--- canonical: "https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/high-availability-architectures-and-best-practices/" llms_index: "https://safekit.eviden.com/llms.txt" llms_section: "Competitive Positioning" topics: "High Availability Architectures & Software Clustering Best Practices, Comparing HA Architectures: Mirror and Farm Clusters with SafeKit, What are the high availability architectures and the best practices?, Comparative tables on high availability architectures and best practices, 🔍 SafeKit High Availability Navigation Hub" --- # High Availability Architectures & Software Clustering Best Practices ## Comparing HA Architectures: Mirror and Farm Clusters with SafeKit [🧑 Contact us](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/contact-us-for-safekit/) [🎁 SafeKit free trial](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/safekit-free-trial/) [🏅 Free certification](https://training.my.evidian.com/mod/page/view.php?id=712) [💰 Perpetual license cost](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/get-a-quote-safekit-en/) ## What are the high availability architectures and the best practices? ### Overview This article explores the different high availability architectures and the best practices by given the pros and cons of each architecture. ![High availability architectures and best practices](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20400%20189'%3E%3C/svg%3E)![High availability architectures and best practices](https://safekit.eviden.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/high-availability-architectures-and-best-practices.png) The following comparative tables explain in detail the SafeKit high availability architecture and its best practices (SafeKit is a software high availability product). ### What are the high availability architectures? There are two types of [high availability](https://www.techtarget.com/searchdatacenter/definition/high-availability) architectures: those for backend applications such as databases and those for frontend applications such as web services. High availability architectures for backend are based on 2 servers sharing or replicating data with an automatic application failover in the event of hardware of software failures. High availability architectures for frontend are based on a farm of servers (2 servers or more). The load balancing is made by hardware or software and distributes the TCP sessions to the available servers in the farm. Moreover, you have to choose between high availability at the application level or at the virtual machine level. ### What are the best practices? This article explores the best practices in high availability architectures by comparing: * [software vs hardware clustering](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/clustering-software-vs-hardware-clustering/), * [shared nothing vs shared disk architecture](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/shared-nothing-architecture-vs-shared-disk-architecture/), * [application vs virtual machine high availability](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/vm-ha-vs-application-ha/), * [high availability vs fault tolerance](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/high-availability-cluster-vs-fault-tolerant-system/), * [synchronous vs asynchronous replication](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/synchronous-replication-vs-asynchronous-replication/), * [file vs disk replication](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/byte-level-file-replication-vs-block-level-disk-replication/), * [data replication techniques](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/data-replication-techniques/), * [RPO and RTO with examples](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/what-is-rpo-and-rto-with-examples/), * [split brain ans quorum](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/heartbeat-failover-quorum-windows-linux-aix-cluster/), * [virtual IP addresses](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/how-a-virtual-ip-address-works/). ## Comparative tables on high availability architectures and best practices | | | | --- | --- | | [Software clustering vs hardware clustering More info >](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/clustering-software-vs-hardware-clustering/) | | | A software cluster with SafeKit installed on two serversA software cluster with SafeKit installed on two servers * A simple software cluster with the SafeKit package just installed on two servers | Hardware clustering with external shared storageHardware clustering with external shared storage * Complex hardware clustering with external storage or network load balancers | | [Shared nothing vs a shared disk cluster More info >](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/shared-nothing-architecture-vs-shared-disk-architecture/) | | | SafeKit shared-nothing cluster: easy to deploy even in remote sitesSafeKit shared-nothing cluster: easy to deploy even in remote sites * SafeKit is a shared-nothing cluster: easy to deploy even in remote sites | Shared disk cluster: complex to deployShared disk cluster: complex to deploy * A shared disk cluster is complex to deploy | | [Application High Availability vs Full Virtual Machine High Availability More info >](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/vm-ha-vs-application-ha/) | | | High availability at application levelHigh availability at application level * Application HA supports hardware failure and software failure with a quick recovery time ([RTO around 1 mn or less](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/what-is-rpo-and-rto-with-examples/)). * Application HA requires to define restart scripts per application and folders to replicate (SafeKit application modules). | High availability at virtual machine levelHigh availability at virtual machine level * Full virtual machines HA supports only hardware failure with a VM reboot and a recovery time depending on the OS reboot. * No restart scripts to define with full virtual machines HA (SafeKit hyperv.safe or kvm.safe modules). Hypervisors are active/active with just multiple virtual machines. | | [High availability vs fault tolerance More info >](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/high-availability-cluster-vs-fault-tolerant-system/) | | | SafeKit high availability vs fault-toleranceSafeKit high availability vs fault-tolerance * No dedicated server with SafeKit. Each [server can be the failover server of the other one](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/active-active-cluster-real-time-replication/). Software failure with restart in another OS environment. Smooth upgrade of application and OS possible server by server (version N and N+1 can coexist) | Fault