From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Oct 15 15:31:48 2013 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) (using TLSv1 with cipher ADH-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B6E80959 for ; Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:31:48 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Received: from wonkity.com (wonkity.com [67.158.26.137]) (using TLSv1 with cipher DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 5497A2F84 for ; Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:31:48 +0000 (UTC) Received: from wonkity.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by wonkity.com (8.14.7/8.14.7) with ESMTP id r9FFVkOK098104; Tue, 15 Oct 2013 09:31:46 -0600 (MDT) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Received: from localhost (wblock@localhost) by wonkity.com (8.14.7/8.14.7/Submit) with ESMTP id r9FFVkL9098101; Tue, 15 Oct 2013 09:31:46 -0600 (MDT) (envelope-from wblock@wonkity.com) Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 09:31:46 -0600 (MDT) From: Warren Block To: yudi v Subject: Re: UPS buying suggestion In-Reply-To: Message-ID: References: User-Agent: Alpine 2.00 (BSF 1167 2008-08-23) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed X-Greylist: Sender IP whitelisted, not delayed by milter-greylist-4.4.3 (wonkity.com [127.0.0.1]); Tue, 15 Oct 2013 09:31:46 -0600 (MDT) Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:31:48 -0000 On Tue, 15 Oct 2013, yudi v wrote: > I am planning on buying an UPS to protect my HP microserver > n40l, > it will be running FreeBSD 9.2 RELEASE. > > I am looking at > APC Power-Saving Back-UPS ES 8 Outlet 700VA 230V AS > 3112 > > is that supported by apcupsd? (already tried apcupsd mailing list, there > was no response, hence asking here) > If not, please recommend one that is supported. > > The HP server has a 150W PSU and the UPS is rated at 400Watts, and it comes > with USB monitoring support. I recommend the older APC Smart-UPS SUA1500, available either in standalone or rackmount styles. The standalone style takes two large 18AH batteries, the rackmount takes four of the standard 12V 8AH batteries. These are very expensive UPS systems when new, but can sometimes be found at school and local government auctions for about 3% of retail price. The batteries are always bad, but not difficult to replace. Well, the rackmount ones are stuck in with double-sided tape, and take some convincing. These are standard sealed lead-acid batteries, used for building emergency lights, alarm systems, and well, computer UPSes. The advantages of the older SUA1500 are sinewave output, correct battery charging for long battery life, metal construction, a fan that only turns on when needed, and USB and serial monitoring connections. sysutils/apcupsd works well with them, and they are large enough to power multiple computers. The UPS is connected via USB or serial to one machine, and the others speak to it over the network. For me, this is easier to set up and more functional than the expensive network management cards available for the smart card slot in the UPS. The smaller Smart-UPS line aren't bad. Only the ones from 700VA on up have sinewave output. The Back-UPS units are better than nothing, but avoid the fat power strip style. > Also, how to measure exact power consumption by a device? The "Kill-A-Watt" meters are popular and inexpensive.