1. A distributed data repository node allowing for content-based data storage and retrieval, comprising an interface operative to communicate with client nodes and at least one other distributed data repository node over a computer network, wherein client nodes transmit messages including message payloads; a content-based filter layer operative to receive message payloads; apply at least one content-based filter to the message payloads to extract one or more content attributes defined in the at least one content-based filter from the message payloads; a mapping module comprising a content map and at least one index map corresponding to an attribute; wherein the mapping module is operative to receive message payloads and content attribute values extracted by the content-based filter layer and associated with the message payloads, store the message payloads in the content map in association with unique identifiers, store the content attribute values associated with the message payloads in a corresponding index map; synchronize the content attribute values in the at least one index map with the at least one other distributed data repository node.