what kind of UPS will work best?

[Erich Dollansky]

Hi,

there are basically two types of UPS' around: online and stand-by or fly-by.

The online version is much more expensive but also much better in 
critical conditions.

Gary Kline wrote:
> 	Hi Folks,
> 	
> 	Recently, a storm happened and the power surge blew me 
> 	off-line.  Time to get serious about buying a UPS that will
> 	handle my four main servers for at-most, a 10-second power

You have the choice between four individual boxes or one big box.

Cases like this let the online version shine. Stand-by versions fail 
pretty often especially if you have a neighbour around running big 
engines powered directly from the power lines.

Even big air-cons can cause the problems.

> 	Linux} computer?  Is there a UPS that is designed for heavy use 
> 	and a very short (5- to 10-second) uptime?  I'll need one that can

I do not think that it is a good advice to go for 10 second uptime. Take 
a rating fitting your machines (400W power rating for the machine, 600VA 
for the UPS) with at least 10 minutes uptime.

APC supplies you with both types of UPS.

All APC I have seen failing were of the fly-by type, all other were the 
online version. I think, it will be the same for any other brand.

But do not drop dead when you see the price difference. This will be 
money well spend.

Erich