Power Protection FEATURED ARTICLE

Remote management is becoming an essential feature for computer users of all types, whether it is the ability to log into a work computer, access files on the corporate network or push a software update to a device in the field without having to send out a technician.

While just about every computer system is now on the network, making remote administration an option, not all components that support these systems are also able to be remotely administered. This presents a hole in remote administration, reducing the usefulness of remote management as a solution.

One area of remote management that often is overlooked is remote power protection. Yet, this is a crucial area that should be connected to the network.

A computing system is only as reliable as its power, which is why uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) are essential for serious business computer use.

Yet, often these UPS systems are not able to be remotely administered. This means that IT loses on the ability to remotely check that equipment is being adequately supplied with power, an omission of oversight that can be costly when things go wrong.

As a leader in the power management market, Minuteman recognizes the need for remote administration when it comes to the UPS, and enables remote administration through the option of a simple network management protocol (SNMP) card that can be added to its UPS offerings.

“Minuteman SNMP cards are an interface between the UPS and the network,” noted the company in a recent blog post. “Cards can communicate the status of a UPS and issue commands to it. All Minuteman SNMP cards support SNMP and HTTP protocols for user access.”

Users can access their Minuteman UPS through a Web browser and both monitor UPS status and issue commands such as shut-down.

A business that doesn’t protect its power through the use of a UPS is playing with fire in the same way as a firm that doesn’t back up its data.

Likewise, a business that doesn’t attach its power management to the network is setting itself up for failure through its inability to monitor and control this crucial component of its computing infrastructure.

Remote management of UPS systems is of paramount importance.