Potentially identical objects (e.g., files) are located across multiple computers based on Stochastic partitioning of work load. For each of a plurality of objects Stored on a plurality of computers in a network, a portion of object information corresponding to the object is Selected. The object informa tion can be generated in a variety of manners (e.g., based on hashing the object, based on characteristics of the object, and so forth). Any of a variety of portions of the object information can be used (e.g., the least significant bits of the object information). A stochastic partitioning process is then used to identify which of the plurality of computers to communicate the object information to for identification of potentially identical objects on the plurality of computers.