Manual Failover Testing Steps
Manual failover testing ensures your systems can switch to backups during outages or maintenance without disrupting operations. Here’s a quick overview of the process:
- Why It’s Important: Test recovery steps, confirm backup capacity, train teams, and prevent future issues.
- Planning: Set goals (e.g., downtime under 15 minutes), choose critical systems (databases, apps), and schedule tests during off-peak hours.
- Preparation: Verify system readiness, data synchronization, backups, and network connectivity.
- Execution: Follow a step-by-step failover plan, monitor logs, and validate backup systems and application functionality.
- Recovery: Switch back to the primary system after testing, confirm data consistency, and document results for future improvements.
This process minimizes downtime, ensures data integrity, and prepares your team for real incidents. Regular tests (every three months) and refined documentation can make your failover strategy more reliable.
Testing a Failover Workflow
Planning the Failover Test
Careful planning ensures minimal disruption and confirms system resilience during manual failover tests. Here’s how to set goals, choose systems, schedule the test, and prepare documentation.
Setting Test Goals
Define clear objectives for disaster recovery, such as:
- Maximum downtime allowed during failover (aim for under 15 minutes)
- Verifying data consistency across systems
- Ensuring application functionality after failover
- Measuring network performance
- Confirming user access and authentication
Selecting Test Systems
Focus on essential systems, including:
- Primary database servers
- Customer-facing applications
- Internal tools for business operations
- Authentication systems
- Core network infrastructure
Use a dependency map to understand system interactions. This helps you decide which components need to be tested together and which can be isolated.
Test Schedule and Team Updates
Plan tests during off-peak hours and consider the following:
- Maintenance Windows: Align tests with pre-scheduled maintenance times.
- Time Zones: Factor in global team locations and varying business hours.
- Resource Availability: Ensure key team members are available for the entire test.
- Business Calendar: Avoid busy periods like month-end processing.
Notify stakeholders about the test schedule at least two weeks ahead. Include details like:
- Anticipated system downtime
- Possible service interruptions
- Emergency contact information
- Rollback procedures
Writing the Test Plan
A thorough test plan should include:
1. Pre-Failover Checklist
List all preparatory steps, such as backing up systems, verifying data synchronization, and allocating resources.
2. Execution Steps
Describe the exact sequence of actions for the failover. Include commands, configuration changes, and validation points.
3. Success Criteria
Define metrics to measure success, such as:
- System response times
- Data integrity checks
- Application functionality tests
- User access validation
4. Rollback Procedures
Provide detailed steps for reverting to the primary system if problems occur. Specify the conditions that would trigger a rollback.
System Readiness Checks
Before starting the failover test, it’s crucial to confirm that all key components are in place. This helps create optimal test conditions and reduces the risk of unexpected issues. Focus on reviewing system configurations, checking data synchronization, ensuring backups are healthy, and testing network connectivity.
System Setup Review
Start by verifying the current system setup:
- Check CPU, memory, and storage allocations.
- Confirm that all necessary services are running.
- Verify permissions and access controls.
- Double-check security settings.
- Make sure monitoring tools are set up correctly.
Record these configurations, including version numbers, patch levels, and settings, so you can validate them after the failover test. These steps ensure the system is prepared for testing.
Data Sync Status
After reviewing system configurations, confirm that data synchronization is functioning as expected:
- Measure replication lag.
- Check database consistency.
- Verify file system synchronization.
- Validate data integrity using checksums.
Focus on real-time synchronization indicators. For most business applications, replication lag should be under 60 seconds. This ensures data is ready for the failover test.
Backup System Check
Thoroughly inspect the backup system to confirm it’s ready:
Hardware:
- Check power systems and cooling.
- Ensure storage capacity and performance meet requirements.
- Verify network interface cards.
- Inspect redundant components.
Software:
- Assess operating system health.
- Confirm application dependencies are functioning.
- Check backup tools and utilities.
- Validate monitoring agents.
Access Controls:
- Test authentication systems.
- Review user permissions.
- Confirm security certificates are valid.
- Verify VPN connections.
These checks ensure the backup system is fully operational and ready for the failover test.
Network Check
Evaluate network connectivity using the following criteria:
| Test Type | Acceptance Criteria | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Latency | Under 50ms | Ping tests |
| Bandwidth | Over 1 Gbps | iperf3 testing |
| DNS Resolution | Under 100ms | dig/nslookup |
| Load Balancer | Active/passive status | Health checks |
Run these tests from different network segments to ensure all potential failover paths are covered. Document baseline performance metrics for comparison during and after the failover process.
Additionally, verify that redundant network paths are configured and available. Test automatic failover for network components if applicable, and ensure all required ports and protocols are open between the primary and backup sites.
sbb-itb-59e1987
Running the Failover Test
After completing readiness checks, proceed with the failover process carefully to reduce any potential disruptions.
Start Failover
- Notify stakeholders at least 15 minutes in advance.
- Pause all transactions and confirm there is no replication lag.
