# Managing a UPS with a network card **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956 "2021-06-24T17:45:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/1 "2021-06-24T17:45:14Z")
I am looking for software that can manage several network Uninterruptible Power Supplies on a network using the UPS network cards. Most of what I can find uses USB cables. I need to manage several UPS over the LAN. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/2 "2021-06-24T17:57:05Z")
What brand UPS and what OS? Most have their own software. I personally use APC and Liebert and they support all the major OSes. There is normally a primary server and then secondary nodes that receive shutdown notifications from the primary. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/3 "2021-06-24T18:53:33Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I am looking for software that can manage several network Uninterruptible Power Supplies on a network using the UPS network cards. Most of what I can find uses USB cables. I need to manage several UPS over the LAN. I make a point of buying my UPS’s with NIC cards installed (it costs a bit more). Depending on your brand and model you may be able to add them after the fact. And yes, regardless if it’s through USB or the network they should come with their own management software. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/4 "2021-06-24T18:53:48Z")
APC Smart UPS 1500. We have twenty of them on network switches and servers. The Boss wants to be able to monitor them over the network. Powerchute works on USB cabling. I finally got Powercute Network Shutdown to work with the network card, AP9640, but that just lets us shut them all down if need be. ---
**Author:** ![onedayfishsale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onedayfishsale/32/4398_2.png) [@onedayfishsale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onedayfishsale)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/5 "2021-06-24T19:04:26Z")
I’m not sure if running on WIndows is a requirement, but I’ve had good luck over the years with [Network UPS Tools (NUT)](https://networkupstools.org/). You’ll be able to manage your APC UPSes with the network cards or via USB (or both). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/6 "2021-06-24T19:10:33Z")
Thanks, onedayfishsale. Groceries or pets on sale? ---
**Author:** ![onedayfishsale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onedayfishsale/32/4398_2.png) [@onedayfishsale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onedayfishsale)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/7 "2021-06-24T19:11:43Z")
That’s the beauty! You decide! \*Limited time offer. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/8 "2021-06-24T19:16:14Z")
Yes, Windows is a requirement. ---
**Author:** ![onedayfishsale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onedayfishsale/32/4398_2.png) [@onedayfishsale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onedayfishsale)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/9 "2021-06-24T19:19:00Z")
NUT looks like it can theoretically run on Windows, but definitely isn’t something you’d administer like most Windows services. Hopefully someone else can chime in with an alternative. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/10 "2021-06-24T23:11:13Z")
Crickets. dammit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/11 "2021-06-25T00:27:25Z")
Have you looked at this: > **[UPS Management Software Guide](https://www.apc.com/ca/en/support/product-support/ups-management-software-guide.jsp)** > > Follow our UPS Management Software Guide to explore what is APC PowerChute, why do you need it and what version of software should you use to manage your APC UPS(s). PowerChute Business Edition should do what you need. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/12 "2021-06-25T01:16:30Z")
PowerChute Business as far as I can tell works on USB connections, not over the LAN. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/13 "2021-06-25T17:05:46Z")
Sorry, I was mis-remembering the APC software. My current home UPS is USB, the office is an Ethernet enabled Liebert which is now Vertiv. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/managing-a-ups-with-a-network-card/944956/14 "2021-06-25T18:49:25Z")
Thanks, Fins. The vendor recommends software called Ecostruxture which does exactly what we want, at an annual lease per device that I believe is too steep.