A centralized resource distribution is described where the decision portion of partitioning data among cluster nodes is made centralized while the actual mechanics to implement the partitioning remain a distributed algorithm. A central distribution coordinator is used to create an extensible central strategy that controls how the data will be partitioned across the cluster. The work to implement this strategy is performed by all of the members individually and asynchronously, in accordance with a distributed algorithm. The central strategy can be communicated to all cluster members and each member can perform the partitioning as it relates to itself. For example, in accordance with the distributed algorithm, one node may decide that it needs to obtain a particular partition in light of the central strategy and carry out the necessary steps to obtain that data, while other nodes may be asynchronously performing other individual partition transfers relevant to those particular nodes.