A computer-implemented method according to one aspect includes determining whether an operating system of a node of a distributed computing environment is functioning correctly by sending a first management query to the node; in response to determining that the operating system of the node is not functioning correctly, determining whether the node has an active communication link by sending a second management query to ports associated with the node; and in response to determining that the node has an active communication link, resetting the active communication link for the node by sending a reset request to the ports associated with the node.