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high availability cluster

/ˌhaɪ əˌveɪ.ləˈbɪl.ə.ti ˈklʌs.tə/
IELTSAcademic
noun

A group of connected computers that work together so a service keeps running if one computer fails. It is used to reduce downtime and improve reliability.

  • The team built a high availability cluster for the database.
  • The cluster stayed online during the server failure.

Adinary Nuance

A high availability cluster is more specific than server or backup. It means several machines work together so one failure does not stop the service. People choose this term in technical and business IT writing when uptime is important. It is not the same as a simple group of servers.

In other languages

Vietnamese
cụm khả dụng cao
Spanish
clúster de alta disponibilidad
Chinese
高可用集群
Japanese
高可用クラスタ
Korean
고가용성 클러스터

Etymology

This term comes from modern computing and combines “high availability” with “cluster.” It became common as businesses needed systems that stay online with little interruption.

Common phrases

deploy a high availability clusterrun on a high availability clusterhigh availability setupfailover cluster

Synonyms

Related words

Frequently asked questions

Is “high availability cluster” formal or informal?
It is formal technical language. You will see it in IT documents, system design notes, and business writing.
What is the difference between a high availability cluster and a backup?
A backup stores data for later recovery. A high availability cluster keeps the service running during a failure.
Can I say “HA cluster” instead?
Yes, in technical writing and team discussions. “HA cluster” is a common short form.
Is this a common word in everyday English?
No, it is mainly used in computing and infrastructure work. Non-technical speakers usually do not use it.