Was unaware UPSes even talked to the computers they power, thought they were just backup batteries
Yep even mid range ones did so way back in the early 90s. It was a common fairly cheap feature that used rs232 mostly. In those days non unix systems did not care as much if powered down without warning. So us early (me 1996) Linux users really found it useful to have the ups initiate shutdown before it died. Windows users of the time only tended to worry if they had the PC running when not sat their. Few had internet at home in the early 90s and those that did were dil up. So for many it was not worth the cost when you could just turn off the PC if a power cut was long term.
Now with most people using laptops for casual use. I really cant imagin anyone buying one without the feature.
If the computer gets notified that the battery has been activated, then it can save files, gracefully exit programs, etc. before power loss
Just get one that is supported by N.U.T and have N.U.T handle your shutdowns.
...and what better brand than EATON, which sponsors the NUT project IIRC.
I've used both APC (via apcupsd) and EATON (via nut), both work great.
Using NUTS, about every one of them, I'm using APC and TrippLite
Agreed; I have two Cyberpowers that NUTS works well with. That said, I hate configuring NUTS. It's like the sendmail of power supply management systems. I'm not aware of any others, though, so it's what there is.
Oh, and Home Assistant plays really well with NUTS!
I agree, configuration is text files like good old sendmail, what a nightmare memory, IIRC there was even books about configuring sendmail...
Anyway NUTS works well, at one time I even installed it on my ASUS router and set it as a IP server, and from a windows PC using winNUT I was able to see it.
I have good expreience with APC and Legrand. Small chinese noname brands are a hit or miss, but mostly miss.
Check the nut compatibility list: https://networkupstools.org/stable-hcl.html
