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Always On

What Does Always On Mean?

Always on in a technology context refers to systems that are continuously available, plugged in, or connected to power sources and networks. Always on may also refer to systems that are continually operational – that do not take breaks, but continue to hum along through all hours of the day and night. It most often refers to an internet connection that is always accessible.

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Techopedia Explains Always On

As computing became more sophisticated, always-on systems have started to replace older on-demand systems that functioned on different types of resources. For example, some of the best examples of modern always-on systems are cable modems and DSL connections. That is a contrast to yesterday's dial-up connections that were only "on" when they were connected through a particular method using the public switched telephone network.

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