T 3.35 Disabling the server while in operation

If a network is managed through a management system, then there are servers with special tasks (particularly in the area of system management). As a rule, databases with management information are kept on what are known as management servers If such servers are simply disabled while in operation, then data such as that contained in the computer's memory is no longer written onto the file system. The consequence of this is that inconsistencies may also occur in the management data when the computer is next switched on. Large management systems therefore tend to use databases which use what are known as transaction mechanisms to ensure that the information is converted back into an (old) consistent state. This reduces the risk but does not completely remove it and can even be used for attack (exploitation of an old configuration with less restricted access rights).

Even when archiving electronically, errors may be caused if the archive system is switched off completely or in parts during operation. As a consequence, documents may be considered archived, although in fact they have been written to the storage medium incompletely or not at all and can thus no longer be reproduced.