Hot-swappable

Updated: 10/07/2019 by Computer Hope
Hot swapping network drive

Hot-swappable describes a component device that can be removed or installed without powering down the host computer. For example, eSATA, FireWire, and USB are examples of interfaces that are hot-swappable on computers.

The picture is an example of a hot-swappable network drive being swapped out while the other drives continue to be used.

Note

Not all computers support hot swapping, and not all devices are hot swappable. For example, PS/2 devices are not hot swappable.

Hardware terms, Hotplugging, Phone terms, Swap file, Warm swap