US Patent 11784916 Intelligent control plane communication

A control node and/or a storage processing node maybe configured to modify a control path between a control node and storage processing node to include at least a portion of a data fabric and another processing node. Control communications may be sent over the data fabric by encapsulating control information that is configured in accordance with a first technology of the control fabric within communications configured in accordance with a second technology of the data fabric. Control switching logic may include logic to switch to a modified control path that includes at least a portion of a data fabric: in response to a failure of the control path; to load balance management activity; and/or improve QoS of management activity.