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Remote-Controlled Power Strips?

Posted by Cliff on from the cycling-recalcitrant-servers-from-home dept.

Quixote asks: "We've all seen power strips; but are there ones that can be controlled via TCP/IP ? Can you turn on/off each of the outlets remotely? Such a puppy would be ideal in a machine-room or co-lo environment. Are there any drawbacks/risks to such devices?" I know such devices exist because I've used them before, but I don't know if they are exactly power-strips, but you get the idea. Plug in your servers, and a network cable and never worry about leaving home/office to restart dead servers again!

6 of 23 comments (clear)

  1. APC MasterSwitch by 3waygeek · · Score: 2, Informative

    APC makes something pretty close to what you're asking for.

    1. Re:APC MasterSwitch by RallyDriver · · Score: 2

      It meets the requirement exactly - it offers management by HTTP, which is a form of TCP/IP protocol. You can just hit the thing from a browser (or Perl script with LWP) and flick the sockets on and off (of course, don't use a browser on a machine it's powering :-)

      I have one here under my desk (no troll, it isn't on the internet).

  2. MGE makes UPS's that do this by bbk · · Score: 2

    Check out www.mgeups.com's ESV+ line - you can control individual outlets on the back of their UPS's: http://www.mgeups.com/products/pdt120/1ph/esv/html /page23.htm

    I've haven't used these personally, but they work well for a friend of mine in a colocation facility. Their software seems to be windows only.

    BBK

  3. the apc master switch works well by malice95 · · Score: 3, Informative

    My company uses dozens of these for our remote
    colo's. You can via a tcp/ip telnet session shut off one specific outlet or specific groups of outlets or all the outlets. It allows you to label electronically each outlet so you know what you are turning on and off. They cost ~350$ each
    I would recommend them.

    Malice95

  4. Sony has something... by bopo · · Score: 2, Funny

    http://www.theonion.com/onion3104/newremote.html.

    --
    "Understand you're having a little Jimmy Page trouble."
  5. Another option: phone reboot by embobo · · Score: 2

    We have used Teleboots to power cycle outlets using a touch-tone phone. They work well even when you have no network connectivity.