220-1102 Question 730
Single answerUninterruptible power supply (UPS)A small accounting office has a file server connected to a UPS. Employees report that during brief power outages, the server stays on, but during a 20-minute outage last week the server shut off abruptly and needed a file system check when power returned. The office manager says the goal is to keep the server running long enough for an orderly shutdown during extended outages, not to power it indefinitely. Which action is the BEST recommendation?
- A
Connect the server's laser printer to the UPS so all critical equipment stays on the same backup power source
- B
Install the UPS management cable/software and configure the server for automatic graceful shutdown when battery runtime reaches a defined threshold
- C
Replace the UPS with a surge protector because the server already stayed on during short outages
- D
Move the server from the battery-backed UPS outlets to the surge-only outlets to reduce battery drain during outages
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The scenario shows that the current UPS provides short-term battery power but does not ensure a controlled shutdown during longer outages. For servers and other critical systems, a UPS should be used not just for temporary runtime, but also as part of a power management strategy. Industry best practice is to connect the UPS communication cable and configure shutdown software so the operating system can perform a graceful shutdown before the battery is depleted. This helps prevent data corruption, failed writes, and file system damage after unexpected power loss. It is also standard practice to avoid plugging high-draw devices such as laser printers into battery-backed UPS outlets, because doing so can dramatically reduce available runtime for critical equipment. These recommendations align with common UPS vendor guidance and OS power-management best practices used in business environments.
- A. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. A laser printer should not be connected to the battery-backed side of a UPS because printers, especially laser printers, can draw large amounts of power and quickly exhaust UPS capacity. This can reduce runtime available for the server and is a common deployment mistake.
- B. Correct.
This is correct. If the business goal is to keep the server running long enough for an orderly shutdown, the best practice is to connect the UPS to the server with the appropriate USB or serial management interface and install/configure shutdown software or OS power management integration. That allows the server to shut down cleanly before the battery is exhausted, preventing abrupt power loss and reducing the risk of file system corruption.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. A surge protector does not provide battery backup and would not help during outages at all. The fact that the server stayed on during short outages shows the UPS is already providing useful backup power; the issue is managing extended outages properly.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Surge-only outlets do not provide battery backup, so moving the server there would cause it to lose power immediately during an outage. Those outlets are intended for devices that need surge protection but not backup runtime.