APC Powerchute for Mac

User Reviews

• HORRIBLE LACKING FEATURES

  sevance18/4/2008

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I've installed this software several times over the years and, today, fell for it once again after talking to an APC tech so I could change the sensitivity on my UPS. Lo and Behold, gee, you can't do squat on the Mac version. So, I loaded the software on my Windows Bootcamp and what a disgrace to APC for even attempting to give the MAC users a piece of "software". Compared to the Windows version, APC should even bother!! AND, neither should we. Just use the built-in OS X System Pref. It does a heckuva lot more!!

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• Waiting for the future?

  jspringate_dotmac5/26/2007

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I have read the reviews here which dont exactly make me feel that secure about this software or the product . After installing I notice that the meter which is suppose to give me an indication of how much battery power there is shows full all the time even though Ive only just bought this product and Im waiting for the advised 16hr charge-up! Also as I run my mouse of the indicator and do a left hand click it changes from one colour and level to another! Im on OSX 10.4.9 which explains why this software is out of date even as we speak-Im afraid the lame excuse of an update is on its way is just not good enough in this day and age!

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• Appaliing software...

  mir()3/27/2007

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Using this program with their otherwise excellent UPS is like having a Ferrari, but a wife who doesn't want you to drive past 30mph... Worse, it's true that the shutdown process is buggy. Finaly, they really don't seem to care about this product being buggy and not being up to par with the PC version. They don't even want to give access to their precious tech information, so one can't even write his own program for it, since Powerchute is so bad... My advice, steer clear of this product and, sadly, their UPS product too, at least until they hire a programmer for a week or two to fix this software issue :)

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• PowerChute 1.3.4 Worthless

  mtennes3/22/2007

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />APC's PowerChute (version 1.3.4) on Tiger 10.4.9 is absolutely worthless. It will not properly shut down your computer in a controlled state. APC support's response was "well we should have an update soon", well they don't even support 10.4.6 so I don't expect to see support very soon. What will happen is that PowerChute will attempt the shutdown of your computer, fail, but then inform the UPS that it shutdown the system. Then after a time delay the UPS will cut the power to the computer just as if it weren't plugged into a UPS at all. MOST DISAPPOINTED IN APC's RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINTS! Would love to see OS X Server native support for UPS in a OS X (non-server)

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• My Unanswered Email to APC

  mdlarson9/29/2006

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />The context: we have an APC SMART-UPS 2200 RM XL 3U backup battery with a serial port (NO USB). We also have an Apple Xserve dual G5 with both USB ports and a serial port. I have been trying to use the free APC PowerChute software to setup a script that would gracefully shut down our server and FileMaker databases in the event of a power failure. I have had a number of unhelpful popup message generated by PowerChute, including one that power was lost and the computer will shut down in about 2 hours. After calling tech support (which was fairly helpful), I started messing around with things. Here is my followup emailâ?¦ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hi again, After experimenting with the server setup last night, I have come to conclude that the PowerChute software is practically useless (or I am doing something seriously wrong). The APC SMART-UPS device itself seems to be a star performer. After unplugging the power from the wall several times, it kept our Xserve, switches, phone system, T1 box and other devices running. We eventually plan on plugging several power-over-ethernet enabled IP cameras into our network that will rely on this battery as well, and I have no doubt it will work. However, in the event of a prolonged power outage, the thing that most concerns me is our hosted FileMaker database. I do have a backup routine in place, but abruptly removing the power from the Xserve, which will obviously close all open applications and services, is not good for FileMaker files. They need to be properly closed in order to prevent corruption. The APC PowerChute ReadMe file says the following: "Shutdown : The OS shutdown performed by this application is an emergency shutdown. No applications are closed and no application data is saved. On restart some applications may report a warning. This is expected behavior." This is also unacceptable behavior for a server running business critical services like ours. As I scroll down to the "For Advanced Users" section of the ReadMe, I see a procedure that illustrates a way to gracefully shutdown the Xserve using a shell script. One thing that you must understand is that I am NOT a person who appreciates the command line. I very much dislike the fact that if I am to have even a remote chance at shutting down the server gracefully, I have to have UNIX experience (I don't, so I am left Googling for answers and stumbling through the Terminal). Furthermore, I came across a disconcerting report that indicates that even if I setup everything correctly, the PowerChute software only launches this shell script "a split second before the battery power is cut off." Given that this report dates back to Febraury of 2003, I looked at the latest list of changes (current version being 1.3.4), and no mention of allowing for more time for the script to work is mentioned. Furthermore, I noticed with great surprise that upgrading to PowerChute version 1.3.4 was a huge mistake, as Mac OS X Server 10.3.9 is no longer supported!!! This is something I should have double-checked before upgrading myself, but I had just taken your word for it. Again, I am just kicking myself for not purchasing an APC with USB support, because if I had done so, Mac OS X would have "just worked". Please tell me something good." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's been over a month and still no reply, so I decided to post it here for everyone to see. :(

