UPS for XENIX

[Scott O'Connell]

In article <10415 at celit.fps.com> mcs at dreamit.fps.com (Mike Sanfratello) writes:
>I'm looking for a UPS to run on an NCR 386 (10mhz) under SCO XENIX 2.3.1.  
>I am looking for the type with the AT Bus adapter that will be notified
>from the UPS when power outage occurs and can in turn notify software to
>sync the system and shut it down.
>
>Could someone out there email me any experiences with such devices and their 
>manufacturers/pricing/features?
>
>Thanks in advance,

You're welcome.

I'm posting because I think this would be of general interest to the net.

I recently bought a Para Systems MinuteMan 1200 UPS.  It can be ordered with
an optional hardware interface and software to bring an SCO Xenix system to
an orderly shutdown.

They use a standard serial port for the notification.  It doesn't even have
to be a good serial port as long as the control signals work.  They use the
control signals instead of serial data for two way communication.

The software will watch the port for failure and then execute a script
after a user defined period of time.  You can write your own shutdown 
script or use the one they provide.

One more thing I should mention is the capacity.  We went by the ratings
on the equipment to determine what size we should buy.  Even with our 
systems fully loaded, we aren't using anywhere NEAR the ratings on the
computers.  With a Compaq 386/20 and a Datel 386/25, 4 ESDI drives, two
Mountain Hardware external tape drives, two Telebit modems and an Epson
printer we are only using around 300 watts.

NOTE: The version of software that I have doesn't work!  I have faith in
the software people that it is a working product.  They told me that the
version I was shipped was accidentally released prematurely and I believe
them.  I have verified that it correctly detects the loss of power to the
UPS, and the program to shut-down the UPS also works.  It doesn't execute
the script, though.

DISCLAIMER: I have no affiliation with Para Systems other than being a
semi-satisfied customer.  I have complete faith in the UPS (I really 
abused it making sure it worked!) and am sure the software will follow,
and that's why I'm reccommending this device.

Para Systems: 1-800/238-7272
-- 
Scott O'Connell - N6ZEK      UUCP: {nosc, hplabs!hp-sdd}!crash!ipars!scotto
                             ARPA: crash!ipars!scotto at nosc.mil
                             INET: scotto at ipars.cts.com