Efficient data access in clustered storage system

A system for handling a request for a target component, comprising:

• a data component of a local node within a distributed storage network configured to:
• in response to a request, received from a client by the local node, for a target component:
• retrieve a logical interface list of one or more logical interfaces (LIFs) for a remote node comprising the target component;
• and
• responsive to retrieving the logical interface list, send a response to the client, the response comprising:
• an indication that a path to the target component is not covered by the local node;
• one or more internet protocol (IP) addresses for accessing an efficient path to the target component, the one or more IP addresses corresponding to at least some of the one or more LIFs for the remote node;
• and
• an instruction for the client to directly connect to a controller of the remote node through the efficient path using at least one of the one or more IP addresses.

A computer-readable device comprising processor-executable instructions that when executed perform a method for handling a request for a target component, comprising:

• in response to receiving a first request and a second request for a target component, the first request received from a first client by a local node of a distributed data storage network, the second request received from a second client by the local node:
• retrieving, by the local node, a logical interface list of one or more logical interfaces (LIFs) for a remote node comprising the target component;
• and
• responsive to retrieving the logical interface list:
• the local node sending a first response to the first client, the first response comprising:
• a first indication that a path to the target component is not covered by the local node;
• a first internet protocol (IP) address for accessing a first efficient path to the target component, the first IP address corresponding to a first LIF for the remote node;
• and
• a first instruction for the first client to locally connect to the remote node through the first efficient path using the first IP address;
• and
• the local node sending a second response to the second client, the second response comprising:
• a second indication that the path to the target component is not covered by the local node;
• a second IP address for accessing a second efficient path to the target component, the second IP address corresponding to a second LIF for the remote node that is different than the first LIF;
• and
• a second instruction for the second client to locally connect to the remote node through the second efficient path using the second IP address.