Responses to Failure Detection and Network Partitioning for the previous incarnation to be expelled from the group, letting the member rejoin. Note that if the group_replication_member_expel_timeout  system variable is set to specify a longer waiting period before the member is expelled, the automatic rejoin attempts might still not succeed. For alternative mitigation strategies to avoid unnecessary expulsions where the group_replication_member_expel_timeout  system variable is not available, see Section 18.3.2, “Group Replication Limitations” . By default, members that find themselves in a minority due to a network partition do not automatically leave the group. You can use the system variable  group_replication_unreachable_majority_timeout to set a number of seconds for a member to wait after losing contact with the majority of group members, and then exit the group. Setting a timeout means you do not need to pro-actively monitor for servers that are in a minority group after a network partition, and you can avoid the possibility of creating a split-brain situation (with two versions of the group membership) due to inappropriate intervention. When the timeout specified by  group_replication_unreachable_majority_timeout  elapses, all pending transactions that have been processed by the member and the others in the minority group are rolled back, and the servers in that group move to the  ERROR  state. You can use the group_replication_autorejoin_tries  system variable, which is available from MySQL 8.0.16, to make the member automatically try to rejoin the group at this point. From MySQL 8.0.21, this feature is activated by default and the member makes three auto-rejoin attempts. If the auto-rejoin procedure does not succeed or is not attempted, the minority member then follows the exit action specified by group_replication_exit_state_action . Consider the following points when deciding whether or not to set an unreachable majority timeout: If you do not use the  group_replication_unreachable_majority_timeout system variable, the process for operator invention in the event of a network partition is described in Section 18.5.4, “Network Partitioning” . The process involves checking which servers are functioning and forcing a new group membership if necessary. The  group_replication_autorejoin_tries  system variable, which is available from MySQL 8.0.16, makes a member that has been expelled or reached its unreachable majority timeout try to rejoin the group automatically. Up to MySQL 8.0.20, the value of the system variable defaults to 0, so auto-rejoin is not activated by default. From MySQL 8.0.21, the value of the system variable defaults to 3, meaning that the member automatically makes 3 attempts to rejoin the group, with 5 minutes between each. When auto-rejoin is not activated, a member accepts its expulsion as soon as it resumes communication, and proceeds to the action specified by the  group_replication_exit_state_action  system 18.7.6.3 Auto-Rejoin 18.7.6.2 Unreachable Majority Timeout •In a symmetric group, for example a group with two or four servers, if both partitions contain an equal number of servers, both groups consider themselves to be in a minority and enter the  ERROR  state. In this situation, the group has no functional partition. •While a minority group exists, any transactions processed by the minority group are accepted, but blocked because the minority servers cannot reach quorum, until either  STOP GROUP_REPLICATION  is issued on those servers or the unreachable majority timeout is reached. •If you do not set an unreachable majority timeout, the servers in the minority group never enter the ERROR  state automatically, and you must stop them manually. •Setting an unreachable majority timeout has no effect if it is set on the servers in the minority group after the loss of majority has been detected. 3783