Abstract: In a network of digital computers (20), a method for facilitating access by a first digital computer (24) to a file that is stored in a local file system tree (198) of a second digital computer (22). The method includes establishing, by recursively combining hierarchical file system trees (198) that are exported from one or more NDCs (50), a hierarchical domain tree (200) that encompasses digital computers (24, 26B, 26A and 22) in the network of digital computers (20). A domain manager (212) receives policy attributes, a new type of extended attributes, and enforces policies specified therein. In a particularly preferred embodiment the policy attributes identify at least one module that must be loaded by the first digital computer (24) to extend capabilities of the first digital computer (24) used in processing a file requested from the local file system tree (198) of the second digital computer (22).