Makers of fuel cells, which would replace generators, are just beginning to test marketplace, as well. Fuel cell installations promise to be simpler, as there are no noise or pollution issues and units are fairly compact. But costs are unclear.

Data center personnel also worry about maintaining and testing. “Very few companies want to schedule a test once a month or once a week. I don’t think they exist. I never heard of one,” says McHugh. For average small to medium-sized enterprise, weekly tests are probably unnecessary. However, larger companies may need to test more often.

“In a hospital or nursing home, JCHA [Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation] recommends testing emergency generators once a week. They have to test under load and keep maintenance logs. How important is your data?” says Dauffenbach.

The best test is to use “building mode.” You simply simulate a power outage by cutting off power from outside. “Data centers don’t like to do that,” says Dauffenbach.

A compromise: Use a transition transfer switch. To test, or if you think an outage is coming, turn generator on first, synchronize generator’s output with utility’s power, and then open switch to cut off utility supply.

A more common approach is simply to turn on generator once a week or once a month, while utility continues to provide power to data center. Testing generator that way, without connecting to an external load (the equipment in data center itself), puts extra strain on it. Generator vendors recommend simulating load by installing a “dummy” load bank. The power can be dissipated with resistive wire (“Think of it as a giant toaster,” says Dauffenbach) or with inductive or capacitative loads. A 10KW load bank can cost $4,000 or more, depending on its type and its adjustability.

APC offers an annual service itself or through business partners worldwide. Under service plan, you can contract to have a test under load done periodically. The APC technicians arrive with their own load bank. “We also recommend testing under real load. Maybe quarterly, on a Sunday, shut down all noncritical processing tasks, check UPS batteries, and pull plug,” says Hunt.

The emergency generator business is dominated by local firms, working with local design consultants and electrical contractors. Among those suppliers who distribute nationally in addition to APC are Detroit Diesel, John Deere, and Caterpiller. You’ll be referred to a dealer-distributor such as Bowers Power, Covington Detroit Diesel-Allison, and GoPower.com.

Figuring The Size

Estimating generator size you might need involves more than adding up data center’s computer demand. Should you include power for air conditioning? “If you plan being on generator for no more than 20 or 30 minutes, you may not need air conditioning,” says McHugh. “But after 30 minutes, our preference is that at least a portion is put onto generator. A handful of lights is enough.”

If you include air conditioning, you will have to add extra generating capacity to allow for transient loads. Air conditioners, fans, and similar equipment start under load and draw far more than their rated power needs for a few seconds.

How to sell it to boss? “It comes down to dollars for everybody,” says McHugh. “What does this cost your company if you have a two-hour outage and you have a half-hour battery? Is this cost in hundreds of thousands? Millions?”

In that light, it can't be understated that Microsoft's incorporation of RSS into Windows is one of those true 'turning points' that has to be acknowledged. It does change how computers and Internet will work.

This is a great step forward in making RSS an integrated and seamless component of computers and Internet.

At last, someone has gotten RSS right.

Not much probably!

Does DOS mean anything to you? If you're like 95% of computer users - probably not much. But that doesn't stop us from enjoying our computers and fully benefiting from DOS. Sometimes complete ignorance is bless.

Unless you're a techie and such technical stuff sets your heart a racing, knowledge of such material is not really required by end-user. People don't have to understand 'HTML' to enjoy Internet.

Likewise, knowledge of RSS is not important to ordinary computer or Internet user. Microsoft's RSS Longhorn statement puts RSS where it rightfully belongs, in background, invisible...seamlessly integrated into your computing and web browsing experience.

It will make RSS an integral element of its new operating system which has code-name Longhorn. It will firmly place RSS into heart of your computing experience, enriching and enhancing it in more ways than even Microsoft is probably aware of yet!

RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication' and it has long been associated with blogs and blogging because they are written in RSS or XML format - code like HTML. DOS stands for 'Disk Operating System' by way and its platform for operating systems on your computer. MS-DOS is most widely used system. Ignorance can sometimes be overrated. Microsoft's announcement of its plans to place RSS features into its next Windows version - due out in 2006 and in servers by 2007 - is truly groundbreaking . You can read more about Microsoft's RSS plans here: Understanding RSS In The Next Windows.

This takes RSS out of just browsers and RSS readers (called aggregators); and gives it much more powerful applications. Most interesting is a new set of applications - Simple List Extensions - allowing web sites to publish feeds containing lists such as a wish list or top 10 list. Should make David Letterman happy!

All kidding aside, for you, these RSS applications will be very beneficial and rewarding. These applications will make browsing, searching and subscribing to your favorite information or sites a lot more easier. You can now take control of your Internet, viewing and accessing information you want to digest.

It has many personal and business applications that will take 'keeping in touch' to a new level. Calendars, events, updates, personal photo albums...can all now be syndicated with new RSS platform.

What's really important about Microsoft's plans, (I believe) is fact that this now makes RSS legit. Lets face it, outside of blogging and a few alert online marketers, RSS is still not understood by most people.

But as stated before, people don't have to understand 'HTML' to enjoy Internet. They don't really have to know about servers, DOS, or even ISPs to get full benefit from web. Likewise, RSS doesn't have to be known or even understood by majority of people who will be using it.

But it's helpful that you do understand that for you future of RSS holds many treats and full impact won't really be known for years. Under Creative Commons license, RSS applications could have a far reaching impact on your computing world of future.

The potential of RSS is enormous. It may even pave way for a 'Billion Channel Internet' - where each web site is its own little broadcasting system. An interactive channel that broadcasts audio and video feeds to all interested subscribers.

Microsoft's announcement may just be nucleus of such a system. Many components are already in place like podcasting, broadcatching, data feeds, etc. and it's not that great a leap or too fantastical to imagine such a system will exist in very near future.

For RSS changes HOW information is transmitted on web...from a passive role to a more pro-active one. Don't come to us - we will deliver.

RSS is also one of more democratic elements of web where little guy has a say. It was more than fitting that Microsoft's RSS team met with Dave Winer (Mr. RSS to those who keep a close watch on all things RSS) and asked his opinions on these recent developments.

Ordinary Bloggers have preached benefits of RSS for so long - mantra was becoming a tiresome echo across web. No one seemed to be taking RSS seriously.

In that light, it can't be understated that Microsoft's incorporation of RSS into Windows is one of those true 'turning points' that has to be acknowledged. It does change how computers and Internet will work.

This is a great step forward in making RSS an integrated and seamless component of computers and Internet.

At last, someone has gotten RSS right.