UPS Power Supply - Serial Port - OLD Computer

[BRichards]

Hey guys,

I'm working with a very old machine running solaris 7 that needs to have a graceful shutdown in the event of a power outage. Some UPS's have a usb/serial port that commands a computer to shut down in the event of loss of AC power, but I highly doubt this machine would be able to understand any of that.

I need a UPS that will send a predictable, detectable automatic shutdown message through a serial port (even if the machine can't understand it), so I can write a program on the machine to shutdown when this message is sent.

Any thoughts?

 

[MicahC]

I've never seen a serial output UPS. What you could do is take one of plugs that is not battery backup, take that ac "signal", use a simple ac to dc wall converter, and wire that as a signal that you prgram the shutdown to. When it reads low, its not getting power so it shuts down, if it reads high it has power and stays on.
I'm no expert, it's just an idea.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've never seen a serial output UPS. What you could do is take one of plugs that is not battery backup, take that ac "signal", use a simple ac to dc wall converter, and wire that as a signal that you prgram the shutdown to. When it reads low, its not getting power so it shuts down, if it reads high it has power and stays on.
I'm no expert, it's just an idea.

many UPSes have serial as well as USB ports for sending a shutdown signal.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'm thinking that your best bet would be to find and buy an old APC BackUPS Pro from the same era of that server, which will have a serial port on it. Once you replace the battery on that old unit, you should be fine. Hell... I have a few of these old units in my closet that would probably do the job

It would be good to get one that comes with the cable, since the cable is somewhat proprietary. If I remember right, it was more like a null modem cable than a straight serial cable.

I'll bet that you'll even be able to find a old copy of APC PowerShute that works with Solaris for automated shutdowns... I did a Google search on it, and they're still out there.

 

[Micrornd]

Most of the older APC Smart-UPS rack mounts (3u and up) have the serial ports and longer run times than the newer "compact" units.