A method of providing shared objects and node-specific objects in a cluster file system is described and provided. The method includes providing to a particular shared object an attribute, whereas the particular shared object can be a container-type shared object. The attribute indicates any object created in the particular shared object (including its sub-divisions or sub-containers) from this point in time will be designated as node-specific. Furthermore, when a node causes a file system operation that is node-specific to be performed by accessing the particular shared object, the file system operation is performed in an alternate directory corresponding to the node. The alternate directory supports a node-specific object. The shared objects and the node-specific objects can be directories. Additionally, the shared objects and the node-specific objects can be files.