How to Crash a Mainframe

By eHow Computers Editor

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Mainframes are large computers that can occupy a room. They are used as servers by companies like Google, AOL or Facebook. Other organizations use them for the processing of large volumes of data associated with census, financial transactions or statistical studies. It is possible you might feel a malicious inspiration to crash a mainframe sometime. That would make you a big hacker. Here are some ideas on how to crash a mainframe.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Desktop computer connected to mainframe

Step1

Identify the PCs connected with the mainframe. The complexities of a mainframe increase when greater numbers of PCs are connected. Seek out a vulnerable one that's often left untracked.

Step2

Scrutinize the number of entries made on each computer daily. The more data entry there is, the greater your chance of crashing a mainframe. When 25,000 packets of data are fed into a computer, its capabilities are stretched and your task becomes easier. Use the PC you have access to and send massive batch inputs or transfer large data files in a loop command.

Step3

After identifying the operation of the connected PCs, advance to the mainframe. Identify the mainframe's system core memory module. The system maintains a separate memory for the software subsystems. Attempt to disable the system using any tool that you can find on the Internet.

Step4

Check whether the enterprise system architecture (ESA) software is installed. If the software isn't installed, merely disabling the system is enough to crash the mainframe.

Step5

When the ESA software is installed, try to disable it. After disabling it, you can crash the mainframe. You can also use the mainframe-crashing software to cause malfunctions in the mainframe.

Tips & Warnings

Understand that doing this except for purposes other than testing security or your own system with approval from your superiors will make you liable for prosecution.