Cheap or free auto-shutdown setup (was: Reliability Sys V file sys)

[Doug Pintar]

In article <1794 at ssbn.WLK.COM> bill at ssbn.WLK.COM (Bill Kennedy) writes:
>
>He lost two SPS's and everything else.  Let's add this up.  Let's say
>that an SPS is $400, a surge protector is $20, and a computer is
>$2,000.  My arithmetic says that this adds up to $2860.  It all
>got (I'm sorry for that) toasted, so he gets to spend another $2860
>and he's still naked!  A "real" on-line UPS, 3KVA (over 3,000 watts)
>runs about $5,000.  Whoosh?  It's less than twice $2860.  It depends
>on how serious you are about reliability and your data.
>

There ARE much cheaper on-line UPS (NOT SPS) options available.  I've got
one by Unison (their PS6.0 model, rated for a 600W system at normal load for
10-15 minutes) that cost $465 locally.  It has a built-in relay for playing
whatever kind of system-notification tricks you want when the power fails.
It's about the same footprint as a standard AT box and is designed to sit on
top of one, with the monitor on top of that.  The thing that REALLY sold me
was that it has a light on the front that comes on to illuminate the
keyboard when the power fails.  :-)  Cute touch, though.  It's gotten me
through several lightning-related outages and surges with nary a hiccup.
They DO say the battery should be replaced every couple of years, at a
"nominal" (tho I haven't inquired as to HOW nominal that might be) charge.
They make models ranging from 450 to 1000 watts (maybe higher) at (local,
sale) prices of (US) $410-760 (regularly 455-850).  Not a corporate
recommendation, just a satisfied customer speaking.  Good power protection
needn't cost kilobucks if you don't need it to run major systems for hours
on batteries.  My configuration is fairly chunky (a server situation), but
most outages in the area are 5 minutes long or less.  Most Unix PCs could
probably do with a smaller UPS than I use.
DLP

p.s. I DON'T plug the laser printer into the UPS.  It's on a separate surge
protector, as it draws 600W all by its lonesome when it prints.  I can live
without it during a power failure!
D