Configuring fail-safe mode
In an HA configuration, fail-safe mode ensures that one node is always primary when both nodes fail the health check. This is to ensure that when a node is only partially available, backup methods are enabled to handle traffic as best as possible. The HA fail-safe mode is configured independently on the primary and secondary nodes.
The following table shows some of the fail-safe cases. The NOT\_UP state means that the node failed the health check yet it is partially available. The UP state means that the node passed the health check.
| Node A (Primary) Health State | Node B (Secondary) Health State | Default HA Behavior | Fail-Safe Enabled HA Behavior | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOT_UP(failed last) | NOT_UP (failed first) | A (Secondary), B (Secondary) | A (Primary), B (Secondary) | If both nodes fail, one after the other, the node that was the last primary remains primary. |
| NOT_UP (failed first) | NOT_UP(failed last) | A (Secondary), B (Secondary) | A(Secondary), B(Primary) | If both nodes fail, one after the other, the node that was the last primary remains primary. |
| UP | UP | A (Primary), B (Secondary) | A (Primary), B (Secondary) | If both nodes pass the health check, no change in behavior with fail-safe enabled. |
| UP | NOT_UP | A(Primary), B(Secondary) | A (Primary), B (Secondary) | If only the secondary node fails, no change in behavior with fail-safe enabled. |
| NOT_UP | UP | A(Secondary), B(Primary) | A(Secondary), B(Primary) | If only the primary fails, no change in behavior with fail-safe enabled. |
| NOT_UP | UP (STAYSECONDARY) | A (Secondary), B (Secondary) | A (Primary), B (Secondary) | If the secondary is configured as STAYSECONDARY, the primary remains primary even if it fails. |
Related information
To enable fail-safe mode by using the command line interface
At the command prompt, type:
set HA node [-failSafe ( **ON** | **OFF** )]
Example
set ha node -failsafe ON
To enable fail-safe mode by using the GUI
-
Navigate to System > High Availability and, on the Nodes tab, open the node.
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Under Fail-Safe Mode, select the Maintain one Primary node even when both nodes are unhealthy option.