tolerance systemFault tolerance system * Secondary server dedicated to the execution of the same application synchronized at the instruction level. Software exception on both servers at the same time. Smooth upgrade not possible | | [Synchronous replication vs asynchronous replication More info >](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/synchronous-replication-vs-asynchronous-replication/) | | | SafeKit synchronous replication with no data in case of failureSafeKit synchronous replication with no data in case of failure * SafeKit implements real-time synchronous replication with no data loss in case of failure | Asynchronous replication with data loss on failureAsynchronous replication with data loss on failure * With asynchronous replication, there is data loss on failure | | [Byte-level file replication vs block-level disk replication More info >](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/byte-level-file-replication-vs-block-level-disk-replication/) | | | Byte-level file replication between two serversByte-level file replication between two servers * SafeKit implements real-time byte-level file replication and is simply configured with application directories to replicate even in the system disk | Block-level disk replication between two serversBlock-level disk replication between two servers * Block-level disk replication is complex to configure and requires to put application data in a special disk | | [Heartbeat, failover and quorum to avoid 2 master nodes More info >](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/heartbeat-failover-quorum-windows-linux-aix-cluster/) | | | Simple quorum in a SafeKit cluster with a split brain checker configured on a routerSimple quorum in a SafeKit cluster with a split brain checker configured on a router * To avoid 2 masters, SafeKit proposes a simple split brain checker configured on a router | Complex quorum in other clusters: third machine, special quorum disk, remote hardware resetComplex quorum in other clusters: third machine, special quorum disk, remote hardware reset * To avoid 2 masters, other clusters require a complex configuration with a third machine, a special quorum disk, a special interconnect | | [Virtual IP address primary/secondary, network load balancing, failover More info >](/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/how-a-virtual-ip-address-works/) | | | No special network configuration in a SafeKit clusterNo special network configuration in a SafeKit cluster * No dedicated proxy servers and no special network configuration are required in a SafeKit cluster for virtual IP addresses | Special network configuration in other clustersSpecial network configuration in other clusters * Special network configuration is required in other clusters for virtual IP addresses. Note that SafeKit offers a health check adapted to load balancers | ## 🔍 SafeKit High Availability Navigation Hub Explore SafeKit: Features, technical videos, documentation, and free trial | Resource Type | Description | Direct Link | | --- | --- | --- | | **Key Features** | Why Choose SafeKit for Simple and Cost-Effective High Availability? | [See Why Choose SafeKit for High Availability](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#why-choose-safekit-for-ha "Discover SafeKit features for simple and cost-effective high availability") | | **Use Cases** | Explore How SafeKit Ensures the High Availability of Critical Infrastructure | [See All Use Cases (OEM Software, Edge Servers, SCADA, and more)](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-use-cases "Explore SafeKit high availability use cases") | | **Deployment Model** | All-in-One SANless HA: Shared-Nothing Software Clustering | [See SafeKit All-in-One SANless HA](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#all-in-one-sanless-ha "Learn about all-in-one SANless high availability with shared-nothing software clustering") | | **HA Strategies** | SafeKit: Infrastructure (VM) vs. Application-Level High Availability | [See SafeKit HA & Redundancy: VM vs. Application Level](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-ha-redundancy-choices "Compare VM-level redundancy with SafeKit application-level high availability strategies") | | **Technical Specifications** | Technical Limitations for SafeKit Clustering | [See SafeKit High Availability Limitations](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-ha-limitations "Technical requirements and limitations for SafeKit application clustering") | | **Proof of Concept** | SafeKit: High Availability Configuration & Failover Demos | [See SafeKit Failover Tutorials](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-failover-tutorials "Step-by-step videos on SafeKit high availability, from installation to automated failover") | | **Architecture** | How the SafeKit Mirror Cluster works (Real-Time Replication & Failover) | [See SafeKit Mirror Cluster: Real-Time Replication & Failover](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-mirror-cluster "See technical architecture and failover mechanism of SafeKit Mirror Cluster") | | **Architecture** | How the SafeKit Farm Cluster works (Network Load Balancing & Failover) | [See SafeKit Farm Cluster: Network Load Balancing & Failover](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-farm-cluster "Technical overview of SafeKit Farm Cluster architecture with network load balancing") | | **Competitive Advantages** | Comparison: SafeKit vs. Traditional High Availability (HA) Clusters | [See SafeKit vs. Traditional HA Cluster Comparison](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-ha-comparison "Detailed comparison of SafeKit software vs traditional hardware-based HA clusters") | | **Technical Resources** | SafeKit High Availability: Documentation, Downloads & Trial | [See SafeKit HA Free Trial & Technical Documentation](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-ha-technical-resources "Access SafeKit free trial, technical documentation, and high availability white papers") | | **Pre-configured Solutions** | SafeKit Application Module Library: Ready-to-Use HA Solutions | [See SafeKit High Availability Application Modules](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/#safekit-ha-application-modules "Browse the library of pre-configured SafeKit modules for automated application failover") | [🧑 Contact us](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/contact-us-for-safekit/) [🎁 SafeKit free trial](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/safekit-free-trial/) [🏅 Free certification](https://training.my.evidian.com/mod/page/view.php?id=712) [💰 Perpetual license cost](https://safekit.eviden.com/products/high-availability-software-for-application-clustering/get-a-quote-safekit-en/)