1 More than half of the service calls and downtime experienced on computers and networks can eventually be traced back to the utility power or mains. And it's shocking to imagine the exponential increase in power blackouts and brownouts for the years 2000 and 2001. A UPS is a battery backup system for electronic equipment. The UPS positions itself between the 'Raw' mains and the electrical equipment being protected. It conditions and filters the power, eliminating any electrical spikes or surges that may cause damage to the server and its data.
Many people assume that the electricity coming from the utility is pure.
However, there are a multitude of power problems such as sags, spikes, brownouts, and surges that can affect power quality. Sensitive electronic equipment such as computers, hubs, and routers are susceptible to power variations. Not only does an UPS provide backup power in the event of a power failure, it also regulates the incoming electricity before it reaches the connected equipment. Interest in such products has exploded in California with the recent power shortages and rolling blackouts. The level of UPS protection you need varies with the size of your organization and the criticality of the systems.