[plug] Good desktop UPS for Linux with graceful shutdown

[Cameron Patrick]

Chris Caston wrote:

> I need a UPS that would allow about 30 seconds (it usually only goes off
> for about a second or so here) worth of power to a Linux machine with a
> 450w PSU, a XP Machine with a 350w PSU that usually sits on hibernate
> and a 17" CRT monitor.

PLE sell a couple of very cheap UPSes that would probably do what you
suggest.  They "speak" serial (too strong a term - actually they just
set one of the control lines either to +5V or to ground depending on
whether line power is present) and are supported under Linux using
NUT's "generic" driver.  I'm not sure how well they'll last but
they're cheap enough and seem to work well enough that it doesn't
really matter ;-)

IIRC the 600VA was $180ish and the 1200VA was $250ish.  They are
"PowerShield" brand.  The 1200VA has a larger battery so will last
longer even if you have a smaller load.  I haven't tested how long
they last but I believe the back of box claims something like 15
minutes for a PC and 21" monitor.

Cameron