Dull but Useful for Monitoring UPS Functionality
Written: Aug 18 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Allows you to configure and monitor a wide range of APC UPS’s; unattended shutdown.
Cons: Interface is rudimentary; could be more useful.
The Bottom Line: Final analysis: I could have not installed PowerChute Personal Ed. and never missed the application; the home market would appreciate an interface with a little more spirit.
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| vemartin's Full Review: APC PowerChute Pro 1.2 (License Only) for PC |
My axiom on blackout and or sporadic power outages is the same as hard drives: the question is not if it will happen, but when it will happen. And when it happens will your computer equipment be protected from those inevitable power spikes that accompany them? I have learned the hard way that the sensitive innards of my computer need to be protected from errant electrical interference, having had to replace two motherboards as a result of electrical spikes. Add to that the constant treat of data lose as a result of unplanned power outages, and it becomes clear that a robust, reliable, smart Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is essential.
I have for years relied on the UPS’s from American Power Conversion (APC). The company has been making UPS systems since 1984 and is the industry leader in UPS and related technologies. From very small home systems to very large multi-battery enterprise systems, APC has something for everyone. I have small Personal Area Network (PAN) consisting of some three Windows 2003 servers, two Windows XP workstations; all are mated with APC UPS’s, which I configure via APC PowerChute Personal Edition Version 1.2. I use PowerChute Personal Ed to configure the unattended shutdown of my servers and workstations.
Product Description
From APC: At the core of PowerChute Personal Edition is graceful unattended shutdown which, in the event of an extended power outage, prevents potential data corruption. Designed for exceptional usability, it provides first-time users with optimal protection based on APC's industry-leading power management expertise. Experienced users will appreciate the ability to tailor the software's behavior to their individual circumstances.
Features:
• Context-sensitive help, Exceptional usability, Graceful System Shutdown, Performance summary, Self-test checks battery health, Status at a glance
• Provides UPS manageability and safe system shutdown for desktops, workstations and servers protected by APC UPSs.
• Enables you to monitor and control any APC UPS that has a serial interface port.
• Certified "Designed for Windows XP: Ensures that PowerChute Personal Edition is stable, easy-to-use, and works well with Windows XP "out-of-the-box"
• UPS Models: Back-UPS ES, Back-UPS CS, Back-UPS LS, Back-UPS RS
Operating System(s):
• Windows XP, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows ME, Windows 98: Version 1.4
• Mac OS X (10.2.x - 10.3.2): Version 1.3.2
• Mac OS X (10.1): Version 1.2.1
PowerChute Install & Usage
Once the UPS is successfully installed and functioning, I installed the PowerChute Personal Ed software, which is pretty straight forward and effortless. As part of the install process, PowerChute Personal Ed creates an icon in the system tray which can be used to interface with the UPS.
PowerChute Personal Ed allows you to monitor and configure any APC UPS designed and marketed for home or small office use. The level of configuration depends on which APC UPS you have. Mated with my APC Back-UPS ES 725 UPS, PowerChute Personal Ed monitors the following:
• Electric power supply; i.e. AC or battery;
• Remaining battery capacity;
• Battery status; i.e. fully charged or charging, and;
• Causation of last transfer of power to batter; i.e. blackout and or white noise;
• Estimated batter time.
Configuring my APC Back-UPS ES 725 UPS UPS was a straightforward process, and the following menu items are available:
• Notification Configuration; i.e. PowerChute sounds, and Battery Backup Alarms;
• Runtime Configuration; two setting at available: Preserve batter power, or Keep my computer on as long as possible.
• Sensitivity Configuration; controls under what circumstances the battery will go on battery power due to electrical noise. Three setting as available: High, Medium or Low.
• Voltage Configuration; determines when the UPS will intervene and go to battery power when the AC utility falls below 88 volt, or rises above 130 volts. Note: the normal voltage is 120 volts.
Under the Help tab, technical data from the UPS and operating system is displayed in an easy to read table configuration. For instance the Model No. Serial No., and Firmware revision of the UPS are displayed here.
That’s it, set it and forget it. It is worth noting that PowerChute Personal Ed runs as a service, so that you lose the icon in the system tray, the UPS will software will continue to interface with the USP, affording your computer protection. It is also worth noting that Windows XP ships with its own UPS service that will give you limited access to the UPS; this service is disabled by the installation of PowerChute Personal Ed.
I will say that compared to other UPS interface software utilities, PowerChute Personal Ed is pretty blasé. APC give you the bare minimum to interface with the UPS and little more. One cannot test the UPS from PowerChute Personal Ed, nor are graphic readouts for current battery power, or real-time voltage and load provided. Granted these are small quibbles, but they really standout when compared to other UPS software utilities similarly marketed and sold at or around the same price point.
Conclusion
In the final analysis I could have not installed PowerChute Personal Ed and never missed the application. I can understand APC’s primary focus is perhaps the enterprise, but the home market is growing at a steady clip and those users would appreciate an interface with a little more spirit. I know I would. I have just downloaded PowerChute Personal Ed version 1.4, and I’ll evaluate it to see if the interface has improved with age, or just maintained and deepened the wrinkles of its predecessor.
If you really must install PowerChute Personal Ed you will gain slightly better control of the UPS, then if you had just used the service included in Windows XP. On the plus side, PowerChute Personal Ed does provide you with slightly more information about the UPS status, and the technical information is useful. Note to APC: study Belkin’s Bulldog UPS interface!
Related Review(s)
APC Back-UPS ES 725 UPS
Recommended:
Yes
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