Reliable one-click cluster shutdown

A computer-implemented method executable by an information handling system that is a node of an information handling system cluster that comprises a plurality of nodes linked by a cluster network, wherein the cluster is configured to execute a hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) management system as a plurality of management virtual machines (VMs), the method comprising:

• receiving a shutdown instruction from a user, the shutdown instruction indicating that the cluster is to be powered down;
• and
• without further user input:
• selecting a particular node of the cluster as a primary node;
• causing the management VMs that are executing on nodes of the cluster other than the primary node to be migrated to the primary node;
• shutting down all except one of the management VMs;
• storing metadata at the primary node, the metadata being usable to reestablish communication among the nodes after the shutdown;
• causing the plurality of nodes to be concurrently disconnected from the cluster network;
• causing the plurality of nodes to be concurrently transitioned to a maintenance mode, wherein a node in maintenance mode is unable to execute any new management VMs;
• and
• causing the plurality of nodes to concurrently power down.

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory, computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon that are executable by a processor of an information handling system that is a node of an information handling system cluster that comprises a plurality of nodes linked by a cluster network, wherein the cluster is configured to execute a hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) management system as a plurality of management virtual machines (VMs), for:

• receiving a shutdown instruction from a user, the shutdown instruction indicating that the cluster is to be powered down;
• and
• without further user input:
• selecting a particular node of the cluster as a primary node;
• causing the management VMs that are executing on nodes of the cluster other than the primary node to be migrated to the primary node;
• shutting down all except one of the management VMs;
• storing metadata at the primary node, the metadata being usable to reestablish communication among the nodes after the shutdown;
• causing the plurality of nodes to be concurrently disconnected from the cluster network;
• causing the plurality of nodes to be concurrently transitioned to a maintenance mode, wherein a node in maintenance mode is unable to execute any new management VMs;
• and
• causing the plurality of nodes to concurrently power down.