1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving, at an indexer, (i) a first query to search a subset of data accessible to the indexer, and (ii) a first identifier indicating that the indexer has primary responsibility for responding to the first query with a result from a search of the subset of data that is based on the first query; receiving, at the indexer, (i) a second query to search the subset of data and (ii) a second identifier different from the first identifier and indicating that the indexer does not have primary responsibility for responding to the second query with a result from a search of the subset of data that is based on the second query; determining, at the indexer, based on the first identifier, and independent from having access to the subset of data, that the indexer should respond to the first query with the result from the search of the subset of data that is based on the first query; and determining, at the indexer, based on the second identifier, and independent from having access to the subset of data, that the indexer should not respond to the second query with the result from the search of the subset of data that is based on the second query.