Very Computer

I have a couple of questions for my cola friends RE: uninterruptible
power suppies, and a problem I have with my compaq presario.

I am running mandrake 8.0 and I will eventually be getting a UPS. I
would like a recommendation for a good mid range home UPS that will
give me like, min. 5 minutes on my pc. I was reading /etc/inittab and
there was mention of the UPS notifying the system that a powerfailure
had occured, and the system being able to do a clean shutdown as a
result. How is this communication between UPS and computer
accomplished?

And finally, I would like to know if any of you have experienced
this. I mentioned some time ago, that my computer does not boot up
again if there is a brown out or black up. I have to physically push
the power button to cycle it on again. My Linksys router also had a bit of a
nervous breakdown last time this happened. The router probably can't
be helped, but is there something I can do to change this behavior in
the 'puter?

Cheers,

Mathew

--
TuxTrax   (n.) An invincible, all terrain, Linux driven armored *
vehicle that can take as much fire as it gives ;-)

Yes, I am a Penguin cult high priest. Flipper readings upon request.

On Tue, 23 Jul 2002 14:43:25 -0000, TuxTrax

Generally via serial port or USB.  You run a daemon on the computer that
checks on the UPS and sends a signal to init if the power fails.

Quote:> And finally, I would like to know if any of you have experienced
> this. I mentioned some time ago, that my computer does not boot up
> again if there is a brown out or black up.

There's usually an option in the BIOS for this.

--
 -| Bob Hauck
 -| To Whom You Are Speaking
 -| http://www.haucks.org/

After takin' a swig o' grog, Bob Hauck belched out this bit o' wisdom:

Is the protocol specific to each brand of UPS?  If your manufacturer
(e.g. *Power) doesn't provide a driver, are there likely to be
drivers out there?  Or is there a generic driver?

Chris

--

Well, if it's a serial interface in case the stuff is not generic it should
be a simple exercise to figure it out by monitoring the port and pulling
the plug to see what gets sent of the power goes away.

With USB it could be slightly trickier, but should be managable as well
with the correct documentation...

--
Add the next two digits of pi the my e-mail
  7:24pm  up  3:53,  6 lusers,  load average: 0.12, 0.22, 0.16
106 processes: 105 sleeping, 1 running, 0 zombie, 0 stopped
CPU0 states:  0.0% user,  7.0% system,  0.0% nice, 92.0% idle
CPU1 states:  3.0% user,  0.0% system,  0.0% nice, 96.0% idle

Datagram from TuxTrax incoming on netlink socket

Quote:> I was reading /etc/inittab and there was mention of the UPS notifying
> the system that a powerfailure had occured, and the system being able
> to do a clean shutdown as a result. How is this communication between
> UPS and computer accomplished?

UPS is connected to computer via some comm channel. Daemon monitors the
UPS via some comm channel[*], and notifies init of changes in power status.

The old and obsolete method of telling init of power changes:

Write file "/etc/powerstatus" containing single letter 'F', 'O' or 'L'.
and send PID 1 SIGPWR. 'F' means that mains power has failed, 'O' means
that mains power is back online, and 'L' that mains is offline and UPS
battery is running critical.

There is also the recommended method, but it isn't as easy.

[*] Serial port, paralel port, USB, ethernet, ... pick your favorite.

-Ilari
--
Linux LK_Perkele_IV9 2.4.18 #8 SMP Thu Mar 14 19:42:25 EET 2002 i686 unknown
  6:35pm  up 15 days, 23:05,  6 users,  load average: 0.08, 0.26, 0.21

Quote:> I have a couple of questions for my cola friends RE: uninterruptible
> power suppies, and a problem I have with my compaq presario.

> I am running mandrake 8.0 and I will eventually be getting a UPS. I
> would like a recommendation for a good mid range home UPS that will give
> me like, min. 5 minutes on my pc. I was reading /etc/inittab and there
> was mention of the UPS notifying the system that a powerfailure had
> occured, and the system being able to do a clean shutdown as a result.
> How is this communication between UPS and computer accomplished?

> And finally, I would like to know if any of you have experienced this. I
> mentioned some time ago, that my computer does not boot up again if
> there is a brown out or black up. I have to physically push the power
> button to cycle it on again. My Linksys router also had a bit of a
> nervous breakdown last time this happened. The router probably can't be
> helped, but is there something I can do to change this behavior in the
> 'puter?

> Cheers,

> Mathew

http://www.apcupsd.org

Captain's log. On StarDate Tuesday 23 July 2002 16:43 received comm from
"TuxTrax":

Quote:> I have a couple of questions for my cola friends RE: uninterruptible
> power suppies, and a problem I have with my compaq presario.

> I am running mandrake 8.0 and I will eventually be getting a UPS. I
> would like a recommendation for a good mid range home UPS that will
> give me like, min. 5 minutes on my pc. I was reading /etc/inittab and
> there was mention of the UPS notifying the system that a powerfailure
> had occured, and the system being able to do a clean shutdown as a
> result. How is this communication between UPS and computer
> accomplished?

> And finally, I would like to know if any of you have experienced
> this. I mentioned some time ago, that my computer does not boot up
> again if there is a brown out or black up. I have to physically push
> the power button to cycle it on again. My Linksys router also had a bit of a
> nervous breakdown last time this happened. The router probably can't
> be helped, but is there something I can do to change this behavior in
> the 'puter?

