Short for
uninterruptible power supply, a
power supply that includes a battery to maintain power in the event of a power outage. Typically, a UPS keeps a
computer running for several minutes after a power outage, enabling you to
save data that is in
RAM and
shut down the computer gracefully. Many UPSs now offer a software component that enables you to automate
backup and shut down procedures in case there's a power failure while you're away from the computer.
There are two basic types of UPS systems: standby power systems (SPSs) and on-line UPS systems. An SPS monitors the power line and switches to battery power as soon as it detects a problem. The switch to battery, however, can require several milliseconds, during which time the computer is not receiving any power. Standby Power Systems are sometimes called Line-interactive UPSes.
An on-line UPS avoids these momentary power lapses by constantly providing power from its own inverter, even when the power line is functioning properly. In general, on-line UPSs are much more expensive than SPSs.
