Standby computer

A standby computer holds a full, encrypted copy of your books, kept up to date through sync. If the main computer (the host) fails, the standby can take over. Use it if you cannot be without your books for long.

Setting it up

1. On the host, open Devices and add a device. Give it the role Standby. You get a pairing code.
2. On the standby computer, open the menu with your name and choose Health and recovery, then Standby computer.
3. Type the code under Pair and choose a name. The standby then shows as Paired.
4. Choose Sync now to receive the first copy. The tab shows when the copy was last received. The Health tab shows Standby freshness.

The standby uses the same network as the host, or the internet.

What the standby can do

• It is read-only. Writes are refused until it takes over.
• It does not need to be paired again with each device.

If the host fails

1. On the standby, sign in as the Owner. Only the Owner can do this.
2. Choose Promote to host (in Devices).
3. Anything entered on the old host after the standby's last copy is off the standby.

If the old host comes back, it is told it was replaced and turns read-only. It shows as "Replaced by another host (read-only)".

Important

• A standby is never a backup. A mistake or a deletion is copied to it too. Keep scheduled backups and a recovery kit.
• Other devices keep their pairing, but a device that used the old host's local address needs the new one. There is no "find my host" screen yet.
• Moving the licence seat to the new host may need you to release the old device. The licence site now allows this, but it has not been published yet.
• Sync over the internet (through a relay) was built but not tried end to end. Tests used a local network.
• The screens have not yet been clicked through in a browser. No Windows screen exists.
• Take-over was tested with test files only, not with a real failed computer.