Failover is a term commonly used in the field of computing and technology to describe a mechanism or process that automatically redirects traffic or operations from a failed or non-performing system to a backup or secondary system, ensuring the continuity of services or operations.
In more technical terms, failover involves the capability of a system or network to seamlessly switch to another functioning system when a failure or outage occurs. This switch can be either automatic, triggered by a failure detection algorithm, or manual, initiated by an operator. The purpose of failover is to minimize downtime and ensure the availability and reliability of a service or system.
The failover process typically involves a primary or active system that handles the workload and a secondary or standby system that remains inactive until needed. When a failure occurs, the standby system takes over the workload, assuming the responsibilities of the primary system. This can involve the transfer of data, processing power, or network connections to the secondary system.
Failover mechanisms are commonly employed in various computing environments, including network servers, databases, virtual machines, and cloud infrastructures. They rely on redundancy and backup systems to provide seamless failover capabilities, reducing the impact of failures on users and ensuring uninterrupted availability of services.
Overall, failover is a critical component of disaster recovery and business continuity plans, safeguarding against system failures, minimizing downtime, and ensuring the smooth operation of critical services and applications.
