Preparing for power loss

To ensure that your system is available when you need it, you need to make sure that it has an adequate supply of power and that it is protected in the event that power is lost.

Power requirements

Part of the planning process for your system is to ensure that you have an adequate power supply. You need to understand your system's requirements and then enlist the aid of a qualified electrician to help install the appropriate wiring, power cords, plugs, and power panels. For details on how to ensure that your system has adequate power, see Power Systems->your-specific-Power® system->your-specific-model->Planning for the System->Site and Hardware Planning->Planning for power.

Redundant power supplies

Some systems are designed with a fully redundant power system. A redundant power supply is a feature that prevents an unplanned outage by providing power if one power supply fails.

Some systems support a dual power cable feature. This allows you to provide power to the system from two different external power sources. This can avoid an unplanned outage if one power source fails.

Uninterruptible power supplies

Even when you have an adequate power supply, there are still times when you might lose power, such as during a storm. To prevent unplanned outages that result from losing power, you might need to invest in hardware specifically designed to keep your system running when power is lost. One such piece of hardware is an uninterruptible power supply. You can use an uninterruptible power supply to provide auxiliary power to your processor, disks, system console, and any other devices. Uninterruptible power supplies provide the following advantages:

  • Let you continue operations during brief power outages (brown outs).
  • Protect the system from voltage peaks (white outs).
  • Provide a normal end of operations in case of an extended power outage, which can reduce your recovery time when you restart your system. You can write a program that helps you control your system's shutdown in these conditions.

Make sure that your uninterruptible power supplies are compatible with your systems.

For details on how to ensure that your system has uninterruptible power supplies, see Power Systems->your-specific-Power system->your-specific-model->Planning for the System->Site and Hardware Planning->Planning for power->Uninterruptible power supply.

Generator power

To prevent a long outage because of an extended power failure, you might consider purchasing a generator. A generator goes a step further than an uninterruptible power supply in that it enables you to continue normal operations during longer power failures.