Small computer system interface input output (SCSI IO) referral

A method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster, comprising:

• receiving a command at a first storage system, the command being transmitted by the initiator system to the first storage system of the block storage cluster via a network, the command being associated with data, wherein the command includes a block storage protocol request directed to the data;
• and when a portion of the data associated with the command is not stored by the first storage system, but is stored by a second storage system, transmitting a referral response from the first storage system to the initiator system, wherein the referral response provides information for directing the initiator system to transmit a second command to the second storage system, wherein the second command is associated with the portion of the data stored by the second system, and wherein the second command includes a block storage protocol request directed to the portion of the data.