1. A computer-implemented for providing access to data stored on a plurality of data servers in a distributed file system for a plurality of client applications that are executable on a plurality of client data processing systems, each client application coupled to a client proxy arrangement and configured to transmit file access requests to the client proxy arrangement, each file access request including a file name and an operation code, comprising: configuring a database with file names and associated file location information; receiving file access requests at the client proxy arrangement; obtaining from the database location information associated with file names in the file access requests; transmitting storage access requests from the client proxy arrangement to data servers referenced by the location information, the storage access requests including the operation codes from the file access requests; and providing access to data at the data servers in response to the storage access requests.