Server UPS Recommendations
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@MattSpeller said:
@Jason said:
I'd get a Always Online UPS for servers if it were me. You are always load testing then. It will fail over to line power if needed on most but you'll hear plenty of alarms going off and hopefully get emails about it too.
That's not really how that works, but I agree it's a better design than previous ones. You still want to do a full "real McCoy" load test every year as part of your DR testing plans.
Ours the load has to be disconnected to do a load test. It connects the load straight to the mains/Automatic transfer switches when testing.
I think our facilities staff does it quarterly.
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@Jason said:
Ours the load has to be disconnected to do a load test. It connects the load straight to the mains/Automatic transfer switches when testing.
I'm a bit more old school - I flip breakers
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@MattSpeller said:
@Jason said:
Ours the load has to be disconnected to do a load test. It connects the load straight to the mains/Automatic transfer switches when testing.
I'm a bit more old school - I flip breakers
The breakers are after the UPS here. No idea if/where the main disconnect is for the UPS itself. I'm sure there is one but all that's left to the facilities staff.
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@Jason said:
@MattSpeller said:
@Jason said:
Ours the load has to be disconnected to do a load test. It connects the load straight to the mains/Automatic transfer switches when testing.
I'm a bit more old school - I flip breakers
The breakers are after the UPS here. No idea if/where the main disconnect is for the UPS itself. I'm sure there is one but all that's left to the facilities staff.
There will absolutely be one between the UPS and the telephone pole - for a proper test I highly recommend flipping it. Sometimes you find little surprises that would completely screw you. Also you learn how long your UPS actually lasts and you can test your graceful shutdown setup.
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@MattSpeller said:
There will absolutely be one between the UPS and the telephone pole - for a proper test I highly recommend flipping it. Sometimes you find little surprises that would completely screw you. Also you learn how long your UPS actually lasts and you can test your graceful shutdown setup.
We don't touch that kind of stuff. Yes I know there is a three phase main breaker for it somewhere but we don't mess with the UPS, Breaks or anything. It's not IT. it all gets tested by Facilities. IT would get fired for messing with electrical stuff.
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@MattSpeller said:
Also you learn how long your UPS actually lasts and you can test your graceful shutdown setup.
We don't worry about the Graceful shutdowns too much. We have multiple three phase feeds from two different utilities. two Generators and two UPS systems.
We can run forever (as long as there is natural gas lines still working) on generators. and up to 48hrs on UPS power.
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Was there ever a comment/decision on whether to run both power supplies into 1 UPS, 2 UPSes, or 1 UPS and a regular surge protector?
In my location there is just the one circuit. I have no other options.
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@BRRABill ideally you split the power supplies across 2 UPS so a ups failure doesn't take your stuff out.
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@BRRABill said:
Was there ever a comment/decision on whether to run both power supplies into 1 UPS, 2 UPSes, or 1 UPS and a regular surge protector?
In my location there is just the one circuit. I have no other options.
Yes, there was never any question or grey area there. Each PSU goes to an separate UPS.
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Another question...
I'm assuming it is going to be based on run time, but it seems like UPS manufacturers always seem to want to sell me something that seems to be 10x more than I need.
For a 495W power supply, what kind of UPS would you be thinking about?
Also, would you go "server grade" or just go with a nice desktop unit.
I'm talking specifically about my (2) 495W power supple DELL T320, but I'm just asking in general.
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Do you have iDrac enterprise on that server? If so, it will show you what your actual wattage is being pulled on your powersupply. That may help you better find a UPS to fit your needs.
On one of my servers I've only peaked to 260W of my dual 750W Power Supplies.
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No, but I do have a Kill-A-Watt.
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I would consider upgrading to iDrac Enterprise for any server. Especially when you have them a single servers and at client sites.
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@BRRABill said:
I'm assuming it is going to be based on run time, but it seems like UPS manufacturers always seem to want to sell me something that seems to be 10x more than I need.
That's their job
For a 495W power supply, what kind of UPS would you be thinking about?
Minimum 1000va for the cost / runtime / quality points to all meet up IMHO. YMMV. You need to do your homework with manglement and make sure you have enough runtime to satisfy the business needs, then add some for growth and battery life dropping off over time. Don't forget to budget for battery replacements every 3 years.
Also, would you go "server grade" or just go with a nice desktop unit.
I'd go with what you can afford that meets your run time requirements (plus ~20% for battery performance drop off) from a reputable manufacturer!
Keep in mind that a good quality UPS with nice features is worth it. Having a small software app and a USB or network connection so the UPS can shutdown your server is a minimum requirement for me. Highly recommend.
I'm talking specifically about my (2) 495W power supple DELL T320, but I'm just asking in general.
I'd suggest the below but there are lots of them out there.
http://powerquality.eaton.com/Products-services/Backup-Power-UPS/5S.aspx?cx=3 -
Just get a 1500va Tripplite and you should be good. The SmartPro 1050 should be around $400.
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UPS have a lot of traps that really suck if you get wrong.
Volt Amps / VA = run time.
Watts = how much it can run. Fun fact: this is a number not to exceed and I highly suggest getting one rated generously (25% or better) above your requirements.
Why is this a trap you ask?
Most UPS are rated in VA because the number is bigger. The actual wattage the unit can supply is generally half this, but it varies A LOT so check!
Other things to think about:
What voltage does the UPS output? What voltage do your servers need? Don't expect 110v unless you've checked it.
What kind of plug connects the UPS to the city's power? This is more of a concern with the larger units.
How much wattage and run time do you really need? Power supply rated for 500w in a server is probably not pulling half that. Couple ways you can verify this, but make sure you do.
Dual power supplies? They don't add together! Dual 1000w power supplies will draw a maximum of 1000w. But you already knew that because you read the question above and checked..... right?
How much run time does the business require? Usually it's also answerable in "how long does it take to shut down all the servers?"
Any VOIP/PoE phones require keeping the network running for 911?
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@MattSpeller said:
I'd suggest the below but there are lots of them out there.
http://powerquality.eaton.com/Products-services/Backup-Power-UPS/5S.aspx?cx=3That's kind of what I was thinking.
I spoke to Eaton, and they recommended the 5P1500.
But trying to go the "cheap" route has been getting me in trouble here.
I just want to know VA/WATTAGE wise if they are the same, why go for the servver-grade model?The "S" model you recommnded is less than half the price.
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@MattSpeller said:
UPS have a lot of traps that really suck if you get wrong.
Is topology one of those traps?
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I mean sine wave topology, which probably isn't topology.
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@BRRABill Yup, sure is. To be honest, if you're just powering computers it makes very little difference. You could actually feed the computers pure DC (no AC sine wave) and they'd work just fine. Where you get into trouble is stuff like electric motors, air conditioners, anything that plugs straight into the wall without a power supply (wall wart).
