According to the present invention, a communications protocol supporting cluster configurations more complex than a single LAN is disclosed. A cluster destination address table (CDAT) is used in conjunction with a network message servicer to communicate between computer systems in a cluster. Each computer system preferably contains a cluster servicer, a CDAT, and a network message servicer. The CDAT contains network addresses, status and adapter information for each computer system in a cluster. Although computer systems may have alternate network addresses when they have multiple adapters, the CDAT indexes primary and alternate address information under a single named system. Thus, redundant connections amongst computer systems are identified, while still using the numeric addresses upon which the network message servicer is based. To send a message using the methods of the present invention, the cluster servicer retrieves a network address for a computer system from a CDAT. A message to be sent and the retrieved address are passed to the network message servicer, preferably an Internet Protocol suite. The network message servicer formats the information into a packet and routes the packet.