1. A method, comprising: one or more computer systems implementing a distributed system comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein the nodes coordinate with one another to maintain a shared state of the distributed system via a distributed consensus protocol; the distributed system determining a given one of the plurality of nodes to record a checkpoint of the shared state and in response, the given node recording the checkpoint, said recording the checkpoint comprising: the given node isolating itself from communication with other nodes of the plurality of nodes; the given node storing a checkpoint of the shared state; the given node restarting and attempting to initialize its operating state from the stored checkpoint; in response to successfully initializing its operating state from the stored checkpoint, the given node: restoring communication with one or more others of the plurality of nodes; and indicating to the one or more others of the plurality of nodes that the stored checkpoint is valid.