A system comprising: a computer system comprising one or more processors, a system memory, a management controller and a watchdog module; a power supply unit configured for receiving mains power from a mains power connection and for providing direct current output providing a specified direct current, DC, voltage to components of the computer system, wherein the power supply unit is configured to send to the management controller and the watchdog module of the computer system a power supply unit alert indicating problems with providing the direct current output, and to clear the power supply unit alert when direct current output is restored; a battery providing the specified DC voltage, the battery being configured to provide backup power to the components connected to the direct current output when problems providing the direct current output occur, wherein: the management controller is configured to monitor the status of the power supply unit and to gracefully shut down the computer system in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit, the management controller is further configured, in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit, to clear the power supply unit alert or to send an acknowledgement to the watchdog module indicating that the management controller is to handle responding to the power supply unit alert, wherein the management controller is to gracefully shut down the computer system when handling the power supply unit alert, and the watchdog module is configured to start a timer in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit and to: gracefully shut down the computer system in response to expiration of the timer, and abort the timer if, at any time during the timer, the power supply unit alert is cleared or the communication from the management controller indicating that the management controller is to handle responding to the power supply unit alert is received. a computer system comprising one or more processors, a system memory, a management controller and a watchdog module; a power supply unit configured for receiving mains power from a mains power connection and for providing direct current output providing a specified direct current, DC, voltage to components of the computer system, wherein the power supply unit is configured to send to the management controller and the watchdog module of the computer system a power supply unit alert indicating problems with providing the direct current output, and to clear the power supply unit alert when direct current output is restored; a battery providing the specified DC voltage, the battery being configured to provide backup power to the components connected to the direct current output when problems providing the direct current output occur, wherein: the management controller is configured to monitor the status of the power supply unit and to gracefully shut down the computer system in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit, the management controller is further configured, in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit, to clear the power supply unit alert or to send an acknowledgement to the watchdog module indicating that the management controller is to handle responding to the power supply unit alert, wherein the management controller is to gracefully shut down the computer system when handling the power supply unit alert, and the watchdog module is configured to start a timer in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit and to: gracefully shut down the computer system in response to expiration of the timer, and abort the timer if, at any time during the timer, the power supply unit alert is cleared or the communication from the management controller indicating that the management controller is to handle responding to the power supply unit alert is received. the management controller is configured to monitor the status of the power supply unit and to gracefully shut down the computer system in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit, the management controller is further configured, in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit, to clear the power supply unit alert or to send an acknowledgement to the watchdog module indicating that the management controller is to handle responding to the power supply unit alert, wherein the management controller is to gracefully shut down the computer system when handling the power supply unit alert, and the watchdog module is configured to start a timer in response to receiving the power supply unit alert from the power supply unit and to: gracefully shut down the computer system in response to expiration of the timer, and abort the timer if, at any time during the timer, the power supply unit alert is cleared or the communication from the management controller indicating that the management controller is to handle responding to the power supply unit alert is received. gracefully shut down the computer system in response to expiration of the timer, and abort the timer if, at any time during the timer, the power supply unit alert is cleared or the communication from the management controller indicating that the management controller is to handle responding to the power supply unit alert is received.