1. A method of allocating unique identifiers in a distributed storage system comprising: receiving an allocation of a range of identifiers for use in the distributed storage system; partitioning the range of identifiers into subsets; receiving a request from a first server for a first allocation of at least one subset of identifiers; providing the first server with the requested first allocation of at least one subset of identifiers; receiving a request from a second server for a second allocation of at least one subset of identifiers; providing the second server with the requested second allocation of at least one subset of identifiers; transforming an identifier from the first allocation of at least one subset of identifiers and associating the transformed identifier with a first object; and transforming an identifier from the second allocation of at least one subset of identifiers and associating the transformed identifier with a second object, wherein the transformed first and second identifiers are used in a common identifier space and are assured to be unique.