Supporting point-to-point intracluster communications between replicated cluster nodes

A system and methods for carrying out point-to-point intracluster communications between hosts is provided. The disclosed system enables communication protocol layer components of hosts within a cluster to continue to operate in a cluster mode while facilitating such point-to-point communications. Initially, address discovery provides the non-cluster mode address for a target host. Thereafter, an initiating/source host issues a message including the non-cluster mode address of the target host. A network load balancing layer, or any other suitable component within the target host, intercepts the message and substitutes a cluster address for the non-cluster mode address within the message destination field before the message is presented to the communication protocol layer of the target host.