Hands-on review: APC Smart-UPS 1500 VA - vital file protection

Last week I was given some APC UPS devices to try at home. If I'm talking gobbledygook as far as you're concerned, all you need to know is that these are Uninterruptable Power Supplies that have a little in common with surge protectors except with more functionality.

They come with built-in batteries and software. In the event of a power blackout this means that your precious computers, servers, routers and phone devices can power down before shutting off.

What that means for you is straightforward. You won't lose data, and hopefully you'll avoid those awful spikes you sometimes get when the power comes back on. (My cult of avid followers will remember the shared pain of the loss of my favourite VCR… At least that's what my editor tells me. The lack of stalkers concerns me somewhat but that's another story )

I was given two boxes to take home. One was hernia-inducing and the other was simply enough to aggravate my lower-back injury, the result of a long forgotten sporting injury.

This is the big machine; the hernia-inducing one known as the APC Smart-UPS 1500VA. Utilising the full version of Powerchute® it is aimed at those of us running vital servers.

This smart UPS can be managed via your web browser or SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), although features may vary according to the operating system you use. The box states that it supports Windows Server 2000, 2003, 2008, Solaris® Red Hat Linux Enterprise, SuSE Linux and Solaris.

PowerChute will also enable application shutdown for the following applications: Siebel, Lotus Notes, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) and Microsoft Exchange Server. You need to plug the UPS directly into the wall sockets.

The 1500VA comes packed with features, some of which include:

• Peace of mind that comes with full equipment compatibility and reliability of a leader
• Smarter productivity with ability to tailor to your specific application needs
• Save time with easy and convenient remote accessibility
• Low operating and maintenance costs with high efficiency, proven reliability and intelligent battery management
• Avoids costly power problems by keeping your IT equipment and data safe and available

If you need the ability to shut down file servers, you will definitely need to look at the Smart UPS, especially if you need to shut down server applications.