A service appliance is installed between a production server running a
service applications and service users. Upon being connected with the
production server, the service appliance contacts the production server
and/or service application and automatically replicates the service data
from the service application. As additional service data is added to or
modified by the service application of the production server, the service
appliance automatically updates its replica of the data. In the event
that a production server is unable to provide its service to users, the
service appliance can transparently intervene to maintain service
availability using the replica of the data. When an operational
production server is connected with the service appliance, the service
appliance can automatically copy its service data to the service
application of the operational production server. The operational
production server can be the same as the original production server or a
new production server.