Methods and systems for identifying a set of disks within a cluster and then storing a plurality of data chunks into the set of disks such that the placement of the plurality of data chunks within the cluster optimizes failure tolerance and storage system performance for the cluster are described. The plurality of data chunks may be generated using replication of data (e.g., n-way mirroring) or application of erasure coding to the data (e.g., using a Reed-Solomon code or a Low-Density Parity-Check code). The topology of the cluster including the physical arrangement of the nodes and disks within the cluster and status information for the nodes and disks within the cluster (e.g., information regarding disk fullness, disk performance, and disk age) may be used to identify the set of disks in which to store the plurality of data chunks.