CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)Server AdministrationMedium
A server administrator is designing a new server infrastructure that must be highly available and resilient to single points of failure. The plan includes deploying critical applications across multiple physical servers. Which architectural concept should be implemented to ensure continuous service even if one server fails?
- ALoad balancing with a single active server.
- BRedundant array of independent disks (RAID).
- CClustering with failover capabilities.
- DSnapshotting and backup strategies.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Clustering with failover capabilities.
Clustering with failover capabilities directly addresses high availability by linking multiple servers (nodes) to work together. If one server fails, another node in the cluster automatically takes over its workload, ensuring continuous service without interruption.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Load balancing distributes traffic but, with a single active server, doesn't provide high availability if that single server fails.
- B. RAID protects against disk failure, not entire server failure, and is a storage solution, not an application-level high availability solution.
- D. Snapshotting and backup strategies are for data recovery and disaster recovery, not for immediate, continuous service in the event of a server failure (high availability).
Server Clustering (Failover)
A group of independent servers (nodes) that work together to increase the availability and scalability of applications and services. Failover clustering provides high availability by automatically moving workloads to another node in case of a failure.
- Eliminates single points of failure.
- Ensures continuous service (high availability).
- Requires shared storage and heartbeat networks.
Memory trick: Cluster for Continuous Care