def get(host="localhost", port=3551, timeout=30):
    """
    Connect to the APCUPSd NIS and request its status.
    """
    sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
    sock.settimeout(timeout)
    sock.connect((host, port))
    sock.send(CMD_STATUS)
    buffr = ""
    while not buffr.endswith(EOF):
        buffr += sock.recv(BUFFER_SIZE).decode()
    sock.close()
    return buffr