UPS monitoring
The importance of UPS monitoring and the benefits it offers
Monitoring specialists
Spook's award winning remote monitoring service called OmniWatch monitors UPS systems. Measuring key UPS metrics across many different assets and areas; OmniWatch presents realtime readings in an easy to use real-time digital dashboard.
Spook and OmniWatch was voted Specialist Technology Company of the Year and Most Innovative Solution of the Year at the annual UK CIR Business Continuity Awards.
Remote information
Most UPS systems have their own on-board data management software. However, the majority of these are data loggers and track UPS metrics for a limited amount of time.
Organisations tend to have various UPS assets installed from many different manufacturers. This can become complicated for end users as each UPS has its own unique way of presenting data.
OmniWatch is designed to passively collect UPS power metrics and present them in a standard, easy to understand, digital dashboard. Comparing and understanding UPS power metrics has never been so easy.
Critical alerting
When mains incoming power is lost or interruption to the mains supply occurs it is very important to act quickly. OmniWatch sends alerts to key members of staff at the very moment the UPS takes over power provision, providing as much warning as possible.
Most UPS units only have enough battery autonomy for a short period of time and if there is no diesel generator to take over long term power provision or the return of the mains supply is delayed, then reducing non-critical loads in controlled power down procedures will help keep important equipment up and running longer.
OmniWatch broadcasts alerts via email, SMS and UK call centre.
UPS health monitoring
Alongside monitoring power outages OmniWatch monitors the health of a UPS and is configured to alert to conditions and incidents that could otherwise go unnoticed such as faulty batteries.
OmniWatch works to keep its users informed and up-to-date with the operational health of all their equipment. All UPS readings are stored in perpetuity so studying long term trend data is easy.
In short, OmniWatch makes measuring energy related monitoring meaningful, intuitive and incredibly easy.
Damage to assets
Power loss can have negative effects outside of the obvious loss of work or services. Devices such as computers and servers are constantly active and working even if a user has not asked it to do anything.
Important system files could be being worked on by the computer when power loss occurs, permanently corrupting or destroying files and databases.
Power source switch over
Even if an organisation has diesel generators to provide long term power security in the event of a prolonged loss of utility power, there is a delay between loss of power and a generator being invoked.
UPS units are used to ensure there is no loss of power during the switch over from mains power to generator power provision. Knowing all elements of the switchover are successful is critical.
UPS warranties
Monitoring the operating environment of a UPS is as important as monitoring the temperature of a server room.
Many UPS units have battery banks associated with them. These battery banks contain individual batteries that require the ambient environment to be within the guidelines of the manufacturer.
It's important to be able to prove the operating environment of a UPS and its associated batteries in order to maintain its warranty protection.
Maximise your investment
Most modern UPS systems have the ability to have a communications card installed within it to allow third party service providers to connect and share metrics and usage data.
OmniWatch is capable of monitoring these cards and their UPS units, either through SNMP, Modbus, BACnet or other protocols.
OmniWatch works with all communications protocols to allow for a cloud based, enterprise centric solution and not force users to be reliant on localised equipment manufacturers web interfaces.
Even UPS systems that are not network attached can be monitored via a Voltage Free Connection (VFC) panel to monitor a wide range of UPS metrics.
OmniWatch key features
Cloud based
OmniWatch is cloud based and is accessed via any internet enabled device.
Digital dashboards
OmniWatch dashboards provide interactive and intuitive access to sensor readings 24/7.
Scaleable installations
Totally scaleable from a handful of sensors to a global solution monitoring 1000s of devices.
Trend analysis
Sensor readings are held in perpetuity; providing accurate historical trend analysis.
Automated reporting
Comprehensive reports can be scheduled to be auto emailed daily, weekly and monthly.
During recent roadworks the mains power was lost to our London server room. Thanks to OmniWatch our IT team in the Midlands could monitor our UPS systems in London to ensure they were providing back-up power during the outage.
We could keep an eye on each power phase as well as knowing the time remaining on each UPS. Afterwards we could produce audit reports to prove to management that our UPS systems continued seamless power provision in accordance with our plans.
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Spook monitors a wide range of power devices
New to monitoring
We help organisations start monitoring projects from scratch. We have a wealth of experience that is free and helpful in creating an informed approach to monitoring.
We are also resellers to industry leading sensor and equipment manufacturers and can recommend the most appropriate hardware and sensors to fit any size monitoring project.
We had been considering monitoring for a while but did not have the resource or the knowledge to fully understand how to go about doing things from scratch.
We approached Spook as they have lots of experience in looking independently at monitoring projects. They recommended and provided the most appropriate hardware and sensors for us.
The sensors arrived pre-configured and were implemented on OmniWatch by Spook before we installed them.
Additional monitoring
Many of our customers have tried monitoring for themselves.
This ranges from institutions that rely on equipment onboard data loggers and communications cards; to organisations that have started monitoring projects but need help to extend monitoring to new areas and/or implement a central monitoring solution.
We needed a remote monitoring service that did not require an on premise PC and was independent of our network.
Spook provided pre-configured cellular routers for each of our five locations across the UK. The whole project was a simple plug-and-play solution with no involvement from us.
We had been considering monitoring for a while but did not have the resource or the knowledge to fully understand how to go about doing things.
When we Googled the various areas of interest we got more confused.
We approached Spook as they have a different outlook to simply buying hardware and sensors. Thankfully we now have a fully installed, joined up monitoring solution.
We had a series of climate monitors installed in our server rooms. Due to a change in our security policy we needed a remote monitoring service that did not require an on premise PC and was independent of our network.
Spook suggested a technology upgrade and provided pre-configured cellular routers for each of our five server locations across the UK. The whole project was a simple plug-and-play solution with no involvement from us.
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Get in touch with Spook
Please contact us if you wish for further information on how Spook can help with your environmental and power monitoring needs.