I posted a review of the Promise SATA300 TX4 but needed a high quality pic.  There’s a tiny picture on the Promise website but when you click “Enlarge Image” you end up with a picture of a different model.  Contacted Promise tech support for a photo and to let them know of the problem but so far I’ve been ignored.  To be fair I’ve been emailing old Promise contacts I had from the RAID review days; who really knows if they’re still around?

Rethinking my whole home software setup. involving a hardware shuffle and software reload.  Currently my SBS 2003 install runs on a home built Athlon MP server.  With my TechNet subscription I wanted to update to SBS 2003 R2 anyways, so my big home built dual Opteron server will become the main home server.  Lots of work there.

Each day I use Windows Home Server beta 2 the more I appreciate it, and hope it’s main features will make it into a future SBS version.  Automated nightly backup with no file duplication is a fantastic feature, especially as it allows bare metal restore.  The beta team ask that RAID isn’t used, but with it’s folder duplication I feel too much space is being wasted.  I’ll rebuild this server as well with 500 MB hard drives and a RAID 5 adapter.

Finished Titan Quest Immortal Throne.  This is an expansion back, and is a Diablo-esque game with monster killing and weapon collecting.  The expansion added some much needed features such as auto sorting your loot storage and providing additional storage space in towns.  Look for a full review shortly.

Until this week the server and UPS sat on the floor; I had wanted a short two post rack to put in the corner but I couldn’t get the space to work.  Instead I’ve picked up a three sheft wire serving cart at Sam’s Club.  After assembling everything I found the server wouldn’t fit on the bottom rack, but with one shelf removed everything fits nicely.  The server sits on the bottom shelf and the UPS, keyboard, mouse and monitor sit on the top shelf with the wiring neatly going off one leg.  I secured all the wiring on the rack with velcro strapping.  The old 15″ CRT monitor I was using ended up being too large so I swapped it with a Philips 15″ LCD monitor that was just sitting around.

With my equipment fitting so nicely on the new rack I have room to move my Windows Home Server onto the bottom shelf of the cart.  I could set it up headless and just move the monitor over if there’s trouble, but a small KVM will work better and I just happen to have one gathering dust.

Back to the UPS.  It’s an older model with batteries about four years old.  Since it is an older model the software APC provides for free is creaky and looks to be from the NT 4.0 era.  It’s basic but gets the job done.  The first reboot I passed off as a power outage as this is very common in my area.   The second reboot made me head downstairs and take a look.  The instrument panel showed a bad battery, so I unplugged everything and shut down the UPS.  I cycled it’s power and the error light went away.  I plugged the equipment back in and ran a battery test, which ran successfully.

I use several UPS units around the house, but they’re in the role of line conditioners to keep power levels even to my computers and A/V rack.  I really don’t need the UPS to do anything but shut down my PCs gracefully on a power outage and get them back up when the power comes back on; nothing mission critical at the house, although I am running a mail and web server.

Power protection is something that comes up, oh, never.  You have the PC, monitor, printer and whatever else plugged into a $10 power bar you bought at Radio Shack.  This is bad.  Regardless of what’s passed before as acceptable, every computer needs to be attached to a surge protector or better.  How do you know a good product? Two things: they offer insurance from $2500 and up against your computer frying, and their a name brand like APC or Tripp Lite.  Don’t forget to get one that protects your phone line as well; a power surge can come that way and get you.

You’re computer’s already hooked up, and you’re feeling pretty confident.  What happens to your components when you have a brown out or a voltage sag?  Your PC may not fry on the spot, but it’s causing stress on the components and spells trouble down the road.  Until recently, the only thing you could do was plunk down the bucks and buy a UPS ( uninterruptible power supply ).  The thing is most people don’t need the battery portion, but had to pay for it anyway.

That is, until now. APC, or American Power Conversion, tries to cover the spectrum of power and computers.  Their product line is, to say the least, all encompassing. Naturally I turned to their web site for an alternative, and found the APC Line-R products.  These products step the power up or down to normal levels, thus keeping your computer receiving the juice it needs.  As well it filters against noise and surges from your lines, like when the dish washer kicks in and the lights dim.  APC has two models, the 600 and the 1250; unfortunately the web site is wrong and lists both models with the same specs.  I dug into the manual and found the 1250 supports 15 amps while the 600 supports 8 amps.  Other than that they’re exactly the same, with four outlets, a circuit breaker, power switch and status lights.

Upon unpacking the 1250, I noticed the extreme weight of 17 pounds.  Lots of copper needed for this kind of thing.  I added up the amp ratings on the equipment I was plugging in, from the stickers by the plugs,  and found I needed more than 8 amps so I chose the  1250 model.  I plugged it into an ungrounded outlet just to see what happened; the Site Wiring Fault Indicator light went red.  I then moved it to a grounded outlet and received a green light for my troubles. I plugged everything in and went about my business.

Most of the time the Input Voltage Level Indicator lights, a range of five, stayed lit on normal. When my washing machine kicked in I noticed it dipped to low, then back to normal.  Other than that I haven’t noticed much activity, but then I’m not staring at it 24 hours a day.  The unit also has an audible alarm for voltages outside it’s range; in these cases shut everything down!

Let’s face it: power just isn’t as sexy as it used to be.  But let’s practice safe computing and keep that equipment protected. Besides, if your equipment gets fried while attached to a Line-R, APC will cover you up to $25000.

Editors note: this review was migrated from the old eBabble.net site and the photos updated. Originally published May 17th 2001.

I picked this up at my local Costco for $28 Canadian ( APC part USB-KIT ).  I needed a USB 2.0 hub and a USB extension cable.  This kit includes a four port USB 2.0 hub, three, six and ten foot A-B cables, and a ten foot extension cable.  Great value, expecially considering the lifetime warranty after registration.

The hub is smoked black and silver, and has a power LED.  It’s small and gets the job done.  The cables are a thick grey and feel solid, with double shielded braid and foil.  There’s not a lot to say: it’s a good kit and it works.

Oddly this can’t be found on the APC website, yet I was able to register without issue.