Why monitor a UPS
A UPS you cannot see is a UPS you cannot trust. Remote monitoring tells you the state of the mains, the battery, the load and any alarms in real time — so you can act before a fault becomes an outage. It also enables graceful shutdown of servers when runtime is running low, protecting data and avoiding corruption.
The network card
A network communication card (such as the Riello NetMan 208C) slots into the UPS and connects it to your LAN. It speaks standard protocols so the UPS integrates with your existing management platforms rather than needing a dedicated system. The NetMan 208C supports gigabit ethernet, IPv4/IPv6, SNMP, HTTPS, Modbus/TCP and BACnet/IP, and can monitor environmental sensors.
Protocols and integration
- SNMP — the standard for IT monitoring (PRTG, Zabbix, Nagios, PowerNetGuard).
- Modbus/TCP & BACnet/IP — for building management and industrial SCADA.
- Volt-free contacts (MultiCOM 384) — simple relay signals for alarms and EPO where networking is not available.
- Shutdown software — triggers a clean OS shutdown as battery runs low.
This lets facilities, IT and security teams all see the same UPS from their own tools.
Managed monitoring
For sites without in-house monitoring, a managed service can watch the UPS 24/7 and alert (or dispatch) on any event. Combined with a maintenance contract, this turns a passive box into an actively managed asset. See our remote monitoring and maintenance services.
Frequently asked questions
What does a UPS network card do?
It connects the UPS to your LAN and lets management systems monitor status, receive alarms and trigger graceful shutdown via protocols like SNMP, Modbus and BACnet.
What is SNMP monitoring for a UPS?
SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) lets IT platforms like PRTG, Zabbix and PowerNetGuard poll the UPS for status and receive trap alerts for alarms.
Can a UPS shut down servers automatically?
Yes. With a network card and shutdown software, the UPS signals servers to perform a clean shutdown when battery runtime falls below a threshold, preventing data corruption.
Do I need a network card or volt-free contacts?
A network card for IT/SCADA integration; volt-free contacts for simple alarm relays and EPO where networking is not available. Many sites use both.