Start Watch and email (SMS) alerts

[ncpilot]

Kinda on and off topic, but since I saw that a future version might include notification, here goes...

I think this topic may have been covered, but not sure...

How can you get a notification that your UPS has become active (i.e., the computer is on battery backup)?

I've searched the web and can't seem to find any UPS monitoring software that will do this for just a simple UPS--there is the standard powerchute type stuff, but it can't alert.

Any chance that something like StartWatch could monitor for that condition? Along those lines, what does it do if you setup your computer for a graceful shutdown when running on a UPS? Is it stopped like any other programs running at that time?

I've looked at the business edition of APC software (which I think is free for use on one computer), but got scared to install it because I think the file was absolutely huge (but I think it might support notification).

So, where I'm going with this is that my house power went off today, and the only way I knew was because I lost access to some IP cams, and my weather page wasn't updating. But it could have been internet connectivity, or the modem needing to be reset. I only knew it was a power issue after I went home for lunch, and saw all the utility trucks on the street...

It would be nice to get a text message on a power out...

[ncpilot]

I have looked at apcupsd software (public domain), and did find one post by someone on a diychatroom thread that got email notifications to work on a linux computer...

But this is the extent of their instructions: (not a great amount of detail)

Email Notification of Events
Windows systems, it is possible to receive notification of apcupsd events that are passed to apccontrol.
This is possible using a simple email program.
If you wish to try this program, look at the files named changeme, commfailure, commok, onbattery, and
mainsback in the directory c:\apcupsd\examples. To use them, you must modify the SYSADMIN
variable to have a valid email address, then copy the files into the directory c:\apcupsd\etc\apcupsd.

[Bushman]

I have another freeware that will notify me when a program STOPS... but not when one starts.  I use it in conjunction with Startwatch. I will see if it can be tricked into doing what you are asking.

[DaculaWeather]

I use to use the APC software on all of our computers and servers at work, it was the Business Edition and it works great. Don't be afraid of it, it's really not much different than the standard version, you just have lots more options. It's really pretty slick and it can do a lot.

[ncpilot]

Thanks for that feedback on the business edition... guess I'll load it up and try it out...