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PowerAlert FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most commonly asked questions about PowerAlert
Management Software. Click on a question below to jump to its answer,
or scroll down to browse through all of this valuable information.
If you need additional information please call our technical support
department at (773) 869-1234.
Question:
I am going to use Windows 2000 Power Management instead of PowerAlert.
Do I need any Tripp Lite software?
Answer:
You should download and install Power Management for Windows 2000.
This file contains drivers for Tripp Lite UPS systems. Do not download
or install this file if you are going to use PowerAlert.
Question:
Which should I do first, connect my UPS to my computer with
a communication cable or install PowerAlert?
Answer:
Connect your computer to your UPS with a communication cable before
installing PowerAlert.
Question:
I lost the cable that came with my UPS. Can I use a different
cable?
Answer:
UPS systems with DB9 connectors require a special cable for RS-232
communications that is available from Tripp Lite.
Any USB cable can be used to connect an USB-capable UPS to a computer.
Question:
Is PowerAlert compatible with Windows XP?
Answer:
Yes.
Question:
If PowerAlert shuts my computer down during a blackout, will
it turn the computer back on when power is restored?
Answer:
No. Your computer’s BIOS setup determines if it starts when
power is restored.
Question:
When I start PowerAlert, I see a half-full battery icon in my
system tray and then my system shuts down. What action should I
take?
Answer:
You may experience this problem if you chose a contact closure UPS
(BC Pro, OmniPro, OmniSmart and Internet Office models are all contact
closure UPSs) and started PowerAlert without properly connecting
the communications cable. Make sure that you have chosen the correct
UPS model and connected the proper communications cable from the
UPS to the communications port you chose during setup.
Question:
How do I perform a remote shutdown?
Answer:
You can configure a remote system to be shut down by using the PowerAlert
Remote Shutdown Server.
- Start the PowerAlert Server on the computer connected to the
UPS.
- On the remote system, use the PowerAlert Server Setup application
to configure the remote system as a Remote Shutdown Server.
- You will need to know the IP address of the computer running
the PowerAlert Server (or you can use the built-in autodiscover
feature to find computers that are running the PowerAlert Server).
- When the power fails, the PowerAlert Server will send a message
to the Remote Shutdown Client. You can configure a shutdown delay
(time from receipt of an "on battery" message until
the computer shuts down).
Question:
How do I use communication ports 3 and 4 when running PowerAlert?
Answer:
If COM3 or COM4 are properly configured, simply choose COM3 or COM4
from PowerAlert Server Setup and then start the PowerAlert Server.
Other communications ports, although not shown in the list, can
also be used by editing the text file /PowerAlert/INI/Server.ini.
Change the line "Port=xxx" to "Port=COM5", for
example. If you change the selected communications port while PowerAlert
Server is running, you will be prompted to restart the server.
Question:
How can I configure PowerAlert shutdown times?
Answer:
Use the Event Manager in the PowerAlert Client.
- From the PowerAlert Client, select menu option Events/Event
Manager.
- From the drop-down list, select the UPS event that you wish
to modify.
- Click the Shutdown tab. The shutdown delay times will be displayed
for both Operating System shutdown and UPS shutdown.
- Change the shutdown delays to fit your operating environment.
NOTE: You should select a UPS shutdown time
that is longer than the operating system shutdown time. Make sure
that you provide enough time for the operating system to completely
shut down before the UPS shuts down.
Question:
What does PowerAlert do with open files when it shuts down the
operating system?
Answer:
PowerAlert saves open files on all Windows platforms (95, 98, NT,
2000). All open documents will be saved in the DataSafe sub-directory.
All files will have a file name with the format TL_####.ext, where
#### is a number assigned by PowerAlert and ext. is the extension
of the associated application (.doc for Word documents, for example).
The documents that get saved in the DataSafe directory are copies
of the original documents.
Question:
Will PowerAlert work in my mixed-platform environment consisting
of NetWare, Windows and UNIX computers?
