Patent ID: 7496646

Claim:
A method of managing a storage area network (SAN) comprising: providing a plurality of nodes; providing a plurality of storage, wherein the plurality of storage is shared by the plurality of nodes; designating an elected node to attempt to become an administrator of the plurality of nodes after detecting failure of a previous administrator of the plurality of nodes; allowing the elected node to become the administrator when the elected node is able to acquire locks for the SAN and able to read a generation number for the SAN; determining if a change in the storage area network has occurred; dynamically adjusting to the change if the change has occurred, wherein the plurality of nodes includes the elected node configured to manage the dynamic adjustment to the change in the storage area network; randomly selecting the elected node to attempt to become the administrator after the failure of the previous administrator; and sending the elected node a message to undo becoming the administrator when a group coordinator determines that the elected node cannot become the administrator.