1. A method of data processing, comprising: in response to a stimulus indicating configuration of a node into a cluster of a plurality of nodes including the node: the node determining whether or not the node has a universally unique identifier (UUID) and, if not, the node providing its own persistent self-assigned UUID; the node searching a cluster configuration database for a temporary identifier associated with the node; and in response to the node locating the temporary identifier of the node in the cluster configuration database, the node writing its self-assigned UUID into the cluster configuration database and joining the cluster.