I know that this is a long-shot, but is there a software-based UPS out there. What I mean is, instead of a hardware UPS that keeps you powered up for awhile in the event of a power failure, is there a software equivalent of it?

If there is such a utility I would imagine it would be tied into, possibly the BIOS or the battery or something and would give you a warning of a power failure and keep you powered up for a few minutes so you could shut down properly.

Like I said, I know that this is a long-shot. I just figure, you can get just about everything else in software form, why not a UPS?

I don't think you understand what a UPS is, nor did you think this through first, even with the understanding it might be a longshot.

It is a power supply! A hardware device. 1s and 0s saved to a disk or temporarily stored in RAM is data, not 100s of Volt/Amps of power!

CMOS batteries, typically CR2032, are 3VDC, typically only capable of pushing 230mAh (milli-ampere hours) of power. That is 230 thousandths of one amp! Hardly a drop, compared to the 20+ amps needed to run a computer, for even a few seconds.

Would you expect to power your monitor too from software too, so you can see what you are doing? Not going to happen.

Also, it is important for all to understand that backup power in the event of a power outage is only a minor, lessor advantage to using a good UPS. A good UPS uses a form of AVR - automatic voltage regulation to condition the voltage being fed to the computer's PSU, 100% of the time, not just during outages. High wattage electronic equipment and appliances always dump anomalies - surges, spikes, sags (opposite of surges) and dropouts (opposite of spikes) - on the line every time they cycle on and off. These include toasters, refrigerators, hair dryers, water coolers, coffee pots, microwave ovens, irons, etc. So even if you never lose power, if you live in an apartment, or you have any of these devices in your home or facility, your computer needs to be on a good UPS with AVR. Only a UPS can use its batteries to boost voltages in the event of a dropout, sag, or brownout (extended low voltage events). A UPS can use its regulator/conditioning circuits to compensate for long-term high-voltage events. ALL surge and spike protectors are inadequate, and little more than expensive extension cords.

For the record, I have a 1000VA UPS running my full tower, cable modem, 8-port router, WAP, PDA, and TWO 22" WS LCD monitors. It will keep all running for 15+ minutes, and will keep just the network stuff going for 20+ hours.

Most UPS come with software and interconnecting cable for automatic "graceful" shutdowns when the program determines battery power is running low. However, XP and later versions of Windows have basic built in UPS service utilities that work fine.

is there a software-based UPS out there.

UPS monitoring software can be installed (normally provided with the hardware - most APC models have it) to work in conjunction with the UPS hardware (as long as the PC is still being powered and a somewhat extended interruption still exists) to conduct an orderly shut down. Such software is also available from 3rd parties.

Originally Posted by VopThis

UPS monitoring software can be installed (normally provided with the hardware - most APC models have it) to work in conjunction with the UPS hardware (as long as the PC is still being powered and a somewhat extended interruption still exists) to conduct an orderly shut down. Such software is also available from 3rd parties.

Ageed, but...

Originally Posted by janlafat

instead of a hardware UPS that keeps you powered up for awhile in the event of a power failure, is there a software equivalent of it?

Based on janlafat being clear he is talking about a "software-only" solution for supplying backup power, it is important for all reading to understand there is no such thing. The 3rd party software Vincent references monitors the battery power reserves of an existing UPS, a big heavy hardware device full of one or more heavy SLA (sealed lead-acid) batteries. And, typically via a USB connecting cable, establishes communications between the two hardware devices to signal the system to save open user files, close programs, exit Windows, and shut down the computer gracefully.

The key point being the software monitors power, it does not store or generate it.

"I don't think you understand what a UPS is, nor did you think this through first, even with the understanding it might be a longshot."

I did think it through and I do know what a UPS is. It's just a simple inquiry! Good grief! I'm allowed to dream on this thing called the Internet aren't I?

Good grief! I'm allowed to dream on this thing called the Internet aren't I?

