Failover

Failover is the capability to switch over automatically to a redundant or standby computer server, system, or network upon the failure or abnormal termination of the previously active server, system, or network. Failover happens without human intervention and generally without warning, unlike switchover.

Systems designers usually provide failover capability in servers, systems or networks requiring continuous availability and a high degree of reliability.

See also

• Safety engineering
• Redundancy
• Fault-tolerance