What is the difference between fault tolerance and fault avoidance?

What is the difference between fault tolerance and fault avoidance?

Fault tolerance is the ability of a system to continue operating properly in the event of a failure. Fault avoidance, on the other hand, is about designing systems to prevent failures from occurring in the first place.

Can you give me examples of each?

Sure! An example of fault tolerance is a redundant power supply in a server; if one fails, the other takes over. Fault avoidance could be using high-quality components to reduce the chance of failure.

Which approach is better for critical systems?

It often depends on the context. Critical systems usually benefit from a combination of both approaches to ensure reliability and minimize risks.

Are there industries where one is preferred over the other?

Yes, in aerospace, fault avoidance is crucial during design, while in data centers, fault tolerance is essential for uptime.