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Reasons for automatic takeover

You can set options to control whether automatic takeovers occur due to different system errors. In some cases, automatic takeover occurs by default unless you disable the option, and in some cases automatic takeover cannot be prevented.

Takeovers can happen for several reasons. Some system errors must cause a takeover; for example, when a system in an HA pair loses power, it automatically fails over to the other node.

However, for some system errors, a takeover is optional, depending on how you set up your HA pair. The following table outlines which system errors can cause a takeover to occur, and whether you can configure the HA pair for that error.

System error Option used to configure Default value Notes
A node undergoes a system failure and cannot reboot. cf.takeover.on_failure set to on On You should leave this option enabled unless instructed otherwise by technical support.
A node undergoes a software or system failure leading to a panic. cf.takeover.on_panic set to on On  
A node reboots cf.takeover.on_reboot set to on On, unless FC or iSCSI is licensed.
Note: In releases prior to Data ONTAP 8.0, the system would only take over the partner after reboot if the partner took longer than 90 seconds to boot.
 
All the network interface cards (NICs) or interface groups enabled for negotiated failover on a node failed. cf.takeover.on_network_ interface_failure set to on, cf.takeover.on_network_ interface_failure.policy set to all_nics By default, takeover on network failure is disabled. To enable a network interface for negotiated failover, you use the ifconfig if_name nfo command. For more information, see the Data ONTAP MultiStore Management Guide for 7-Mode.
One or more of the NICs or interface groups enabled for negotiated failover failed.
Note: If interfaces fail on both nodes in the HA pair, takeover won't occur.
cf.takeover.on_network_ interface_failure set to on

cf.takeover.on_network_ interface_failure.policy set to any_nic

By default, takeover on network failure is disabled. To enable a network interface or interface group for negotiated failover, you use the ifconfig if_name nfo command. For more information, see the Data ONTAP MultiStore Management Guide for 7-Mode.
A node fails within 60 seconds of booting up. cf.takeover.on_short_uptime set to on On Changing the value of this option on one node automatically updates the option on the partner node.
A node cannot send heartbeat messages to its partner. n/a   You cannot prevent this condition from causing a takeover.
You halt one of the nodes without using the -f flag. n/a   You cannot prevent this condition from causing a takeover. If you include the -f flag, the takeover is prevented.
You initiate a takeover manually using the cf takeover command. n/a   You cannot prevent this condition from causing a takeover.