Incoming requests to a data storage system are distributed among one or more peer node computer systems of the data storage system in accordance with a load spreading configuration. A hash value is computed from the request utilizing selected header information of the request. The hash value is utilized in selecting a peer node computer system to receive the request in accordance with the load spreading configuration, and the request is redirected to the selected peer node computer system. In one embodiment, the load spreading configuration is implemented at a layer 2 switch and the load spreading configuration is reconfigurable by a peer node computer system of the data storage system.