The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies and discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for active-standby switchover. The method includes: copying at least one packet group to a standby board; recording the copied packet group and generating a transmission rule chain table of an active board according to a sequence of copying, so that the standby board generates a transmission rule chain table of the standby board which is the same as the active transmission rule chain according to the sequence of copying; and transmitting the packet group according to the sequence of the transmission rule chain table of the active board. By using the method, resuming transmission from a breakpoint upon an active-standby switchover is enabled.