Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for accessing a data storage system having both a filesystem and directory system. In one arrangement, an apparatus has memory that stores an application, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller operates in accordance with the application stored in the memory to access a data storage system. In particular, the application configures the controller to obtain an access instruction which identifies a portion of the data storage system, and determine, in response to the obtained access instruction, whether the identified portion of the data storage system is a file of the filesystem or a directory entry of the directory system.