1. A method a exposing a value of a selected extended attribute in an extended attribute namespace, wherein the extended attribute is associated with a node in a directory tree namespace that is orthogonal to the extended attribute namespace, comprising: determining if the selected extended attribute exists; determining if a mapping for the selected extended attribute exists; if the mapping for the selected extended attribute does not exist, then in the extended attribute namespace, creating a virtual directory, creating a virtual file, associating the virtual file with the virtual directory, and mapping content of the virtual file to the selected extended attribute; performing a selected extended attribute operation; and exposing a value of the selected extended attribute.