Patent ID: 8271623

Claim:
A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising: receiving, from a client, configuration data for a plurality of appliances, the configuration data being received at a coordinator appliance that is one of the plurality of appliances, each of the plurality of appliances being able to act as the coordinator appliance, the plurality of appliances adapted to provided storage accessible via a network; generating a plurality of tasks to perform to configure the plurality of appliances in accordance with the configuration data; ordering the tasks according to pre-loss of connectivity tasks, during loss of connectivity tasks, and after regaining connectivity tasks, wherein at least one of the pre-loss of connectivity tasks causes a loss of connectivity, wherein the at least one of the pre-loss of connectivity tasks which causes the loss of connectivity comprises at least one of changing an Internet Protocol address of a particular appliance or changing a domain to which the particular appliance is joined; prior to losing connectivity, sending instructions corresponding to the tasks, including the pre-loss of connectivity tasks, the during loss of connectivity tasks, and the after regaining connectivity tasks, from the coordinator appliance to other appliances of the plurality of appliances to configure the other appliances, wherein sending instructions from the coordinator appliance to other appliances of the plurality of appliances comprises sending an indication of a synchronization point at which the other appliances of the plurality of appliances are to wait to perform additional configuration tasks until receiving a message from the coordinator appliance, wherein the synchronization point is immediately prior to a reboot instruction, the reboot instruction having been previously sent by the coordinator appliance; and sending a message to the client that informs the client as to progress in configuring the plurality of appliances.