MGE Evolution UPS

We are currently integrating an XSan with 2 XSERVE RAIDs, primary and secodary MDCs (MetaData Controllers), an Open Directory server, QLogic 2 gig fibre switch and a couple of gig ethernet switches (for the MetaData network and the general IP LAN). One of the things about XSan is that it rarely recovers gracefully after loosing power - unlike Avid Unity or Facilis Terrablock it is the kind of SAN you NEVER want to loose power to!
In the past I've often been at a loss when integrating UPSs into Apple configurations because the traditional Powerchute software (that talks over RS232 to a server) has never been available for Mac - in the past I home-brewed a little EPROM circuit that spoofed a USB keyboard and sent the necessary keypressed to gracefully shut down the system when power died - not ideal.
The new range from MGE addresses all of that - they work nicely with Apple in one of several configurations;

• Single XServe RAID in a storage configuration (JBOB to use PC talk) - the Evolution 2200 will talk over RS232 to tell the JBOB to firstly flush the RAM cache, and then after n-minutes without power it gracefully powers down the chasis.


• XSan with a primary metadata controller - the 2200s attach via USB to the server and you run Personal Power Solution (MGE "PAC" sofware) on the MDC - again, the UPS sends the command to flush the caches and if power ain't back in two minutes (user definable) it gracefully shuts down the SAN


• Multiple UPSs, multiple MDCs - the 2200 all sit on the IP LAN (via ethernet) and they talk to the same PAC software on multiple servers - a bit more configuration but rock solid - it'll even send out an SNMP alert.