理论上来说是可以有CA集群的。然而,这意味着一旦集群中出现分裂,集群中所有节点将停机以至于没有一个节点可以被访问。依据通常的关于“可用性”的定义,这意味着缺乏可用性。但是CAP定义可用性为:系统中正常节点收到的每一个请求必须有一个响应(“every request received by a nonfailing node in the system must result in a response”)。在此定义下,不能以节点无应答推出缺乏可用性。
Because partitions are rare, CAP should allow perfect C and A most of the time, but when partitions are present or perceived, a strategy that detects partitions and explicitly accounts for them is in order. This strategy should have three steps: detect partitions, enter an explicit partition mode that can limit some operations, and initiate a recovery process to restore consistency and compensate for mistakes made during a partition.