diff --git a/tests/e2e/nightly/multi_node/config/utils.py b/tests/e2e/nightly/multi_node/config/utils.py
index da18af26..1b8f9e5f 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/nightly/multi_node/config/utils.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/nightly/multi_node/config/utils.py
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import socket
+import time
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from typing import Optional
 
 import psutil
 
-# import torch.distributed as dist
-
 
 @contextmanager
 def temp_env(env_dict):
@@ -25,33 +24,35 @@ def temp_env(env_dict):
                 os.environ[k] = v
 
 
-# @contextmanager
-# def dist_group(backend="gloo"):
-#     if dist.is_initialized():
-#         yield
-#         return
+def dns_resolver(retries: int = 20, base_delay: float = 0.5):
+    # We should resolve DNS with retries to avoid transient network issues.
+    # When the pod is just started, DNS resolution may fail.
+    def resolve(dns: str):
+        delay = base_delay
+        for attempt in range(retries):
+            try:
+                return socket.gethostbyname(dns)
+            except socket.gaierror:
+                if attempt == retries - 1:
+                    raise
+                time.sleep(delay)
+                delay = min(delay * 1.5, 5)
 
-#     dist.init_process_group(backend=backend)
-#     try:
-#         yield
-#     finally:
-#         dist.destroy_process_group()
+    return resolve
 
 
-def get_cluster_ips(word_size: int = 2) -> list[str]:
-    """
-    Returns the IP addresses of all nodes in the cluster.
-    0: leader
-    1~N-1: workers
-    """
+def get_cluster_dns_list(word_size: int) -> list[str]:
     leader_dns = os.getenv("LWS_LEADER_ADDRESS")
     if not leader_dns:
         raise RuntimeError("LWS_LEADER_ADDRESS is not set")
-    cluster_dns = [leader_dns]
-    for i in range(1, word_size):
-        cur_dns = f"vllm-0-{i}.vllm.vllm-project"
-        cluster_dns.append(cur_dns)
-    return [socket.gethostbyname(dns) for dns in cluster_dns]
+
+    workers = [f"vllm-0-{i}.vllm.vllm-project" for i in range(1, word_size)]
+    return [leader_dns] + workers
+
+
+def get_cluster_ips(word_size: int = 2) -> list[str]:
+    resolver = dns_resolver()
+    return [resolver(dns) for dns in get_cluster_dns_list(word_size)]
 
 
 def get_avaliable_port(start_port: int = 6000, end_port: int = 7000) -> int:
@@ -66,9 +67,29 @@ def get_avaliable_port(start_port: int = 6000, end_port: int = 7000) -> int:
     raise RuntimeError("No available port found")
 
 
-def get_cur_ip() -> str:
-    """Returns the current machine's IP address."""
-    return socket.gethostbyname_ex(socket.gethostname())[2][0]
+def get_cur_ip(retries: int = 20, base_delay: float = 0.5):
+    """
+    Returns the pod/machine's primary IP address with retry.
+    This is necessary because network interfaces may not be ready
+    immediately after container startup.
+    """
+    delay = base_delay
+
+    for attempt in range(retries):
+        try:
+            # Best method: UDP trick (doesn't actually send packets)
+            with socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM) as s:
+                s.connect(("8.8.8.8", 80))
+                return s.getsockname()[0]
+        except Exception:
+            # fallback: hostname resolution
+            try:
+                return socket.gethostbyname(socket.gethostname())
+            except Exception:
+                if attempt == retries - 1:
+                    raise RuntimeError("Failed to determine local IP address")
+                time.sleep(delay)
+                delay = min(delay * 1.5, 5)
 
 
 def get_net_interface(ip: Optional[str] = None) -> Optional[str]: