What is Failover?
The automatic switch to a backup system or link when the primary one fails, keeping services available.
Definition
Failover is the process of automatically switching to a redundant or standby system — such as a backup internet link, power supply, or server — when the primary system fails. The goal is to maintain service continuity with little or no interruption.
In networking, failover commonly applies to internet connectivity: when a primary link goes down, traffic is automatically rerouted to a secondary link within seconds.
Why it matters
Failover turns redundancy into real-world uptime. Without it, a backup link or device does nothing until someone manually switches over — losing valuable minutes or hours. Automatic failover keeps the business running through failures.
Related terms
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