1. A method of adding a computer file to a storage cluster, said method comprising: receiving a first pathname identifying a computer file that uses a first pathname scheme of a client software application; parsing said first pathname by said client application into its constituent name portions; constructing a representation in a database of said first pathname identifying said computer file using said name portions, said representation forming a path arranged to be traversed progressively from the most general name portion to the most specific name portion; passing said computer file to said storage cluster and receiving a unique identifier from said storage cluster that uniquely identifies said computer file stored within said storage cluster; storing said unique identifier in conjunction with an end of said representation of said first pathname in said database, whereby said computer file is uniquely represented in said database by said representation; and forming a second path in said database using name portions from a second pathname that is different from said first pathname, said second path terminating at said end of said representation of said first pathname, whereby a traversal of said path and a traversal of said second path both terminate at said end where said unique identifier is stored.