Peter
Is this assumption correct? That's not what I understand.
If I understand it correctly there is both detection and failover triggers. The detection can be either serial or network and is just a signal to see if the other f5 is there, whether by voltage signal or network packet. If the one can't see the other then it will assume (or remain of course) an active state.
The failover triggers are processes running on the individual f5s which are monitored (high availability table) and, if fail, result in a certain action e.g. restart service, failover, reboot system etc...So, this process monitoring could cause an Active to go Standby, and vice versa.
So both these scenarios work together to ensure a working setup.
As for manual failover scenario, the serial detection can still see the other appliance is alive and well but it doesn't need to suspend the voltage signal. It doesn't see it as a failed peer. It's working on a software level, rather than a hardware one.
Hope my understanding is correct.
N