13.3. Types of Database Failures

There are many types of failures that can affect database processing. Some failures affect the main memory only, while others involve secondary storage. Following are the types of failure:

  • Hardware failures: Hardware failures may include memory errors, disk crashes, bad disk sectors, disk full errors and so on. Hardware failures can also be attributed to design errors, inadequate (poor) quality control during fabrication, overloading (use of under-capacity components) and wearout of mechanical parts.

  • Software failures: Software failures may include failures related to softwares such as, operating system, DBMS software, application programs and so on.

  • System crashes: System crashes are due to hardware or software ...

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