1. A computer-implemented method for managing metadata in a content addressable storage system, the method comprising: receiving, using one or more computer processors, a file for storage at a first content addressable storage (CAS) server, the file comprising a header and data, and wherein the first CAS server stores data that can be retrieved based on content of the data rather than its storage location or with a hierarchical file system; receiving, using one or more computer processors, the same one or more files for storage at a second CAS server; automatically obtaining, with the one or more computer processors, from the header of the file, metadata associated with the data; storing the metadata in a first metadata storage device, wherein the metadata is stored in association with the data stored in the CAS server; replicating the stored metadata and storing the replicated metadata in a second metadata storage device; receiving, using the one or more computer processors, a query from a requester for content at the CAS server; performing a local search within locally-stored content related to the received query; sending the query to one or more CAS servers; searching beyond a temporary data cache in a local storage device for local content not stored in the CAS server and related to the received query, wherein the local storage device and the CAS server are distinct; sending results of the local search to the requestor; searching the metadata storage device for content related to the received query; and when the metadata associated with the file is indicated by the query: retrieving the file stored in the content addressable storage; and sending the retrieved file to the requester; wherein sending the results of the local search and the retrieved file to the requester further comprises excluding or flagging any duplicate files.