The main difference between switchover and failover Oracle Data Guard is that Switchover requires human intervention, while failover occurs automatically without warning.
Generally, Oracle Data Guard is an extension of the Oracle RDBMS. It is used to maintain a secondary database as an alternative to the production primary database. Furthermore, there are two ways to make functioning a standby database during a failure. Those are switchover and failover. Overall, failover is an automatic process, while switchover is a manual process.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Switchover in Oracle Data Guard
-Definition, Functionality
2. What is Failover in Oracle Data Guard
-Definition, Functionality
3. Difference Between Switchover and Failover in Oracle Data Guard
-Comparison of key differences
Key Terms
Failover, Oracle Data Guard, RDBMS, Switchover
What is Switchover in Oracle Data Guard
Switchover Oracle Data Guard refers to switching to a redundant or standby during failure or abnormal termination of the database manually. The method is more useful when the database is more complex. In other words, if the database is complex, it is not possible to go to the standby database automatically. In that kind of situations, the Database Administrator (DBA) has to switch to the standby database manually.
What is Failover in Oracle Data Guard
Failover Oracle Data Guard refers to switching to a redundant or standby during failure or abnormal termination of the database automatically. It happens without any warning. Moreover, failover helps to improve data availability and reliability. Additionally, failback is the process of restoring the database back to the original, working state. It also involves sending the standby system going to the standby mode from the functioning mode.
Difference Between Switchover and Failover in Oracle Data Guard
Definition
The switchover is a method available in Oracle Data Guard to go to a redundant database during an error condition manually. In contrast, failover is a method available in Oracle Data Guard to switch to a redundant database during an error condition automatically without human involvement. Thus, this explains the main difference between switchover and failover Oracle Data Guard.
Human involvement
Another difference between switchover and failover Oracle Data Guard is that Switchover occurs by human involvement while failover occurs without human involvement.
Application
Furthermore, the switchover is suitable for complex databases, whereas failover is suitable for less complex databases.
Conclusion
In brief, Oracle Data Guard provides two methods to call the standby database: switchover and failover. The main difference between switchover and failover Oracle Data Guard is that Switchover requires human intervention, while failover occurs automatically without warning. In brief, switchover converts to the standby database manually while failover converts to the standby database automatically during a failure.
References:
1.“Oracle Data Guard.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Jan. 2018, Available here.
2.“Switchover.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Mar. 2019, Available here.
3.“Failover.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Apr. 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1.”Oracle” By Oracle – https://www.oracle.com/ (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
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