I have Windows SBS 2011 Standard running on a Dell Poweredge T110 II. Our building has somewhat frequent power outages (usually about 4 hours in length), and I'd like to setup the server to safely shutdown or hibernate when the power goes out and then restart when the power comes back on. I'm new to both server management and to working with UPSes (beyond just plugging things into them). I've read quite a bit about my options. The Dell server's BIOS does support Wake-On-LAN and ACPI v2.0a. I'm wondering what the most ideal setup would be (keeping in mind this is for a small business without a ton of capital). Specifically, here's what I'm inquiring about:
1) Is it better to have a server hibernate in the event of a power outage or shutdown? Does it make a difference?
2) Is there a command that can be sent over an Ethernet cable to have the server shutdown/hibernate (similar to Wake-On-LAN)? Or is this best done through a USB cable connected to the UPS triggering a script? Or is there some other method?
3) Do you guys have a recommendation for a UPS that supports Wake-On-LAN and the best method for hibernate/shutdown?