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Xref: sserve comp.os.linux.misc:22504 comp.unix.bsd:14667 Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!munnari.oz.au!news.Hawaii.Edu!ames!hookup!swrinde!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!MathWorks.Com!news.kei.com!ub!ns.potsdam.edu!news.potsdam.edu!nelson From: nelson@crynwr.crynwr.com (Russell Nelson) Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.misc,comp.unix.bsd Subject: Re: APC refuses to give out info without NDA Date: 16 Aug 1994 02:17:12 GMT Organization: Crynwr Software Lines: 29 Distribution: world Message-ID: <NELSON.94Aug15221712@crynwr.crynwr.com> References: <32o173$icu@thor.tjhsst.edu> NNTP-Posting-Host: 137.143.201.14 In-reply-to: cmetz@thor.tjhsst.edu's message of 15 Aug 1994 11:22:11 -0400 In article <32o173$icu@thor.tjhsst.edu> cmetz@thor.tjhsst.edu (Craig Metz) writes: After getting the run-around several times from APC, I finally got a response from Vince, who is apparently Debbie Gray's boss. Basically, although he admitted freely that their serial protocol is simple enough that it could be figured out and other manufacturers fully document their means of automated shutdown and other communication to the host processor, APC will not tell anyone how their Smart UPSs communicate. Vince believes APC has more to gain from proprietary communications, than from an open system. This is an 80's attitude. Wake up Vince, we're half-way through the 90's! At least one person who responded to my original post indicated that he was going to just work on figuring the protocol out, and I plan to do the same. Would any current owners of APC Smart UPS units be interested in forming a group effort to do this? Don't bother, you're just rewarding the above mistaken impression. I guess I'm going to have to recycle the APC info package I got in the mail today. Too bad, because I *am* going to buy a UPS, and I *was* going to buy an APC. -- -russ <nelson@crynwr.com> http://www.crynwr.com/crynwr/nelson.html Crynwr Software | Crynwr Software sells packet driver support | ask4 PGP key 11 Grant St. | +1 315 268 1925 (9201 FAX) | What is thee doing about it? Potsdam, NY 13676 | LPF member - ask me about the harm software patents do.