Having set up (or not because it was impossible) quite a few UPSs with Linux I'd prefer APC every day. I don't know why the other vendors haven't joined the party to the extent that APC have, but they definitely have not with the same conviction. I prefer the APC software, it seems to be pretty well written. However if closed software makes you too angry nut works fine too. Also beware of those db9 plugs - often they are not rs232 serial ports at all, but all sorts of magical UPS "standards" with pinouts more closely resembling db25 printer ports with pins actually representing various states of the unit, rather than setting up a data stream. It's been a bit of a joke really http://www.networkupstools.org/cables.html For my money I'd always go with an APC unit with USB support. If you use SNMP please change the default community strings. Better still, don't run it at all unless you want to stay awake at night in fear of being pwned ;-) Mike. ps. just don't give APC your address or you will never stop receiving marketing from them.