public void prepare(ColumnFamilyStore cfs) {
      if (tree.partitioner() instanceof RandomPartitioner) {
        // You can't beat an even tree distribution for md5
        tree.init();
      } else {
        List<DecoratedKey> keys = new ArrayList<DecoratedKey>();
        for (DecoratedKey sample : cfs.keySamples(request.range)) {
          assert request.range.contains(sample.token)
              : "Token " + sample.token + " is not within range " + request.range;
          keys.add(sample);
        }

        if (keys.isEmpty()) {
          // use an even tree distribution
          tree.init();
        } else {
          int numkeys = keys.size();
          Random random = new Random();
          // sample the column family using random keys from the index
          while (true) {
            DecoratedKey dk = keys.get(random.nextInt(numkeys));
            if (!tree.split(dk.token)) break;
          }
        }
      }
      logger.debug("Prepared AEService tree of size " + tree.size() + " for " + request);
      ranges = tree.invalids();
    }