Dynamic remastering for a subset of nodes in a cluster environment

A method for mastering resources, the method comprising:

• within a system that includes a plurality of nodes that have access to a particular resource, establishing a mastery-eligible-set for the particular resource;
• wherein the mastery-eligible-set includes two or more nodes of the plurality of nodes;
• wherein the mastery-eligible-set does not include all nodes of the plurality of nodes;
• allowing the particular resource to be mastered only by a node that is a member of the mastery-eligible-set;
• and
• storing information that indicates which node is master of the particular resource;
• wherein the step of establishing the mastery-eligible-set includes monitoring accesses to the resource made by the plurality of nodes establishing the mastery-eligible-set based on the accesses;
• wherein the step of establishing the mastery-eligible-set based on the accesses includes establishing, as members of the mastery-eligible-set, all nodes whose access patterns satisfy certain criteria;
• wherein the resource is one of many resources that are associated with a higher-level construct;
• and
• wherein the step of monitoring accesses to the resource is performed by monitoring accesses to the higher-level construct.