A UPS or an Uninterruptible Power System is a battery backup device for electronic
equipment. A UPS provides protection to servers, workstations, network, banking and
security systems and other electronic equipment from electrical disturbances. Positioned
between the incoming utility power and the electrical equipment connected to it, the UPS
filters the power to eliminate any spikes or surges that may cause damage to the computer
or the data it is processing.
A UPS is essential in preventing unnecessary downtime caused by momentary power
outages or blackouts. UPS solutions are classified according to their power output
capacity: Volt Amperes (VA). When specifying a server or other mission-critical equipment,
add a UPS to the configuration.
There are two basic types of UPS systems: standby power systems (SPSs) and on-line UPS systems. An SPS monitors
the power line and switches to battery power as soon as it detects a problem. The switch to battery, however,
can require several milliseconds, during which time the computer is not receiving any power. Standby Power Systems
are sometimes called Line-interactive UPSs.
An on-line UPS avoids these momentary power lapses by constantly providing power from its own inverter, even when
the power line is functioning properly. In general, on-line UPSs are more expensive than SPSs.
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