Accessories Offer Added UPS Features to Increase Equipment Uptime

Carrollton, Texas - August 15, 2002 –MINUTEMAN® UPS announced a complete family of optional accessories designed to add a variety of functions for expanded monitoring and management capabilities of its uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. Each option provides MINUTEMAN's customer base with the ability to go beyond the basic UPS feature set to suit their specific application needs. The accessory options include the following products:

• SNMP Computer Interface Card
  MINUTEMAN UPS addresses the issue of providing constant network availability with its SNMP Computer Interface Card. This card allows a UPS to connect to the network via a single IP address for monitoring and allows the administrator to control UPS functions through a simplified web browser interface or using a standard SNMP Network Management System (NMS) console. The interface provides the administrator with the ability to set up automatic notifications for specific power-related events delivered by pager, network broadcast message, SNMP trap, or e-mail.
• SNMP Computer Interface Card with Environmental Monitoring Device
  The SNMP Computer Interface Card with Environmental Monitoring Device was developed in response to growing customer concerns over potentially harmful heat and humidity conditions in sensitive electronic environments. With this device, a network administrator can perform all of the essential functions available on the standard SNMP Card with the added capabilities of monitoring temperature and humidity in equipment racks, server cabinets, and closets. "The ability to monitor temperature and humidity conditions within the network environment has gone from being a luxury to an absolute necessity," said Rick Hunteman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for MINUTEMAN UPS, "In today's network closet, rack, and server environments, high temperatures and excessive humidity can cause electronic equipment to malfunction or fail completely causing costly downtime. Thankfully, we can now prevent this problem from occurring by letting the administrator monitor status through a standard web browser interface. This enables the UPS to notify them when temperature or humidity levels have exceeded a preset range so they can fix a problem before it affects the network."
• Multi-RS232 Ports Card
  The Multi-RS232 Ports Card converts a single UPS serial port into 3 separate ports allowing one UPS to perform a safe, logical shutdown on up to 3 servers or workstations simultaneously using power management software. This card allows the customer to shutdown multiple computers attached to the same MINUTEMAN UPS even if the computers are outside of a network environment.
• Contact Closure Card
  The Contact Closure Card provides a UPS with the ability to shutdown an AS/400 system or to send 120 Volt power to trigger an external device like an alarm siren or lighting system in the event of a power failure. This card has multiple applications in both network and security environments where UPS power events can automatically activate customized equipment response.
• Single-Port Chassis
  Customers can now use the Single-Port Chassis to expand their compatible MINUTEMAN UPS models with an optional accessory card even if a UPS lacks a built-in expansion slot. Each chassis provides powerful communications and management capabilities in a compact, durable stand-alone case. The unit connects to the RS232 port on the UPS and can accept the SNMP CIC Card, SNMP Card with Environmental Monitoring Device, Contact Closure Card, RPM/UPS Interface Card, or Multi- RS232 Ports Card.
• Multi-Port Chassis
  The MINUTEMAN Multi-Port Chassis was developed in response to customers' needs to have a UPS perform several functions at the same time. Its design allows it to be easily mounted in an equipment rack while using a mere 1U of rack height. Each chassis can manage up to 3 expansion cards and can be daisy-chained to additional multi-port chassis modules with the addition of one Multi-RS232 Ports Card. Users can install 3 identical expansion cards or mix and match cards in the available slots to allow customization.
• UPS/RPM Interface Card
  The RPM/UPS Interface Card is designed to provide customers with a link between a UPS system and a MINUTEMAN RPM ™ Remote Power Manager, allowing multiple devices on the RPM to be controlled by the connected UPS. Should the AC power fail, the UPS can then initiate a graceful server shutdown using the RPM xx09's built-in shutdown capabilities. The card installs into the expansion slot of a MINUTEMAN UPS or port chassis and connects to a remote power manager base module (RPM xx01 or RPM xx09). In addition, the simplified web browser interface allows the user to manage both the UPS and the remote power manager over the same IP address.
• USB to RS232 Serial Cable
  Managing a UPS through USB is easy with the MINUTEMAN USB to RS232 Serial Converter. Just connect the 9-pin serial converter to the port on your MINUTEMAN® UPS, then connect the USB cable to a PC. Once connected, the UPS can be monitored and managed using MINUTEMAN SentryII ™ power management and diagnostic software without using a serial port on the PC. This simple converter affords the convenience of USB management to users of both current and legacy model MINUTEMAN® UPS systems.

About MINUTEMAN UPS
MINUTEMAN UPS is a manufacturer of uninterruptible power supplies and related equipment and MINUTEMAN SentryII ™ power monitoring and diagnostic software. Corporations worldwide depend on MINUTEMAN UPS to protect, manage, and control network systems, telecommunications equipment, retail POS systems, security systems and sensitive electronic components worldwide. MINUTEMAN UPS products range from 300 VA to 10 kVA units and can be custom-configured.

MINUTEMAN UPS was founded in 1982 as Para Systems, Inc. The company is a wholly owned operating subsidiary of Components Corporation of America, a privately held corporation. Additional information about MINUTEMAN UPS and its products is available at www.minutemanups.com.