A separate, central server operating in a system including one or more database server machines and a graphical user interface displayed on a user's computer is disclosed and provides a technological improvement. In one example, computer-readable instructions are stored in computer memory on this shutdown control server. A user, such as a database administrator, may access the shutdown control server to initiate the shutdown, reboot, and/or restart of database services on one or more separate database servers. At least one advantage of such an arrangement is that the shutdown control server provides plug-and-play capabilities that may allow one or more database servers of one or more different database types to concurrently connect to the shutdown control server.