Utilization of data structures to synchronize copies of a resource

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing program code;
• and
• a processor configured to access the memory and execute the program code to:
• receive, at a first node of a multi-node computing system, a first message including a first message data structure included in a header of the first message, from a second node of the multi-node computing system, wherein the first message is unsolicited by the first node, wherein the first node stores a data structure including a first counter for a resource, the first counter indicative of a first age of a master copy of the resource, and wherein the first message data structure includes a second counter for the resource, the second counter indicative of a second age of the master copy of the resource;
• determine, at the first node, that the first age of the master copy of the resource indicated by the first counter stored at the first node is older than the second age of the master copy of the resource indicated by the second counter included in the first message from the second node;
• and
• update, at the first node, the first age indicated by the first counter with the second age indicated by the second counter included in the first message from the second node.

A program product, comprising:

• program code to:
• receive, at a first node of a multi-node computing system, a first message including a first message data structure from a second node of the multi-node computing system, wherein the first message is unsolicited by the first node, wherein the first node stores a data structure including a first counter for a resource, the first counter indicative of a first age of a master copy of the resource, and wherein the first message data structure includes a second counter for the resource, the second counter indicative of a second age of the master copy of the resource;
• determine, at the first node, that the first age of the master copy of the resource indicated by the first counter stored at the first node is older than the second age of the master copy of the resource indicated by the second counter included in the first message from the second node;
• update, at the first node, the first age indicated by the first counter with the second age indicated by the second counter included in the first message from the second node;
• and
• after updating the first age indicated by the first counter with the second age, initiating an update of a local copy of the resource of the first node in response to a read request received at the first node from another node;
• and
• a computer readable storage device bearing the program code.