My apologies then Jan, and of course you are allowed to dream. But please understand where I am coming from. You posted a technical question in a technical forum. You were not expressing a dream. You've made quite a few posts in a short time and it is obvious you are not brand new to computers, or to using Google. I assumed that if you had thought it through, you would have realized a power supply cannot really exist in a file on a disk, or loaded into memory. My mistake - I know better than to make assumptions.

While I admit, your dream would be cool, because it would not add 30lbs to the weight of the computer, but more importantly, it would be a self-sustaining, perpetual, computer - kick start it once, and it runs forever - or until you turn it off. One day perhaps, but for now, it is more fantasy, then just a dream.

Digerati,

Just to let you know, everything's cool. I may have actually "flung off the handle" a bit myself. I guess I've just become a little overly-sensitive anymore, when it comes to things I post. But seriously, D-A-L had been nothing but helpful too me, so I want to stay on good terms with you guys.

On that note, I think you deserve to know what actually what prompted that first post. See I just bought my first UPS. A nice 800 watt APC job. The first thing that hit me though, when the guy delivered it, was "where the heck am I going to put this thing"?. I'm still trying to work the answer to that question out!

But then I started thinking, which was probably my first mistake, about how, with all of the technology that we have in the IT industry and all of the smart people, why has not someone designed some sort of built-in UPS. Something that either comes with the current crop of power supply's or can be added to it, or whatever?

And as far as software UPS's are concerned, we have all kinds of programs that will shut your computer down or restart it, by scheduling it, so we can't be too far off there.

So that's what started that, and I guess I've just learned, that anymore, it's good to speak up, because maybe some really bright guy in India is on the verge of this breakthrough or something!

Keep up the good work!

Just to let you know, everything's cool. I want to stay on good terms with you guys.

And it is cool here too, and since I don't see you posting something dangerous, offensive, or for personal financial gains, good terms are not an issue. And for the record, if there is one thing I have learned in 35+ years of this IT stuff, it's that there is always more to learn.

I just bought my first UPS. A nice 800 watt APC job. The first thing that hit me though, when the guy delivered it, was "where the heck am I going to put this thing"?. I'm still trying to work the answer to that question out!

That's not a problem either.

A couple things to remember.

First, you should NOT use a surge and spike protector with a UPS. The output side of a surge and spike protector often looks like a sine wave, with the top of the peaks chopped off. Give the UPS plain old house current and plug the UPS into the wall. From here, you may need to invest in some short extension cords/power strips (again, NOT S&S) and plug them into your UPS so you have enough room for all the devices, including the fat power blocks. You should not use S&S on the output side either as the UPS automatic voltage regulator circuits may see that load as unstable, and shut down.

Plug your computer into the battery side of the UPS. If you have a LCD monitor, you can also plug it into the battery side of the UPS, as well as your home networking equipment. Your speakers and ink jet (NOT laser) printer can go on the S&S side of the UPS. Laser printers draw huge amounts of power when starting up, and should not be plugged into the UPS at all.

If you are using a CRT monitor, you need to check its power requirements as it may be too high for that 800W to supply it plus the computer, depending on its demands. Unless it is a very large CRT, and a power hungry graphics card, I suspect the 800W will support it, but the batteries' hold time will be significantly reduced.

The second thing is you don't have to use the interconnecting cable or the software to take advantage of that UPS. What you lose, however is your ability to monitor UPS status. Since most UPS come with LEDs that tell you the load and battery life left, direct monitoring with yet another icon in your system tray may not be that important. With the cable connected and Windows or APC's PowerChute properly set up, automatic shutdowns can be configured. This is only important if you frequently leave your computers running while unattended and have a power outage lasting longer than the holding power of the batteries. The best UPS will protect the devices attached, until it needs to protect itself, and when the batteries run down, the UPS will just power off, and your system hard crashes. But if your computer is always turned off when you are away for longer than 15 - 20 minutes, you may not want to bother with the software, or cable. Without, you still have plenty of time to monitor battery status from the UPS status LEDs (and beep patterns!) to keep working for a bit, then shut down gracefully, in the normal manual fashion.

why has not someone designed some sort of built-in UPS

Well, they have. PCs with a built-in UPS are called notebooks!