# Graceful Router Shutdown with Circuit Handover

**URL:** <https://openziti.discourse.group/t/graceful-router-shutdown-with-circuit-handover/6231>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [November 9, 2026, 5:20am UTC](https://openziti.discourse.group/t/graceful-router-shutdown-with-circuit-handover/6231 "2026-11-09T05:20:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dmuensterer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openziti.discourse.group/dmuensterer/32/2451_2.png) [@dmuensterer](https://openziti.discourse.group/u/dmuensterer)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 5:20am UTC](https://openziti.discourse.group/t/graceful-router-shutdown-with-circuit-handover/6231/1 "2026-11-09T05:20:37Z")

</div>

Is there currently a way to gracefully shut down or restart an OpenZiti router without interrupting existing circuits?

Ideally, when a router receives a shutdown signal, the controller would stop routing new circuits through it and migrate existing circuits to other available routers before allowing the shutdown to complete.

I know OpenZiti supports automatic circuit rerouting when a router or link fails, but I’m wondering whether this can also be triggered proactively for planned maintenance or upgrades.

Is anything like this currently supported or planned? And would this also be possible for edge routers with active client connections?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![frm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@frm](https://openziti.discourse.group/u/frm)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 9:44am UTC](https://openziti.discourse.group/t/graceful-router-shutdown-with-circuit-handover/6231/2 "2026-11-09T09:44:30Z")

</div>

There is [Upgrading an HA controller cluster | NetFoundry Documentation](https://netfoundry.io/docs/openziti/reference/ha/upgrading/#draining-a-hosting-router-before-upgrade)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rachelwilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@rachelwilson](https://openziti.discourse.group/u/rachelwilson)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 11:57am UTC](https://openziti.discourse.group/t/graceful-router-shutdown-with-circuit-handover/6231/3 "2026-11-09T11:57:09Z")

</div>

the edge router part is the tricky bit for me, active client connections dont seem like theyd migrate as cleanly as fabric circuits.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dmuensterer](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openziti.discourse.group/dmuensterer/32/2451_2.png) [@dmuensterer](https://openziti.discourse.group/u/dmuensterer)\
**Post date:** [November 9, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://openziti.discourse.group/t/graceful-router-shutdown-with-circuit-handover/6231/4 "2026-11-09T17:44:31Z")

</div>

Sweet, thanks! I’ll test this out right away.