1. A method for replacing a failed node storing distributed data, comprising: receiving an indication of a new storage node, the indication received at each of a plurality of storage nodes, wherein the each of the plurality of storage nodes contains a plurality of shares generated from a data file; generating a replacement share at each of the plurality of storage nodes responsive to the indication, wherein the replacement share generated at a particular node includes a combination of a plurality of shares at the particular node; and sending the generated replacement shares from the plurality of storage nodes to the indicated new storage node.