A virtual server represents a single file system namespace with separate network access and provides the same flexibility and control as a dedicated node; it has a user domain and security domain that are separate from other virtual servers'. It can span multiple physical nodes. A virtual server has a root volume that provides the top level of the namespace hierarchy; additional volumes are mounted to the root volume to extend the namespace. It is associated with one or more virtual interfaces; clients access the data on the virtual server through the virtual interfaces. Clients can access the virtual server from any node in the cluster, but only through the virtual interfaces that are associated with the virtual server. A virtual server can be configured to provide access to NFS clients, to CIFS clients, or to both.