A plurality of data arrays are coupled to a plurality of nodes via a plurality of adapters. The plurality of adapters discover the plurality of data arrays during startup, and information about the plurality of data arrays are communicated to corresponding local nodes of the plurality of nodes, wherein the local nodes broadcast the information to other nodes of plurality of nodes. A director node of the plurality of nodes determines which data arrays of the plurality of data arrays are a current set of global metadata arrays, based on the broadcasted information.