one embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates establishing a quorum for a cluster of computers that are geographically distributed . the system operates by detecting a change in membership of the cluster . upon detecting the change , the system forms a potential new cluster by attempting to communicate with all other computers within the cluster . the system accumulates votes for each computer successfully contacted . the system also attempts to gain control of a quorum server located at a site separate from all computers within the cluster . if successful at gaining control , the system accumulates the quorum server &# 39 ; s votes as well . if the total of accumulated votes is a majority of the available votes , the system forms a new cluster from the potential new cluster .