Power Protection FEATURED ARTICLE

The Internet of Things.

One of the hot trends in computing, the Internet of Things, also known as M2M, lets machines and devices communicate remotely with each other and humans. Instead of manually checking with a device, maybe collecting data from it, the device itself communicates and relays data about itself or its surrounding environment.

One of the original M2M devices is the uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which provides backup power for any device plugged into it.

A new video by Bill Allen, director of marketing for Minuteman Power, shows how a UPS can communicate its status through the use of an SNMP card.

Minuteman SNMP cards are devices that serve as an interface between a UPS and the network, effectively making the UPS an M2M device.

An SNMP card can communicate the status of a UPS and issue commands to it. All Minuteman SNMP cards support SNMP and HTTP protocols for user access, and through a Web browser or the SNMP NMS the user can monitor the UPS status, issue commands, or even set up the SNMP card, as Allen explains in the video.

Also, SNMP cards can deliver additional reporting.

Through additional monitoring accessories offered by Minuteman, administrators can monitor temperature and humidity, detect smoke, fire or water. There also are modules that monitor sense vibration and the status of the server rack or cabinet doors.

Sensor data from these modules can be sent via SNMP trap or--perhaps more useful in these days of smartphone prevalence—via e-mail.

Such sensor data can be extremely useful for businesses that need 24 hour monitoring of sensitive equipment.

The cards are relatively easy to set up, too, making them an easy transition into the world of M2M.

The SNMP monitoring cards developed by Minuteman Power are available for a wide range of Minuteman UPSs, according to the company.

For a more detailed (and visual!) look at SNMP cards and the role they can play, watch Minuteman Power’s video here.