Coordinated quiesce of a distributed file system

A process for quiescing a master and a plurality of subordinate computer systems in a cluster. An original or a pending state may be entered that is a quiesce or an online state. The master instructs the subordinates the quiesce or online state be made the pending state. The subordinates prepare to change accordingly, determine whether successful, and vote to commit or abort. Based on whether all voted to commit, the master instructs the subordinates to either commit or abort. If to commit and the pending state is the quiesce state, an operation is performed in the subordinates. If to commit and the pending state is the online state, the subordinates prepare to resume the original state. The subordinates change from the original to the pending state. Otherwise, if to abort, the subordinates prepare to remain in the original state and reset the pending to the original state.