Systems and methods for data node fencing in a distributed file system to prevent data inconsistencies and corruptions are disclosed. An embodiment includes implementing a protocol whereby data nodes detect a failover and determine an active name node based on transaction identifiers associated with transaction requests. The data nodes also provide to the active name node block location information and an acknowledgment. The embodiment further includes a protocol whereby a name node refrains from issuing invalidation requests to the data nodes until the name node receives acknowledgments from all data nodes that are functional.