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• APC Powerchute needs update to 10.3.6

  cabest11/12/2004

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I'm running 10.3.6 now and ever since 10.3.4 my UPS has not been working 100%. It would go to battery for no reason and most times shut down the computer. I tested the UPS with no load, just the monitor than back to my G4 without the data cable. It is now running correctly without the data cable. Because the software is not up-to-date it is causing problems with my system. APC Powerchute needs update to 10.3.6 and add some of the features found in Windows version.

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• Simple, but functional

  Makosuke3/18/2004

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />I've got a brand new XS1000 UPS hooked it up to my G5 (10.3.2); was glad to see a panther compatible version of this software. It lacks any detailed information (like the PC version of Powerchute), but it does its job; here's a detailed rundown of what it does, since there was essentially no Mac info in the manual. As far as options, it's very basic, but has what you need: Adds a preference pane with your choice of either shutting down after X minutes without power (preserve battery) or with X minutes remaining on the battery (longer runtime). Requires an admin password to make changes, not surprisingly. If it does not detect a UPS, it'll pop up a window complaining (even over the login window, in fact). If a UPS then becomes available, it pops up another window saying so, so you'll know if your UPS is being monitored. I did some tests, and on a power outage, you'll immediately get a popup window saying that the power is out, and your Mac will shut down at about (whatever time). My Mac woke from sleep immediately when the UPS kicked in, even though the UPS was connected to a USB hub (this is good, of course). The Mac shuts down after the specificed period (not terribly gracefully--no saves occurred in open programs), and the UPS will power itself off about one minute after the shutdown process begins (this is NOT documented anywhere I saw), presumably after the Mac has finished shutting down (mine had been done for 40 seconds). If power comes back up before shutdown begins, the UPS switches back to AC and the software lets you know power is back, with no shutdown happening. The only quirk is that if power comes back on *after* the shutdown has begun, the UPS will still wait one minute and power itself off, even though it starts right back up a second later. Not sure if this is a software or hardware issue, though. My only potential complaint is that I've seen a bit of instability after installing this, though I'm not sure it's APC's fault (applications have a couple of times acted as if they're open, but weren't actually running--this prevents force quitting them and restarting them, and makes it impossible to logout without killing your loginwindow process).

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• Can't get it

  Shawn_C--20083/3/2004

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />The download times out.

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• Works for me, mostly.

  Amras1/6/2004

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />It would be nice if I could execute a custom script at shutdown, since I have more than one machine plugged into this thing and need to shut them ALL down... However, I doubt APC reads this, so it's probably pointless...

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• Does not work with Panther

  Saxotech12/30/2003

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  This review was originally posted on VersionTracker.com.<br />Unfortunatley, their hardware is only as good as their software will allow it to be. Currently their is no software for APC products which work on Apple's latest client OS (10.3 Panther). Powerchute freezes the OS whenever their is a power outage, not allowing you to backup or shutdown gracefully. This defeats the puprose of have a UPS/Backup system in the first place, and renders the use of APC equipment on OS X 10.3 useless. I would not recommended using APC equipment with a Macintosh, until APC supports their current products with software which matches a Mac's current OS. I have opened 3 support tickets regading this with APC, and even asked for a refund on equipment which does not work. To date I have not been told how to get a refund (request was ingored in support ticket), and they best they could come up with before declare my support tickets "solved" was "we are working on an update". Roll on 2004. Don't buy APC products if you have a Panther.

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