Techniques for taking one or more nodes of a multi-node database system offline are provided. Initially, the multi-node database system uses a first data access management system (e.g., a distributed lock management system) to manage access to data stored in a database. In response to determining that one or more nodes need to be taken offline or otherwise become unavailable, the remaining nodes implement a second data access management system (e.g., an affinity-based access system) to manage access to data stored in the database. After the offline nodes are brought back online, all the nodes in the multi-node database system implement the first data access management system again. The transitions between the two data access management system may involve multiple phases that involve communicating different types of information between nodes that are taken offline and nodes that are not taken offline.