In order for bpowerd to function correctly your inittab must contain the lines pf::powerfail:/etc/rc.d/init.d/bpowerfail start pn::powerfailnow:/etc/rc.d/init.d/bpowerfail now pr:12345:powerokwait:/etc/rc.d/init.d/bpowerfail stop these call the shutdown function when a powerfail state is encountered. Please remove any other powerfail, powerfailnow, or powerokwait lines from inittab and insert these. Then run 'kill -1 1' to make sure the changes take affect. You also must either make a symlink from /dev/ups to the device file that the UPS control cable is on (/dev/ttyS?) or change /etc/sysconfig/power to point to the device file instead of /dev/ups.