1. An apparatus comprising: a computing node configured to generate a request to open a file, wherein said computing node is configured not to cache data from said file; and a metadata server coupled to receive said request, wherein said metadata server is configured to provide at least a first file identifier corresponding to said file responsive to said request, said first file identifier identifying at least a portion of said file within a storage storing said file; wherein said computing node is coupled to receive said first file identifier for directly accessing said storage.