- Begin the failover sequence and record the exact start time.
Keep a close eye on how the system responds initially. The failover process should typically take 30-45 seconds. If it takes longer, investigate immediately. Once the process starts, shift your focus to real-time log monitoring to identify any problems as they arise.
Watch System Logs
Monitoring system logs is crucial for spotting issues early:
| Log Type | Warning Signs | Critical Alerts |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Connection timeouts | Service crashes |
| Database | Replication errors | Data corruption |
| Network | Packet loss > 1% | Connection failures |
| Security | Authentication delays | Access violations |
Keep the command-line interface (CLI) open to track real-time messages. Pay extra attention to error codes starting with "FAIL" or "ERR", as these often signal urgent issues that need immediate attention.
Check Backup Site
After initiating the failover, confirm that the backup site is functioning correctly:
1. Service Availability
Ensure all core services on the backup site show an ‘ACTIVE’ status within 60 seconds. Note any delays for review.
2. Resource Utilization
Monitor these critical metrics during the transition:
- CPU usage: Should remain below 80%.
- Memory usage: Aim for less than 75% utilization.
- Storage I/O: Keep it under 2,000 IOPS.
- Network throughput: Expect usage at 40-60% of normal levels.
3. Load Distribution
Verify that traffic is being routed correctly to the backup site. Check load balancer metrics to ensure traffic is evenly distributed across available resources.
Test Apps and Data
Immediately test key applications and validate data integrity:
- Core Application Testing: Perform basic CRUD operations, test user authentication, check critical business workflows, and confirm API responsiveness.
- Data Validation: Ensure database consistency, verify file system integrity, confirm recent transactions, and test data retrieval speeds.
Focus on testing mission-critical applications first before moving on to secondary systems. Document any irregularities, such as response times that deviate by more than 20% from baseline measurements.
Testing After Failover
Once the backup site is up and running, the next step is to ensure that essential business functions are working properly. This involves carefully checking and verifying operations to confirm everything runs as it should.
Business Function Check
- Run a full business transaction cycle to confirm workflows and data flow seamlessly, including external integrations.
- Test key connections with external systems that weren’t covered during earlier application testing.
- Make sure all scheduled tasks are being executed on time.
- Check the accuracy of the reporting system to avoid any discrepancies.
These steps help confirm that the backup environment can handle critical operations without interruptions. Running these validations multiple times ensures consistent performance and allows you to quickly address any problems.
Switch Back to Main System
After confirming that the backup system is functioning properly, it’s time to transition back to the primary system. This involves reversing the earlier steps to restore normal operations.
Start the Return Process
Notify all relevant stakeholders and coordinate with the technical team. Prepare a checklist to track every step of the process, including database synchronization and application switchover timing.
Make sure to:
- Confirm that all critical processes are completed.
- Ensure no pending transactions remain.
- Document temporary routing rules for reference during reversal.
- Verify that system operations are functioning as expected.
Verify Data Synchronization
Ensure data consistency between the systems by checking:
- Accurate replay of database transaction logs.
- Complete synchronization of file system changes.
- Alignment of time-stamped records across systems.
- Removal of temporary files used during failover.
Use tools like checksums or comparison software to confirm that all data modified during the failover matches between the systems before proceeding with the final switch.
Inspect the Primary System
Conduct a thorough health check to confirm the primary system is ready:
- Infrastructure Status: Verify that all hardware components are operational.
- Network Connectivity: Check and confirm proper routing configurations.
- Application Services: Start application services in the correct sequence.
- Security Systems: Ensure all security measures are active and functioning.
Document the Results
Once the primary system is fully restored, record the outcomes to refine future processes:
-
Test Metrics
Log key metrics such as failover duration, data synchronization time, issue counts, and performance comparisons. -
Issue Documentation
- Note any error messages and their resolutions.
- Detail troubleshooting steps taken.
- Assess the business impact of the failover.
-
Improvement Areas
- Identify process inefficiencies or bottlenecks.
- Highlight gaps in communication.
- Point out areas where documentation could be improved.
- Address any technical constraints encountered.
Store all documentation in a centralized location that the disaster recovery team can access for future reference.
Summary
Manual failover testing involves careful planning, thorough checks, precise execution, and a smooth recovery process. Here’s a breakdown of the key phases:
- Planning: Define goals, map dependencies, assign roles, and address potential risks.
- Verification: Ensure infrastructure is ready, data is synchronized, networks are connected, and security is intact.
- Execution: Carry out the failover step-by-step, monitor in real-time, check application functionality, and track performance metrics.
- Recovery: Restore primary systems, confirm data is accurate, ensure services are running, and document the entire process.
To improve your failover testing:
- Schedule tests every three months.
- Keep documentation up-to-date.
- Rotate team responsibilities to build expertise.
- Evaluate and refine your process after each test.
A well-executed failover test strengthens your ability to maintain business operations during disruptions. Simulating realistic scenarios in a controlled environment ensures reliable results without risking your production systems.
