Problem: I want to share a UPS between a Synology NAS and a Windows machine. They are both plugged into the UPS but only the Synology NAS is plugged into the serial port of the NAS. So only the Synology would know when the power went out and when to shutdown. I need the Windows computer plugged into the UPS to know when it is time to cleanly shutdown.

Solution: I found this blog post:

Shutdown Windows computer and Synology NAS using WinNut

But it was for a previous version of WinNUT, so I’m letting you know how I got it working with WinNUT 2.0.4.0.

The solution is to install WinNUT client on the windows machine and configure it to talk to the Synology network UPS server.

• Enable network UPS server on synology by going to the Diskstation control panel -> Hardware & Power -> UPS tab. Check the “Enable network UPS server” box.

• Click on the “Permitted DiskStation Devices” button and add the windows IP address to the Synology UPS network server “Permitted diskstation devices” list:

• Install WinNUT on the Windows computer.
• Click on the “Settings” menu and go to the “Connection” tab

• “Nut host” is the IP address of your Synology
• “NUT Port” is the default of 3493
• UPS Name is: ups
• Login is: monuser
• Password is: secret
• These variables can be adjusted by editing this file “/usr/syno/etc/ups/upsd.users” on the synology

• You can then click on the “Calibration” tab and adjust settings accordingly. In the USA, these are the settings that work for me.

• On the “Miscellanous” (yes, the app dev misspelled it) tab I chose to “Minimize to tray”, “Start Minimized”, “Close to Tray”, and “Start with Windows” options. This way WinNUT starts and hides itself when Windows starts up.

This is what it will look like in the end when everything is functioning!

iMac Hard Drive Upgradeability Expanded!

If you are buying a new mac, or have an old one, and want to test the hardware:

Download and run Apple Hardware Test AHT from a USB drive

In case you were NOT aware (most people are NOT), Apple began using
proprietary hard drives in their late 2009 iMacs and newer.  You can
read about it here:

http://blog.macsales.com/2751-proprietary-cable-can-put-the-brakes-on-upgrading-late-09-imacs

OWC has links to drives for sale that MAY be able to help you.  I say
MAY because, not only do these drives NOT contain the proprietary
firmware that is on the Apple manufactured hard drives, but they also
do NOT have the proprietary thermal sensing port on the drive.  On top
of that, you MUST run this piece of $30 software:
http://www.hddfancontrol.com/  in order to prevent the internal fans
from spinning at full speed.  However I was warned by OWC technical
support, that even doing all of this, it STILL may NOT work.

OWC offers their “Turnkey Upgrade Program” for select newer iMacs:
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/turnkey/iMac  For this upgrade, you
MUST ship them your iMac.  They have a proprietary piece of hardware
they can install to replace your factory hard drive.

Another option if you live in San Diego, is to take the computer to
Apple specialist, Crywolf:

Crywolf
7634 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, CA
(858) 277-9653
crywolf.com

They claim to have a proprietary cable which will allow your iMac to
use any standard off the shelf SATA hard drive.  However, they will
NOT sell you this cable directly.  You must have them replace your
failing hard drive.  Here is a list of their current prices as of
10/10/12:

$99 for labor
Drive prices as follows:
500GB $100
1TB $120
2TB $160
3TB $230

I have searched high and low for this elusive proprietary cable, and
only found one manufacturer in germany:
http://www.gravis.de/services/technik-service/aufruestungen/gravis-cbreeze/

HOWEVER, they will NOT sell it to individuals.  The last reason I
heard, is because they already have an “authorized reseller” in the
USA with exclusive rights to their adapter.

Update 1/30/13:  

I have found another possible custom cable to help:

http://www.thebookyard.com/product.php?products_id=10085

but it is $78!