UPS Technology Strategy

When determining your strategy for the use of UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) devices, consider which electronic equipment you wish to support with it, the amount of runtime needed and which advance features you require.

Background

• UPS devices provide backup battery power to computer equipment such as servers and network devices when mains power fails. A sudden power failure can result in loss of data, so a UPS device is intended to provide power for long enough for data to be saved and the system to be shut down cleanly.

Considerations

• UPS devices can support multiple pieces of equipment, subject to their maximum capacity. Larger office may need multiple UPS devices. Offices often choose to connect essential network equipment as well as servers via UPS devices. Having decided which equipment to support, select a UPS with sufficient capacity to keep this equipment running for a suitable length of time.

Features

• Most UPS devices include software. Ensure the software offers the features you require. It is best to ensure the software properly supports your server operating system and can instruct your server(s) to cleanly shut down when limited power remains. Advanced UPS software sometimes includes the ability to control multiple UPS devices from one central console, which is a valuable feature for larger networks.