Patent attributes
An example operation may include a system, comprising one or more of receiving a heartbeat message from a peer virtualization network function component interface (VFCNI) indicating a current operational state of active when a VNFCI is in an active state, sending a first heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating a current operational state as active, sending a next state request with an active state and split-brain condition to a virtual network function manager (VNFM), starting a response timer, sending a second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating the current operational state as active and a desired operational state as active when one or more of: the VNFCI is not a preferred standby instance, the response timer expires, stopping the response timer when a next state response message is received, sending a third heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating the current operational state as active and a desired operational state as active when and an active state is contained in the next state response message, and transitioning a state of the VNFCI to a deactivating state when one or more of: the VCNFI is the preferred standby instance, and a standby state is contained in the next state response message.