Nut upsuser - May 2012 - How to NUT test the compatibility?

I planted NUT into our project. But my boss asked me: how do you promise the UPS
compatibility to those who use our device?

I know the compatibility list of NUT is a great reference. However, is also a
good idea for us to test the compatibilitywith our complete device.

Therefore, I wonder how NUT developers actually test the compatibility with so
many type of UPSes? And are there any organizations or companies provide this
kind of compatibilitytest service?

___
Andrew Chang
2012-05-18
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On May 17, 2012, at 10:50 PM, Andrew Min Chang wrote:
>  I planted NUT into our project. But my boss asked me: how do you promise
the UPS compatibility to those who use our device?
> 
> I know the compatibility list of NUT is a great reference. However, is also
a good idea for us to test the compatibilitywith our complete device.
> 
> Therefore, I wonder how NUT developers actually test the compatibility with
so many type of UPSes? And are there any organizations or companies provide this
kind of compatibilitytest service?
As an open source project, we don't guarantee compatibility across the board
- to do so would be silly without some sort of agreement with the manufacturers.
Often, the UPS communication protocols change without notice.

This is reflected in the headers of the source code, and in section 11 of the
GPL (v2):

   This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
   GNU General Public License for more details.

11. ... THE ENTIRE RISK AS
TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU.  SHOULD THE
PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING,
REPAIR OR CORRECTION.

However, the companies that sponsor NUT development or use NUT in their products
certainly view this differently. Your best bet may be to partner with UPS
companies such as Eaton, which is outside the scope of the NUT open source
project.

-- 
Charles Lepple
clepple at gmail