Captec NPower Commander

Whereas Avocent's DSR1161 KVM switch (see above) offers full remote-control facilities for server farms, Captec's NPower Commander concentrates on providing power control tools to unattended devices. From a remote location on the LAN or the Internet, you can access all connected devices and power them off and on or schedule regular shutdowns. Eight standard power sockets are provided on the rear panel, and up to 16 Commander units can be cascaded together using the proprietary i.LINK connectors on the front panel. The Commander can even be accessed if Internet or network access is unavailable by connecting its RJ-11 Ring On & Reset socket to a wall jack and calling the unit from a telephone. Once the Commander has answered, it's possible to control each power port by entering four-digit codes using a touch-tone phone.

Initial installation requires an IP address assigned to the unit. This can be carried out with a serial port connection, although Windows 98 users use a USB link and Captec's NPower configuration utility. The Web browser interface is well designed and provides easy access to power control settings. Each socket can be configured to allow remote or manual control, and clicking on their icons can instigate an instant shutdown if required. Windows 2000 and NT systems can take advantage of the Safe Shutdown/Reboot setting, as each attached server can also be connected to the Commander via a serial port link and safely turned off or restarted, working in conjunction with the Windows UPS Service. Devices are powered up in sequence using the Power Resume Delay setting, with each port waiting a specified number of seconds before supplying power to the attached device.

The Commander proved simple enough to install, although the review sample suffered from gremlins. Some ports refused to supply power and the management card frequently lost contact with the power distribution board. Internet access over a PPP link is more complex, but could prove useful, as you can phone the Commander and force it to call a predefined ISP. Once a connection is established, the Commander will email up to five recipients with details of the IP address it has received from the ISP.

Author: Dave Mitchell