High availability on a distributed networking platform

A system comprising:

• one or more processors configured to:
• detect that an original primary service engine is unavailable, wherein:
• the original primary service engine and a plurality of secondary service engines are configured to provide one or more network applications associated with a virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address;
• the original primary service engine and the plurality of secondary service engines are in active-active configuration mode;
• and
• the original primary service engine is configured to respond to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests designating the VIP address;
• determine that a controller is unavailable;
• and
• configure a selected secondary service engine as a next primary service engine;
• and
• one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors and configured to provide the one or more processors with instructions.

A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a tangible non-transitory computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

• detecting that an original primary service engine is unavailable, wherein:
• the original primary service engine and a plurality of secondary service engines are configured to provide one or more network applications associated with a virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address;
• the original primary service engine and the plurality of secondary service engines are in active-active configuration mode;
• and
• the original primary service engine is configured to respond to Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) requests designating the VIP address;
• determining that a controller is unavailable;
• and
• configuring a selected secondary service engine as a next primary service engine.