephone
>commander system.
>  
>

It might be worth giving your telephone system vendor a call for 
opinions on the matter. I am not sure, but without knowing it'd be worth 
looking into the possiblity of regulations regarding the telephone system.

>Now for some questions :
>- would I need a separate UPS for all 3 of the above
>  implementations?  Does that depend on locality within the office?
>  
>

For the two PC systems anyway, no, assuming they were within the 
immediate vicinity of each other.

>- what size/amp/wattage would you use?  How do you work that out?
>  
>

Well, the question becomes how long do you want to keep the systems up. 
Do you want to keep the boxes up for the time it takes to shutdown, or 
do you want to have them continue to work (in the case of a plotter I 
could understand that). Idealy you should never load a standard pedestal 
or rack mount UPS beyond about 30 - 40% if you want runtime worth 
mentioning.

http://www.apc.com/template/size/apc/index.cfm maybe of some interest.

>- if I were to get one for the plotter server, would it also be able
>  to protect the plotter and scanner (Oce 9400II system A0 laser
>  plotter)
>  
>

Laser devices create a big problem for UPSes because of the nature of a 
startup load. Given the unit in question, I'd be contacting your vendor 
and asking for suggestions. You could also try giving APC a call direct 
on their sales number. The Australian website 
(http://www.apc.com/template/size/apc/index.cfm?ISOCountryCode=au) lists 
the number as 1800 652 725.

>- are some brand names better than others, and if so, which ones are
>  recommended?
>  
>

I've had a great deal of success with APC systems.

>- the UPS provides adequate power to shutdown systems safely, is
>  that easy to set up on RH9 and Win2k (and commander system for
>  that matter)?
>  
>

Depends on the vendor, but I know I have no problems with APC units on 
any Unix I have a C compiler for, and no problems on Windows systems.

-- 
David Jericho
Senior Systems Administrator, Tucana Technologies