Just wondering, but isn't it cheaper most of the times to just get a laptop
computer?

The reason I ask: My first computer was a laptop (OK, no notebook, but a 10
kg AT. - It was 1989, people!), and whenever we had a powerout at home, I
just kept working. In thunderstorms I worked on battery power exclusively.
Our house was once hit by ball lightning (an experience I don't recommend to
anyone, BTW) and virtually everything electrical got fused into
unrecognizable lumps. The laptop was never even shut down.

--
Jazz.

"Loquendi libertatem custodiamus."
(Pim Fortuyn's epitaph)

For it was written by Jazz:

Quote:> Captain's log. On StarDate Tuesday 23 July 2002 16:43 received comm from
> "TuxTrax":

>> I have a couple of questions for my cola friends RE: uninterruptible
>> power suppies, and a problem I have with my compaq presario.

>> I am running mandrake 8.0 and I will eventually be getting a UPS. I
>> would like a recommendation for a good mid range home UPS that will
>> give me like, min. 5 minutes on my pc. I was reading /etc/inittab and
>> there was mention of the UPS notifying the system that a powerfailure
>> had occured, and the system being able to do a clean shutdown as a
>> result. How is this communication between UPS and computer
>> accomplished?

>> And finally, I would like to know if any of you have experienced this.
>> I mentioned some time ago, that my computer does not boot up again if
>> there is a brown out or black up. I have to physically push the power
>> button to cycle it on again. My Linksys router also had a bit of a
>> nervous breakdown last time this happened. The router probably can't be
>> helped, but is there something I can do to change this behavior in the
>> 'puter?

> Just wondering, but isn't it cheaper most of the times to just get a
> laptop computer?

I'm not sure. I used to run my laptop like this and I used to laugh when
the power went out as my stuff would all be safe.

I also used to keep the mobile phone like this  - on the charger all the
time at my desk.

Within about 12 months my laptop battery was dead.

Now I read the instructions with the new mobile phone that leaving the
battery permanently on charge is a bad idea.

I'm wondering whether I contributed to the early demise of my laptop
battery...

--

Ian - looking through a glass onion

According to IBM, that's how I ruined the battery of my Thinkpad. It
seems some batteries don't like being on charge permanently.

However, neither do they like to be half-discharged and recharged time
and time again. The best way to prolong battery life for these types
seems to be to drain 'em and then recharge.

Mart

--
"Time expands and then contracts
When you're spinning in the grip of someone
Who is not an ordinary girl"
        Counting Crows - Hard Candy

personaly I prefer APC ... but they can get rather expensive
but I like the smart fetures of there UPS

most new

Quote:> And finally, I would like to know if any of you have experienced
> this. I mentioned some time ago, that my computer does not boot up
> again if there is a brown out or black up. I have to physically push
> the power button to cycle it on again. My Linksys router also had a bit of a
> nervous breakdown last time this happened. The router probably can't
> be helped, but is there something I can do to change this behavior in
> the 'puter?

some bios have a option to turn this off
look for remain off at black out or something with that effect

Quote:> Cheers,

> Mathew

Yes, at least for serial-port ones.  OTOH, most serial-port ones also
support a simple contact closure for "on battery" and "low battery", but
that's about all that is standard.

Not sure if there's a standard for USB, haven't checked.

--
 -| Bob Hauck
 -| To Whom You Are Speaking
 -| http://www.haucks.org/

On Tue, 23 Jul 2002 18:56:47 GMT, Marcello Wrote in
Steve Ballmers hair grease:

Thanks for the link.

Do any COLA'ers have any recommendations for good UPS's that they have
had good results with in Linux, and if the USB interface has been used
for comm between the UPS and the computer, what setup needed to be
done to facilitate this communication?

Cheers,

Mathew

--
TuxTrax   (n.) An invincible, all terrain, Linux driven armored *
vehicle that can take as much fire as it gives ;-)

Yes, I am a Penguin cult high priest. Flipper readings upon request.

Sounds like the properties of Nickel-Cadmium batteries.  The
cure for this symptom isn't an easy one to implement.  For
some reason Ni-Cads seem to have a memory of sorts...
discharge them half way and then charge them up and then
they'll only deliver power until that half-way point is
reached.  We cleared them according to the voltage level
they had, but usually just doubled the voltage across the
terminals to clear it, but is dangerous to do.

Can you set it to wake on serial port interrupt - this would enable the UPS
to wake it up when it sends the 'power back on' message?

--
begin  sig

Outlook users are weenies.

The Day MS make something that doesn't suck is the day they start making
vacuum cleaners.

Mathew:

I've got a Belkin 525 V/A.  It's as small as any I've seen, roughly 6"
cubed.  The outlets are on top, and its got lots of doodads in back that I
don't use.

Ran me about $125.00 USD.

The way I test these is I let them charge, then yank the plug and see what
I get.  This one gave me 10 minutes.

I also put a laserjet on the same circuit, not on the UPS of course, but on
the same circuit, and make sure it kicks in and out a few times.  If that
doesn't kill the box on the UPS, that's about all I need.  Belkin passed.

--
Ken
Linux, the more you learn, the more you love