Performing fencing operations in multi-node distributed storage systems

Various systems and methods for managing node connectivity in distributed storage systems are disclosed. For example, one method involves detecting a communication fault between two nodes. A first node is configured to communicate input/output (I/O) requests to the second node as in-flight I/O requests. The second node is configured to communicate locally generated I/O requests and the received I/O requests to storage devices. Once the communication fault is detected, a fencing operation is performed. The fencing operation can include processing some of the received I/O requests by the second node, and rejecting any additional in-flight I/O requests received from the first node.