PowerAlert Frequently Asked Questions

I am going to use Windows 2000 Power Management instead of PowerAlert. Do I need any Tripp Lite software?

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.

Which should I do first, connect my UPS to my computer with a communication cable or install PowerAlert?

Connect your computer to your UPS with a communication cable before installing PowerAlert.

I lost the cable that came with my UPS. Can I use a different cable?

The majority of UPS systems with DB9 connectors require a straight through cable for RS-232 communications. Any standard straight through serial will work fine. Select UPS models use simple signaling communications that require a special cable for communications that is available from Tripp Lite. Any USB cable can be used to connect an USB-capable UPS to a computer.

Is PowerAlert compatible with Windows XP?

The PowerAlert software supports RedHat, Fedora Core, SuSE, and Ubuntu.

If PowerAlert shuts my computer down during a blackout, will it turn the computer back on when power is restored?

No. Your computer’s BIOS setup determines if it starts when power is restored.

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?

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.

How do I perform a remote shutdown?

1. The PowerAlert Network Shutdown Agent (PANSA) should to be installed.
2. After installation, the shutdown console will launch automatically.
3. Click the “Discover Agents” button to open the discovery settings window
4. Enter an IP address and community name (“tripplite” is the default). You must click the “Add to list” button after each entry, and you can add multiple entries if desired. You can use the asterisk character (*) as a wildcard in the IP address field.
5. After you enter the IP addresses and community names you want to search, press the “OK” button to initiate the network
6. The auto discovery results window will list compatible devices detected by the auto discovery process.
7. Select either one or two UPS systems to be monitored by PowerAlert Network Shutdown Agent, then click the “OK”
8. The device or devices you selected will be displayed in the “Monitored UPS” fields. Information about each device’s IP address, community name, model, location and status will be shown.
9. After selecting one or two UPS systems to monitor, you should define which monitored UPS system events will prompt PowerAlert Network Shutdown Agent to shut down your computer.

How do I use communication ports 3 and 4 when running PowerAlert?

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.

How can I configure PowerAlert shutdown times?

Click the "Settings" menu button and the "Events" submenu button in the PowerAlert Console to access the Settings > Events window. The appearance of the Settings > Events window depends on whether you have the Home Device Management Scheme or the Business Device Management Scheme enabled.

If the Home Scheme is active, the Settings > Events window is simplified. Several controls allow you to choose how your computer will respond when your UPS system is operating from battery power. The computer can shut down after a user-defined period of time, after battery reserves drop to a user-defined percentage, after a low battery alarm is detected, or not at all.

If the Business Scheme is active, the Settings > Events window displays a more complex set of controls that allow you to configure responses to changes in UPS system operating conditions and environmental conditions. You can configure shutdown time settings for several event types.

1. To configure the shutdown settings for an "On Battery" event, you first highlight the "On Battery" event and then you highlight the "Shutdown" action and click the "Settings…" button.
2. A new window will appear that allows you to set the "On Battery" event shutdown settings for your computer’s operating system and your UPS system.
3. If you experience a utility power failure, your UPS system will tell your computer that it’s operating from battery, and these settings will determine how soon each will shut down if utility power is not restored beforehand.

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.

What does PowerAlert do with open files when it shuts down the operating system?

PowerAlert saves open files on all Windows platforms (XP, 2003, Vista). 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.

Will PowerAlert work in my mixed-platform environment consisting of NetWare, Windows and UNIX computers?

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.

When using a SMART2200NET or SMART3000NET which cables should I use?

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.

When I have a power failure, PowerAlert shuts down my operating system but not my UPS. Why?

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.

How can I quickly review my power outage history?

The PowerAlert logging feature is only available in the Business Scheme

1. Click the "Logs menu button and the "Events submenu button to display the Logs > Events window. To view the Event Log. 
2. Set your preferences and then click the "Retrieve Records button to display the UPS events. 
3. Click the "Logs menu button and the "Data submenu button to display the Logs > Data window to view a table of logged data. 
4. Set your preferences and select "Table and then click the "Display Records button.

Can I have more than one computer communicating with the same UPS?

Yes, with UPS models that have multiple communications ports is available. 

UPS models that only have one communications port the PowerAlert Network Shutdown Agent can be used perform a network shutdown of remote servers.

Does PowerAlert have the capability to limit broadcast messages to certain users?

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.

How do I know whether to choose Home/Office or Network/Office when installing PowerAlert on a Windows machine?

The home scheme is the more basic setting. Several PowerAlert Console windows are hidden when the home scheme is active, including the Status > Detail window, the Settings > Contacts window, the Settings > System window and all windows for Actions and Logs. In addition, the Settings >Events window is simplified

The default scheme depends on the UPS system detected: simpler UPS systems default to the home scheme and more complex UPS systems default to the business scheme. You can switch between schemes at any time, but some settings may be lost in the transition.

What is "load shedding"?

"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 or PDU that supports control of individual receptacles (outlets).

How can I see how much UPS battery run-time is remaining?

Select UPS models report this data in the Status > Summary window under the Battery category.  The variable is either named Battery Minutes Remaining or Battery Runtime Until Empty.

What is "Tap State"?

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).

^ back to top