High Availability (HA) for Enterprise Imaging Workflows
Healthcare imaging environments run 24x7x365. Any interruption to DICOM, HL7, or web-based imaging workflows directly impacts clinical operations, reporting, and patient care. High Availability is not a nice-to-have. It is a core infrastructure requirement.
The Dicom Systems Unifier Platform delivers a high-availability architecture that incorporates two or more Unifier appliances in an active/passive configuration, purpose-built for enterprise imaging. Designed to eliminate single points of failure, Unifier provides continuous availability of DICOM routing, HL7 messaging, and web services across PACS, VNAs, EHRs, AI platforms, and downstream clinical systems.
Benefits and Features of Unifier High Availability
Unifier High Availability is engineered to deliver predictable uptime, automated recovery, and resilient imaging workflows at enterprise scale.
Continuous Service Availability
Active/passive clustering for two or more Unifier appliances ensures imaging services remain available even during node failures. DICOM, HL7, and web-based traffic continue to process without manual intervention or workflow disruption.
Automated Failover and Virtual IP Redirection
A front-facing Virtual IP (VIP) routes all inbound imaging workflow traffic to the active Unifier node. If the active node becomes unavailable, a secondary Unifier node is automatically promoted from passive to active status, and the VIP redirects traffic accordingly. Connectivity is preserved without requiring reconfiguration of modalities, PACS, VNAs, or downstream clinical systems.
Dedicated Heartbeat Network
Each Unifier node in the High Availability cluster is configured with a secondary network interface on a separate subnet dedicated to heartbeat and health monitoring. This isolated channel enables rapid failure detection and reliable communication between two or more clustered Unifier nodes, even during disruptions on the primary network interface.
Virtual Environment Ready
High Availability deployments in virtualized environments require two or more Unifier appliances, each configured with two virtual NICs and two IP addresses (production and heartbeat), plus a shared Virtual IP that serves as the external endpoint for imaging workflow traffic.
Cluster Messaging and Resource Coordination
Unifier includes a built-in messaging layer that enables two or more Unifier nodes to operate as a coordinated cluster. The messaging layer manages cluster membership, synchronizes state, and coordinates shared services to ensure consistent system behavior before, during, and after failover events.
Enterprise-Scale Reliability
Designed for large hospitals and health systems, Unifier High Availability supports imaging environments where uptime is non-negotiable. Passive nodes remain synchronized with the active node, enabling immediate service takeover without disrupting the cache or database.
Proven, Purpose-Built Architecture
Unifier High Availability balances performance, resilience, and operational simplicity. Automated failover scripting, logical VIP routing, and coordinated cluster services ensure continuous operations without introducing unnecessary architectural complexity.
Normal Operations Mode
Failover Operations Mode
Plan Your High Availability Imaging Architecture
Talk with Dicom Systems about designing a resilient, enterprise-grade High Availability strategy for your imaging environment.