Abstract: The present invention features a deterministic method of reading dynamic, hierarchical file systems. The method assigns alternate internal names (AINs) to names in a file system name space or file system directory. The names have unique values, typically not exceeding 32 bits, without obvious changes to the RFD protocol being used. The values can be reused or immediately reassigned to a different name in the same directory or the same name in a different directory. Name values forming a member list can be sorted. When a directory read command is initiated with a zero value, directories are read in the order of values in the member list. In each directory entry structure returned to a caller, a "continuation marker" or cookie value is set to the AIN value associated with the name that is returned in the structure. When a directory read command is initiated with a non-zero continuation marker value, an AIN value greater than or equal to the continuation marker value is found in the attached member list.