remote save and shut down?

[ljarrald]

hey guys,
the fire alarm system in my house is set up so that one minute after activation the power shuts off.

this has many advantages, but it has one huge disadvantage... COMPUTERS!

i *could* use UPS's but this would kind of defeat the object of shutting the power off.

the desktops in my house either run linux or windows (xp, vista, and 7).

what i would like to do is make a device that sends a signal via the network to all the configured computers which saves any unsaved work in all applications and FORCES a shutdown (or system hibernation) so that when the power trips out, the computers are safe from data corruption and other power loss risks.

i assume i will have to write a program for the linux computers, and a program for the windows computers and have the main server send the signal?

the output from the fire alarm that i can use to signal to the server is a relay contact which can be configured as N/O or N/C

i would rather the 'control unit' was standalone rather than integrated to the server if that is possible.

and a nice extra would be for a notification pop up on the laptops to say something along the lines of "FIRE ALARM ACTIVATED"

i haven't really done anything like this before. but i am very keen to learn.

sorry if my post was long. if you want me to re explain parts of it, let me know.

thanks in advance!
-Luke

[arespi]

Hi

For the windows machines you could use something like this:

Microsoft Corporation

For the linux machines you can make a shell script that launches the pop-up you want and the shutdown, and use EXPECT from a linux server to log in remotely and launch that script:

Expect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Good luck