Distributed replica for block storage systems

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• storing a primary replica of a volume using a first number of partitions on a first set of servers;
• storing a secondary replica of the volume using the first number of partitions on a second set of servers, wherein one or both of the first set of servers and the second set of servers are configured with computer-executable instructions to handle user-initiated reads to or writes from the volume via at least one of the primary and secondary replicas;
• and
• creating a tertiary replica of the volume by at least:
• splitting data of the volume into a second number of partitions, wherein the second number of partitions is greater than the first number of partitions, and
• distributing the second number of partitions across a plurality of additional servers,
• wherein the plurality of additional servers are configured with computer-executable instructions to handle replication of the volume by use of the tertiary replica.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform operations comprising:

• storing a first replica of a volume on a first set of storage devices of the computing system, wherein the first set of storage devices are configured with computer-executable instructions to handle user-initiated reads to or writes from the volume via modification of the first replica;
• and
• creating a second replica of the volume by at least:
• splitting data of the volume into a plurality of partitions, and
• distributing the plurality of partitions across a second set of storage devices of the computing system, wherein the second set of storage devices are configured with computer-executable instructions to facilitate duplication of the volume within the computing system by use of the second replica, and wherein a number of the plurality of partitions is greater than a number of the first set of storage devices.