I have a low-end desktop as a network server running 24/7 and I've had a few drives die when my power varies. What's the straightforward way of choosing a UPS model and configuring it for simple power outages for a Debian Linux system?
Posted Sep 22, 2011, 1:41 AM UTC
APC with apcupsd should do the job nicely. http://www.apcupsd.org/
Careful; not every APC unit is compatible with apcupsd. I bought a soho model a few years ago at what seemed like a great price, but it just ended up being a fancy conditioner since it couldn't send the shutdown signal to my server. On top of that, getting a replacement battery for that particular model cost more than I originally paid for the unit. I'd still start by checking the howto or the project docs for compatible models.
Absolutely, you are 100% correct. I would not bother with anything less than the SmartUPS line from APC, always buy quality (or at least, nothing too crap)
apcupsd is still under development, and supports a good range of models.
APC with a USB connection. Avoid Ultra at all costs.
If you are using this on a desktop and it's somewhere in a house where you can hear it beep, you might want to make sure that its audible alarm can be persistently turned off (and turned off without Windows software). I'd been browsing UPS models, and noticed that a very common customer gripe was that the purchaser didn't care about power outages in the middle of the night and didn't want to be woken up by piercing beeping because of one.
this is actually useful information for a change, thanks.
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/html_single/UPS-HOWTO/
There's nothing more up to date than that? Next.
edit: To be more specific, I know what kind of UPS I want, I want to know the current state of the software solutions that constrain my choices. 2007 is simply too old.
Pointing out that it's old is fair. Being rude to the guy who spent time to point you to the documentation seems kind of uncool.
Your idea of rudeness and uncool mean nothing to me, nor does this pointless comment. In fact I upvoted his reply anyway. I'm merely pointing out that I'm not a newbie and don't need a HOWTO.