Automatic or manual switching to a backup system when the primary system fails.
Failover is the process of switching from a failed primary system to a standby backup system. Automatic failover happens without human intervention when failures are detected; manual failover requires human decision and action. Failover is fundamental to high availability and disaster recovery, ensuring continuity when primary systems fail. Failover systems must be properly configured, tested, and maintained—untested failover often fails when needed most.
Why It Matters
The DSC Perspective:
Failover provides continuity when systems fail. Test failover regularly—don't discover it doesn't work during a real outage. Understand whether your failover is automatic or requires manual intervention.