CompTIA DataSys+ (DS0-001)Business ContinuityEasy
A database administrator is configuring a high availability solution for a critical OLTP database. The solution must ensure that if the primary database server fails, a secondary server automatically takes over with minimal interruption to service and no manual intervention. Which high availability strategy best describes this requirement?
- AActive-Passive Cluster
- BActive-Active Cluster
- CLog Shipping
- DDatabase Mirroring (asynchronous)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Active-Passive Cluster
An Active-Passive cluster involves one server actively handling requests while a secondary server remains in a standby (passive) state, ready to take over automatically if the primary fails. This configuration ensures high availability with automatic failover and minimal interruption.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. An Active-Active cluster distributes workload across multiple active servers, but the scenario describes a primary/secondary failover model, not workload distribution.
- C. Log shipping typically involves manual intervention for failover and may not provide 'minimal interruption' compared to a cluster, as it's primarily for disaster recovery/reporting.
- D. Asynchronous database mirroring can have some data loss upon failover and often requires manual intervention or additional components for automatic failover, not fully meeting 'no manual intervention' for minimal interruption.
Active-Passive Cluster
In an Active-Passive cluster, one server (active) handles all requests, while another server (passive) remains idle, constantly synchronized and ready to take over if the active server fails. This provides high availability with automatic failover.
- One node is active, others are passive (standby).
- Automatic failover to a passive node upon primary failure.
- Ensures high availability with minimal downtime.
Memory trick: Active-Passive: One works, one waits, ready to swap without debate.