Auto Failover Service

Overview

The Auto Failover Service keeps SBN running when the primary database server goes down. On a fixed timer it checks that the primary SBN server is still responding. As long as the primary answers, the service does nothing but log that the server is alive.

If the primary server stops responding, the service promotes the configured secondary server to primary — updating the company information so SBN points at the secondary — sends a notification email, and then stops. From that point on the secondary server is the live system. Because the service is designed to act once and hand control to the secondary, it does not switch back automatically; bringing the original primary back into service is a manual step.

The service needs a working connection to both the primary and the secondary SBN server. If either connection cannot be established at start-up, the service logs the reason and stops.

Service Manager

Instructions for installing and interacting with this service is found here.

Service Properties

Only properties specific to this service are listed here. Common service properties (SBN Server connection, Logging, SMTP) are found here.

Timer (In Seconds)

How often the service checks that the primary SBN server is responding. The service waits this many seconds between checks, then runs the next liveness test against the primary server.

Secondary Server

The connection details for the secondary SBN server — server type, data source, database, port, and login. This is the server the service promotes to primary if the primary stops responding. The primary server uses the common SBN Server connection; this secondary connection is the one extra connection this service requires.

Verbose Logging

When enabled, the service writes extra detail to its log about each liveness check. Normally left off to keep the log concise.