Netapp, Inc.

Ankit Batra

Kazunobu Nishime

Amarnath Jolad

Iswarya Ayyappan

Direct monitoring of a plurality of storage nodes in a primary cluster is performed based on connectivity with the storage nodes. Indirect monitoring of a first storage node is performed, in response to direct monitoring of the first storage node indicating failure of the connectivity with the first storage node, wherein a second storage node of the plurality of nodes is a backup node for the first storage node. The indirect monitor of the first storage node indicates failure of the first storage node in response to performance of storage access operations by the second storage node that were previously performed by the first storage node. A cluster-switch operation is initiated to switch to from the primary cluster to a backup cluster based on an occurrence of at least one cluster-failure condition that comprises the indirect monitor of the first storage node indicating failure of the first storage node.

Storage cluster failure detection

Monitoring health of associated, but separated storage clusters can be done at both a node scope and a cluster scope. Monitoring the storage clusters at the cluster scope includes monitoring the network elements that support the storage clusters and connect the storage clusters. Initially, a fabric monitor in each cluster discovers cluster topology. This cluster topology is communicated and maintained throughout the managing storage elements of the storage clusters. After the storage cluster topologies have been discovered, the fabric monitors of each cluster can periodically determine status of network elements of the storage clusters. This allows the storage clusters to maintain awareness of interconnect status, and react to changes in status. In addition, each managing storage element monitors its own health. This information is aggregated to determine when to trigger corrective actions, alerts, and/or storage features in accordance with rules defined at the managing storage elements.

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Bengaluru, India

Ankit Batra