Distributed storage access using virtual target portal groups

A system comprising:

• a memory;
• a processing device operatively coupled to the memory, the processing device to:
• receive a portal group from a node of a distributed storage system, the portal group comprising a plurality of network portals for accessing a storage unit;
• transmit data of the portal group to a first client and to a second client, wherein data transmitted to the first client indicates a first network portal is preferred and data transmitted to the second client indicates a second network portal is preferred;
• receive a request from the first client to initiate a storage session that uses the first network portal;
• establish the storage session, wherein the storage session comprises multiple paths to the storage unit over at least two of the plurality of network portals;
• and
• provide data of the storage unit to the first client using the storage session.

A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that cause a processing device to:

• determine a portal group comprising a plurality of network portals for accessing a storage unit;
• transmit data of the portal group to a first client and to a second client, wherein data transmitted to the first client indicates a first network portal is preferred and wherein data transmitted to the second client indicates a second network portal is preferred;
• and
• provide access for the first client to the storage unit using a storage session, the storage session providing the first client multiple paths to access the storage unit, wherein one of the multiple paths comprises the first network portal.