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The Daily Insight Hub

What is hot-swappable technology?

Author

Sarah Martinez

Updated on January 13, 2026

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. Not all computers support hot swapping, and not all devices are hot swappable.

What are some examples of hot-swappable devices?

Hot-swappable devices are those devices which can be plugged and unplugged without turning off the system. That’s what the definition goes. Pen drives, USB keyboard, and mice, Ethernet cables all are hot-swappable.

What is a hot swap in networking?

To pull out a component from a system and plug in a new one while the main power is still on. Also called “hot plug” and “hot insertion,” hot swap is a feature of USB devices, allowing an external drive, network adapter or other peripheral to be plugged in without having to power down the computer first. See USB.

What parts are hot-swappable?

Hot-swappable components are those that you can install or remove while the system is running, without affecting the rest of the system’s capabilities. However, you might have to prepare the operating system prior to the hot-swap operation by performing certain system administration tasks.

Which type of drive is hot swappable?

A hot swap is the replacement of a hard drive, CD-ROM drive, power supply, or other device with a similar device while the computer system using it remains in operation. The replacement can be because of a device failure or, for storage devices, to substitute other data.

Is PATA hot swappable?

Platinum Member. IDE drives are not hot swappable. It is not part of the specification and most IDE drivers are not capable of handling it. There are backplanes and boxes that can convert IDE drives to hot swappable however, but most are part of servers are just use USB or firewire.

Is HDD hot-swappable?

Any SATA or SAS hard drive is inherently hot swappable. The drive isn’t the determining factor at all, it’s the controller, motherboard, OS, etc. that’s what determines whether hotswap will work.

Is PATA hot-swappable?

Is HDD hot swappable?

How do I know if my drive is hot swappable?

How do I find out if the hard drive is hot swappable? In order to find out whether your hard drive is hot swappable or not you want to start by checking your drive for purple tabs. These indicate that the drive is in fact hot swappable and it can then be removed without powering down the server.

Which is an example of a hot swappable device?

The picture is an example of a hot-swappable network drive being swapped out while the other drives continue to be used. Not all computers support hot swapping, and not all devices are hot swappable. For example, PS/2 devices are not hot swappable.

Are there any computers that are hot swappable?

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

Which is the correct definition of hot swapping?

Hot swapping is the replacement or addition of components to a computer system without stopping, shutting down, or rebooting the system; hot plugging describes the addition of components only.

Is there such a thing as a hot swappable keyboard?

If you’re a fan of mechanical keyboards but can’t decide what type of switches to pick, a hot swappable model is exactly what you need. Even though the number of hot swappable keyboards that are available right now isn’t that high, the demand for them guarantees you’ll see more of such products in the future.