Explore high availability in distributed database systems through this conference talk on VTOrc, the next-generation cluster management service for Vitess. Dive into the architecture, design principles, and implementation of VTOrc, a feature that ensures scalability and durability in Vitess, a distributed database system built around MySQL. Learn about unplanned leader election, durability policies, semi-sync replication, and cross-cell durability. Discover how VTOrc handles various failure scenarios while respecting user-specified durability rules. Watch a demonstration of VTOrc's capabilities in multiple failover scenarios and gain insights into its successful production deployments, including at PlanetScale. Understand the theory behind VTOrc's implementation and its significance in achieving high availability in distributed database environments.