A node for a distributed system includes computing resources and a node manager. The node manager identifies a failure of a second node of the distributed system; in response to identifying the failure: makes a first determination that the second node is a primary node of the distributed system; after making the first determination: identifies a new primary node by accessing a distributed system configuration stored in a primary share out-of-band management entity; and provides services of the distributed system to a client using the computing resources after identifying the new primary node.