A computer-implemented method for use in a system comprising a first storage cluster and a second storage cluster associated with the first storage cluster, the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster each having a backend including storage elements and network elements, the method being performed by a node in the first storage cluster and comprising: determining a topology of the backend of the first storage cluster and the backend of the second storage cluster using both out-of-band and in-band communications; periodically obtaining first operational information from network elements of the first storage cluster backend and from network elements of the second storage cluster backend; after obtaining the first operational information from any one of the network elements: updating storage cluster information in a cluster database that is communicated among the first storage cluster based on the operational information; determining whether the operational information violates one or more rules out of a first set of one or more rules; determining whether a notification should be generated in response to a determination that the operational information violates one or more rules out of the first set of rules; generating the notification in response to determining that the notification should be generated; obtaining second operational information from a local subsystem; determining whether the second operational information in combination with the first operational information violates one or more rules out of a second set of one or more rules; and generating a notification if the combination of the first operational information and the second operational information violates one or more rules out of the second set of rules; wherein the node is arranged to alternate between in-band and out-of-band communications for defined time periods until resolution of a loss of connectivity between the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster. determining a topology of the backend of the first storage cluster and the backend of the second storage cluster using both out-of-band and in-band communications; periodically obtaining first operational information from network elements of the first storage cluster backend and from network elements of the second storage cluster backend; after obtaining the first operational information from any one of the network elements: updating storage cluster information in a cluster database that is communicated among the first storage cluster based on the operational information; determining whether the operational information violates one or more rules out of a first set of one or more rules; determining whether a notification should be generated in response to a determination that the operational information violates one or more rules out of the first set of rules; generating the notification in response to determining that the notification should be generated; updating storage cluster information in a cluster database that is communicated among the first storage cluster based on the operational information; determining whether the operational information violates one or more rules out of a first set of one or more rules; determining whether a notification should be generated in response to a determination that the operational information violates one or more rules out of the first set of rules; generating the notification in response to determining that the notification should be generated; obtaining second operational information from a local subsystem; determining whether the second operational information in combination with the first operational information violates one or more rules out of a second set of one or more rules; and generating a notification if the combination of the first operational information and the second operational information violates one or more rules out of the second set of rules; wherein the node is arranged to alternate between in-band and out-of-band communications for defined time periods until resolution of a loss of connectivity between the first storage cluster and the second storage cluster.