diff --git a/server/AyaNova/ControllerHelpers/ApiServerState.cs b/server/AyaNova/ControllerHelpers/ApiServerState.cs
index cbaf0038..11070f71 100644
--- a/server/AyaNova/ControllerHelpers/ApiServerState.cs
+++ b/server/AyaNova/ControllerHelpers/ApiServerState.cs
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ namespace AyaNova.Api.ControllerHelpers
         {
             ///<summary>Unknown state, used for parsing</summary>
             UNKNOWN = 0,
-            ///<summary>No access for anyone API completely locked down</summary>
+            ///<summary>No access for anyone API completely locked down. Not set by user but rather by internal server operations like importing or backup.</summary>
             Closed = 1,
-            ///<summary>Access only to API Operations routes</summary>
+            ///<summary>Access only to API Operations routes. Can be set by Ops user</summary>
             OpsOnly = 2,
-            ///<summary>Open for all users (default)</summary>
+            ///<summary>Open for all users (default). Can be set by Ops user</summary>
             Open = 3
         }
 
diff --git a/server/AyaNova/Controllers/ServerStateController.cs b/server/AyaNova/Controllers/ServerStateController.cs
index b231cd66..d912141e 100644
--- a/server/AyaNova/Controllers/ServerStateController.cs
+++ b/server/AyaNova/Controllers/ServerStateController.cs
@@ -62,27 +62,22 @@ namespace AyaNova.Api.Controllers
         [Authorize]
         public async Task<IActionResult> PostServerState([FromBody] ServerStateModel state)
         {
-            if (!Authorized.HasModifyRole(HttpContext.Items, AyaType.ServerState))
-            {
-                return StatusCode(403, new ApiNotAuthorizedResponse());
-            }
+            if (serverState.IsClosed)//no state change allowed when closed
+                return StatusCode(503, new ApiErrorResponse(serverState.ApiErrorCode, null, serverState.Reason));
 
-            if (serverState.IsSystemLocked)//no state change allowed when system locked, must correct the problem first
-            {
-                return StatusCode(503, new ApiErrorResponse(ApiErrorCode.API_CLOSED, null, serverState.Reason));
-            }
+            if (!Authorized.HasModifyRole(HttpContext.Items, AyaType.ServerState))
+                return StatusCode(403, new ApiNotAuthorizedResponse());
 
             if (!ModelState.IsValid)
-            {
                 return BadRequest(new ApiErrorResponse(ModelState));
-            }
 
             ApiServerState.ServerState desiredState;
-
             if (!Enum.TryParse<ApiServerState.ServerState>(state.ServerState, true, out desiredState))
-            {
-                return BadRequest(new ApiErrorResponse(ApiErrorCode.VALIDATION_INVALID_VALUE, null, "Invalid state -  must be one of \"Closing\", \"Closed\", \"OpsOnly\" or \"Open\""));
-            }
+                return BadRequest(new ApiErrorResponse(ApiErrorCode.VALIDATION_INVALID_VALUE, null, "Invalid state -  must be one of \"OpsOnly\" or \"Open\""));
+
+            //don't allow a server to be set to closed, that's for internal ops only
+            if (desiredState == ApiServerState.ServerState.Closed)
+                return BadRequest(new ApiErrorResponse(ApiErrorCode.VALIDATION_INVALID_VALUE, null, "Invalid state -  must be one of \"OpsOnly\" or \"Open\""));
 
             log.LogInformation($"ServerState change request by user {UserNameFromContext.Name(HttpContext.Items)} from current state of \"{serverState.GetState().ToString()}\" to \"{desiredState.ToString()}\"");
 
@@ -101,7 +96,7 @@ namespace AyaNova.Api.Controllers
         public class ServerStateModel
         {
             /// <summary>
-            /// One of "Closed", "OpsOnly" or "Open"
+            /// "OpsOnly" or "Open"
             /// </summary>
             /// <returns></returns>
             [Required]
diff --git a/server/AyaNova/resource/de.json b/server/AyaNova/resource/de.json
index ede6f3c7..16d51a49 100644
--- a/server/AyaNova/resource/de.json
+++ b/server/AyaNova/resource/de.json
@@ -1635,5 +1635,8 @@
   "ErrorPickListQueryInvalid":"Abfrage ungültig - Klicken Sie auf das Hilfesymbol, um weitere Informationen zu erhalten",
   "UserInterfaceSettings":"Benutzeroberfläche",
   "PickListTemplates":"Wählen Sie Listenvorlagen aus",
-  "ResetToDefault":"Auf Standard zurücksetzen"
+  "ResetToDefault":"Auf Standard zurücksetzen",
+  "ServerState":"Serverstatus",
+  "ServerStateOpen":"Öffnen",
+  "ServerStateOps":"Nur Systembetrieb"
 }
diff --git a/server/AyaNova/resource/en.json b/server/AyaNova/resource/en.json
index 8b38fb23..c2517296 100644
--- a/server/AyaNova/resource/en.json
+++ b/server/AyaNova/resource/en.json
@@ -1636,7 +1636,10 @@
   "ErrorPickListQueryInvalid":"Query not valid - click help icon to learn more",
   "UserInterfaceSettings":"User interface",
   "PickListTemplates":"Select list templates",
-  "ResetToDefault":"Reset to default"
+  "ResetToDefault":"Reset to default",
+  "ServerState":"Server state",
+  "ServerStateOpen":"Open",
+  "ServerStateOps":"Server operations only"
 
 
 
diff --git a/server/AyaNova/resource/es.json b/server/AyaNova/resource/es.json
index 8f254e9a..fa55dede 100644
--- a/server/AyaNova/resource/es.json
+++ b/server/AyaNova/resource/es.json
@@ -1635,7 +1635,10 @@
   "ErrorPickListQueryInvalid":"Consulta no válida: haga clic en el icono de ayuda para obtener más información",
   "UserInterfaceSettings":"Interfaz de usuario",
   "PickListTemplates":"Seleccionar plantillas de lista",
-  "ResetToDefault":"Restablecen a los predeterminados"
+  "ResetToDefault":"Restablecen a los predeterminados",
+  "ServerState":"Estado del servidor",
+  "ServerStateOpen":"Abrir",
+  "ServerStateOps":"Solo operaciones del sistema"
 
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/AyaNova/resource/fr.json b/server/AyaNova/resource/fr.json
index ea2a1720..b038ba5b 100644
--- a/server/AyaNova/resource/fr.json
+++ b/server/AyaNova/resource/fr.json
@@ -1633,5 +1633,8 @@
   "ErrorPickListQueryInvalid": "Requête non valide - cliquez sur l'icône d'aide pour en savoir plus",
   "UserInterfaceSettings": "Interface utilisateur",
   "PickListTemplates": "Sélectionner des modèles de liste",
-  "ResetToDefault": "Rétablir la valeur par défaut"
+  "ResetToDefault": "Rétablir la valeur par défaut",
+  "ServerState":"État du serveur",
+  "ServerStateOpen":"Ouvrir",
+  "ServerStateOps":"Opérations système uniquement"
 }
\ No newline at end of file