Power Failure / Accidental Power Loss
It is important that the operating system be properly shutdown before the power to the workstation is switched off. Failure to follow the proper shutdown procedures may result in data loss, in some cases even a corrupted file system.
If you are in an area with relatively unstable mains power, then you should consider purchasing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Even if your power supply is fairly stable, there are plenty of opportunities for accidental power loss. For example:
• Do you have overzealous security guards who insist on switching off unused equipment to save power? (This is not a joke - this has been known to occur)
• Do you have a large number of power cables plugged into various random power sockets? What are the chances that somebody accidentally removes the wrong cable, and switches off your workstation?