Windows NT reads and writes to these remote disks as if they were located in the primary server. The StandbyServer machine is constantly monitoring the status of the primary machine. If the primary server fails, the Vinca software running on the standby machine recognizes the failure and automatically initializes the second one as the primary one. Network services are automatically restarted on the new primary server, and any server-based application can be automatically reloaded as well. The entire switchover typically takes less than one minute, all user account information and defined shares are transferred and reestablished on the new server.
Users can continue to access network data and services.
The StandbyServer for Windows NT is a software product. The software consists of NT services, drivers, and utilities that help you manage the installation, management, and carrying out the functionality of the product. Operation of StandbyServer for Windows NT requires that a dedicated communications link be installed between the primary server and the standby machine. The standby machine must be equipped with an additional disk drive besides its own system disk. This will be the drive onto which the primary server's data will be mirrored.