What is a characteristic feature of fault tolerance?

Fault tolerance is primarily characterized by the implementation of redundant systems designed to handle failures without disrupting system operations. This means that if one component or system fails, another can seamlessly take over, allowing the overall system to continue functioning. Redundancy can be achieved through various means, such as having duplicate hardware, networks, or data storage capabilities, ensuring that there is always a backup ready to maintain service availability.

While immediate restoration of data from backup and minimizing downtime through maintenance are important aspects of overall system reliability and data management, they do not specifically refer to fault tolerance. Immediate data restoration relies on existing backups and while it's an important practice, it does not address how systems can continuously function during failures. Limiting downtime through scheduled maintenance is also crucial, but it is a proactive measure that does not inherently provide fault tolerance. Eliminating the need for technical support is unrealistic, as technical issues will always arise, regardless of fault tolerance measures in place. Therefore, the essence of fault tolerance lies in having those redundant systems to ensure uninterrupted service.