Answer:
PowerAlert uses TCP/IP to allow communication across multiple platforms
including NetWare, Windows and UNIX operating systems. To monitor
the UPS on another computer, perform the following steps:
- From the PowerAlert Client System menu, add the IP address or
host name of the computer you wish to monitor. This will be stored
in the system list.
- From the PowerAlert Client View menu, choose the computer you
wish to monitor from the system list.
Question:
When using a UPS that has multiple communication ports, which
cables should I use?
Answer:
The 73-0743 cable should be connected to the port that is labeled
Smart/LAN 4.x (example: Smart/LAN 4.1). This port and cable combination
is used for smart communication. The other ports will be labeled
Basic/LAN 2.x (example: Basic/LAN 2.1). These ports should use the
73-0844 cable for monitoring.
If only the smart port (Smart/LAN 4.x) is to be used for monitoring,
the Basic/LAN 2.x ports should be disabled using the dip switches
on the back of the UPS.
Question:
When I have a power failure, PowerAlert shuts down my operating
system but not my UPS. Why?
Answer:
If your UPS is a contact closure UPS (BC Pro, OmniPro, OmniSmart,
and Internet Office models are all contact closure UPSs), your UPS
will shut off at the time specified in Event Manager after a power
failure event only if you are using PowerAlert on the Windows NT
platform.
NOTE: Your contact closure UPS will always shut off two minutes
after the UPS reaches the low battery condition, regardless of your
operating system.
Question:
How can I quickly review my power outage history?
Answer:
From PowerAlert Client, select the Event Log option from the View
menu. You can filter by date by entering the desired date range
at the bottom of the Event Log screen.
Question:
Can I have more than one computer communicating with the same
UPS?
Answer:
Under normal circumstances, we recommend using the Remote Shutdown
Client for this type of scenario. However, Tripp Lite now offers
a "Y" cable that allows up to two computers to perform
smart communication with a single UPS.
Question:
Does PowerAlert have the capability to limit broadcast messages
to certain users?
Answer: PowerAlert broadcast
messages get sent to the computer's entire workgroup or domain.
If a user prefers to only have select users notified, these users
can be notified via PowerAlert's email feature.
Question:
How do I know whether to choose Home/Office or Network/Office
when installing PowerAlert on a Windows machine?
Answer:
The user should always choose Network Mode unless the computer does
not have the TCP/IP protocol installed.
To see if TCP/IP is installed:
- Select Network from the system Control Panel.
- Choose the configuration tab.
- If the TCP/IP protocol is listed with the words "dial up
adapter" next to it, the computer only has TCP/IP for dial-up
networking.
PowerAlert requires the TCP/IP protocol to be bound to a network
interface card and have a specific IP address assigned to the computer
in order to run PowerAlert in network mode.
Question:
What is "load shedding"?
Answer:
"Load shedding" is a way to extend battery run-time when
utility power has failed by turning off non-essential devices that
are drawing power from the UPS.
PowerAlert supports load shedding for any UPS that supports control
of individual receptacles (plugs). The following Tripp Lite UPSs
support control of one or more receptacles:
- SmartPro 1400 (1 controllable receptacle)*
- SmartPro 2200 (2 controllable receptacles)*
- SmartPro 3000 (3 controllable receptacles)*
- SmartOnline 1000RT2U (2 controllable receptacle banks)
- SmartOnline 2200RT2U (2 controllable receptacle banks)
* This includes the RM and XL versions of these SmartPro models.
Question:
How can I see how much UPS battery run-time is remaining?
Answer:
Because of the many factors involved in the calculation of battery
run-time (battery charge, load, temperature, battery discharge history,
etc.), run-time values may be inaccurate, so we have chosen not
to provide this value. PowerAlert does calculate output load percentage
and battery capacity.
Question:
What is "Tap State"?
Answer:
Tripp Lite UPSs provide utility line conditioning to ensure a proper
voltage level. If the input voltage is lower than normal, the voltage
will be boosted. If the input voltage is higher than normal, the
voltage will be reduced. The "Tap State" is an indication
of what type of line conditioning is being used (Normal, Boost,
or Reducing).
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