Network Redundancy - Active-Active vs Active-Passive

January 25, 2022

Introduction

In today’s world, businesses rely largely on the internet to achieve their goals. And, in order to make sure that these goals are achieved, businesses have to ensure that their network is always up and running. This is where network redundancy comes in.

There are two types of network redundancy, namely active-active and active-passive. In this blog post, we will compare these two types of network redundancy to help businesses determine which one is the best fit for their needs.

What is Network Redundancy?

Before discussing the differences between active-active and active-passive network redundancy, it’s important to define what network redundancy is.

Network redundancy is the process of duplicating critical network components, such as routers, switches, and links, to ensure that a network remains operational in the event of a failure.

In simple terms, network redundancy means having a backup plan in place for when things go wrong.

Active-Active Network Redundancy

In an active-active network redundancy setup, all network components are active and working simultaneously, meaning they are processing traffic in parallel.

This setup requires more resources but is generally more efficient than the active-passive redundancy setup because all network components are being used. Additionally, active-active redundancy can lead to zero downtime in the event of a component failure.

However, active-active redundancy is generally more expensive than active-passive redundancy due to the need for more hardware.

Active-Passive Network Redundancy

Active-passive network redundancy is also known as failover redundancy. In this setup, one component is actively processing traffic while the other is on standby, waiting for a failure to occur.

When a failure does occur, the passive component takes over, becoming active while the original active component is taken offline for repairs.

This setup is generally less expensive than active-active redundancy but can lead to some downtime during the failover process.

Active-Active vs Active-Passive

When comparing active-active with active-passive redundancy, there are several factors to consider.

Overall, the choice between the two will depend heavily on business requirements, budget, and the level of redundancy required.

Active-active redundancy provides greater efficiency and can lead to zero downtime in the event of a failure. It is also the more expensive option due to the need for more hardware.

On the other hand, active-passive redundancy is less expensive and can provide redundancy at a lower cost. However, it can lead to some downtime during the failover process.

Conclusion

Network redundancy is vital for businesses looking to maintain uptime and availability. In this blog post, we have discussed the differences between active-active and active-passive redundancy.

Hopefully, this comparison has provided valuable insights into these two types of redundancy and will help businesses determine which one is the best fit for their needs.

Remember to always evaluate redundancy requirements closely to make the best decision for your organization.

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