Methods and systems for storing and managing large numbers of small files. A data processing system includes clients that generate large numbers be stored on a storage device managed by a File System (FS). An Archive Server (AS) receives multiple files from the client, archives the files in larger archives, and sends the archives to the FS for storage. When requested to read a file, the AS retrieves the archive in which the file is stored, extracts the file and sends it to the requesting client. In other words, the AS communicates with the clients in individual file units, and with the storage device in archive units. The AS is typically constructed as an add-on layer on top of a conventional FS, which enables the FS to handle small files efficiently without modification.