> 	The folks at APC *sell* monitor software for there ups. Has
   > anybody had any experience hacking up a perlscript ( or whatever ) that
   > visits the serial port and listens to what the ups has to say? The APC-ups
   > software only comes for NT, AS/400, vines, netware, etc, so buying the
   > software is out of the question.

   The folks at APC also sell the *spec* on the communication protocol used 
   between the UPS and the PC.  For $50 and a signed N.D.A., they will send
   you a book describing how it works.

I know this doesn't help you out of the current situation, but I
recently bought some Best Power UPS equipment for the very reason you
are now encountering: Best Power provides the communication specs free
of charge (you can also pay for source code for a small monitoring
program), whereas APC does not.  It seemed reasonable to support those
who make the information accessible!

Cheers,
Brook