+-------------+                 +-----------+
     | <candidate> |                 | <startup> |
     |  (ct, rw)   |<---+       +--->| (ct, rw)  |
     +-------------+    |       |    +-----------+
            |           |       |           |
            |         +-----------+         |
            +-------->| <running> |<--------+
                      | (ct, rw)  |
                      +-----------+
                            |
                            |        // configuration transformations,
                            |        // e.g., removal of nodes marked as
                            |        // "inactive", expansion of
                            |        // templates
                            v
                      +------------+
                      | <intended> | // subject to validation
                      | (ct, ro)   |
                      +------------+
                            |        // changes applied, subject to
                            |        // local factors, e.g., missing
                            |        // resources, delays
                            |
       dynamic              |   +-------- learned configuration
       configuration        |   +-------- system configuration
       datastores -----+    |   +-------- default configuration
                       |    |   |
                       v    v   v
                    +---------------+
                    | <operational> | <-- system state
                    | (ct + cf, ro) |
                    +---------------+

     ct = config true; cf = config false
     rw = read-write; ro = read-only
     boxes denote named datastores