Patent ID: 8903917

Claim:
A cluster token registry (“CTR”) method comprising: registering a cluster-wide token with a CTR associated with a node of a plurality of interconnected nodes in a cluster, the registering being performed by a client in response to the client signing in at one of the nodes; determining whether prerequisites for granting the token have been met by determining whether a required number of votes are currently cast in connection with the token; responsive to a determination that the prerequisites have been met, granting the token; periodically determining whether the vote in connection with the token vote has been refreshed by the client; and responsive to a determination that the vote in connection with the token vote has not been refreshed by the client, de-registering the client, wherein the registering comprises setting at least one of a quorum parameter, a token_delay parameter, a token_refresh parameter, and a token_timeout parameter, and wherein the vote in connection with the token vote is refreshed by the client independent of communication from the CTR associated with the node.