---
title: Zixi Redundancy: Overview
slug: product-features/zixi-redundancy-overview
docTags: 
createdAt: 2024-12-06T00:52:25.172Z
---

In order to protect against device, link connectivity, or software failures, Zixi supports a variety of high-availability topologies by deploying redundant components. Zixi products feature failover mechanisms that utilize alternative components in the event of failure as well as redundant external encoder or decoder configurations.

## Types of Redundancy

### Hitless Failover

Zixi features hitless failover for inputs, enabling undisrupted streaming when switching from one source to another. The hitless failover feature is based on the SMPTE 2022-7 standard, which specifies “seamless” or hitless failover between binary-identical streams with synchronized RTP headers. Zixi's patent-pending hitless failover technology works by comparing the transport stream payload, without relying on sequences being synchronized. Zixi then applies a proprietary sequencing algorithm to identify missing parts and fill-in missing packets. The Hitless Failover feature is supported in the inputs of Zixi Broadcaster and ZEC.

### Hot Redundancy

Hot redundancy, represented in the diagrams by a solid non-dashed arrow, involves two parallel active streams. This enables seamless failover transition between the two streams. It requires two live feeds, doubling the overall bandwidth.

### Warm Redundancy

Warm redundancy, represented in the diagrams by a dashed arrow, involves a primary active stream and a secondary backup stream that is ready to become active in the event of primary failure.

### Cold Redundancy

In a cold redundancy configuration, a secondary path is available in a dormant state, requiring a manual switch over to activate in the event of a primary failure.