diff --git a/Doxyfile b/Doxyfile
index 0c6042293c13459d7219f3e4d319ff8a3315cbd6..e2d0d109f0adad6f16f5082a8fa333918cfa69b3 100644
--- a/Doxyfile
+++ b/Doxyfile
@@ -297,17 +297,17 @@ SYMBOL_CACHE_SIZE      = 0
 # Private class members and static file members will be hidden unless
 # the EXTRACT_PRIVATE and EXTRACT_STATIC tags are set to YES
 
-EXTRACT_ALL            = YES
+EXTRACT_ALL            = NO
 
 # If the EXTRACT_PRIVATE tag is set to YES all private members of a class
 # will be included in the documentation.
 
-EXTRACT_PRIVATE        = YES
+EXTRACT_PRIVATE        = NO
 
 # If the EXTRACT_STATIC tag is set to YES all static members of a file
 # will be included in the documentation.
 
-EXTRACT_STATIC         = YES
+EXTRACT_STATIC         = NO
 
 # If the EXTRACT_LOCAL_CLASSES tag is set to YES classes (and structs)
 # defined locally in source files will be included in the documentation.
diff --git a/middletier/CMakeLists.txt b/middletier/CMakeLists.txt
index 8c50f34d7930d3a03204e9d597dfc90bb7cfafdc..bf665aff844110dc55ab21b04efb4177fa40e41a 100644
--- a/middletier/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/middletier/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -17,14 +17,14 @@ set (MIDDLE_TIER_LIB_SRC_FILES
   cta/ArchiveToDirRequest.cpp
   cta/ArchiveToFileRequest.cpp
   cta/ConfigurationItem.cpp
-  cta/DirectoryEntry.cpp
-  cta/DirectoryIterator.cpp
+  cta/DirEntry.cpp
+  cta/DirIterator.cpp
   cta/DiskException.cpp
   cta/DriveQuota.cpp
   cta/EosRemoteStorage.cpp
   cta/Exception.cpp
   cta/FileAttribute.cpp
-  cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.cpp
+  cta/FileSystemDirEntry.cpp
   cta/FileSystemNode.cpp
   cta/FileSystemStorageClass.cpp
   cta/FileSystemStorageClasses.cpp
diff --git a/middletier/cta/DirectoryEntry.cpp b/middletier/cta/DirEntry.cpp
similarity index 79%
rename from middletier/cta/DirectoryEntry.cpp
rename to middletier/cta/DirEntry.cpp
index ee04a87ce1b0f13823e17442eaccc413e20eaeeb..53c5cb5ae8de1afdc2edcedc73409125c5a6ed71 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/DirectoryEntry.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/DirEntry.cpp
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
-#include "cta/DirectoryEntry.hpp"
+#include "cta/DirEntry.hpp"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // entryTypeToStr
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const char *cta::DirectoryEntry::entryTypeToStr(const EntryType enumValue)
+const char *cta::DirEntry::entryTypeToStr(const EntryType enumValue)
   throw() {
   switch(enumValue) {
   case ENTRYTYPE_NONE     : return "NONE";
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const char *cta::DirectoryEntry::entryTypeToStr(const EntryType enumValue)
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryEntry::DirectoryEntry():
+cta::DirEntry::DirEntry():
   m_ownerId(0),
   m_groupId(0),
   m_mode(0) {
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ cta::DirectoryEntry::DirectoryEntry():
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryEntry::DirectoryEntry(const EntryType entryType,
+cta::DirEntry::DirEntry(const EntryType entryType,
   const std::string &name, const std::string &storageClassName):
   m_entryType(entryType),
   m_name(name),
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ cta::DirectoryEntry::DirectoryEntry(const EntryType entryType,
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getType
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryEntry::EntryType cta::DirectoryEntry::getType()
+cta::DirEntry::EntryType cta::DirEntry::getType()
   const throw() {
   return m_entryType;
 }
@@ -45,35 +45,35 @@ cta::DirectoryEntry::EntryType cta::DirectoryEntry::getType()
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getName
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const std::string &cta::DirectoryEntry::getName() const throw() {
+const std::string &cta::DirEntry::getName() const throw() {
   return m_name;
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getOwnerId
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-uint32_t cta::DirectoryEntry::getOwnerId() const throw() {
+uint32_t cta::DirEntry::getOwnerId() const throw() {
   return m_ownerId;
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getGroupId
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-uint32_t cta::DirectoryEntry::getGroupId() const throw() {
+uint32_t cta::DirEntry::getGroupId() const throw() {
   return m_groupId;
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getMode
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-uint16_t cta::DirectoryEntry::getMode() const throw() {
+uint16_t cta::DirEntry::getMode() const throw() {
   return m_mode;
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // setStorageClassName
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::DirectoryEntry::setStorageClassName(
+void cta::DirEntry::setStorageClassName(
   const std::string &storageClassName) {
   m_storageClassName = storageClassName;
 }
@@ -81,6 +81,6 @@ void cta::DirectoryEntry::setStorageClassName(
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getStorageClassName
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const std::string &cta::DirectoryEntry::getStorageClassName() const throw() {
+const std::string &cta::DirEntry::getStorageClassName() const throw() {
   return m_storageClassName;
 }
diff --git a/middletier/cta/DirectoryEntry.hpp b/middletier/cta/DirEntry.hpp
similarity index 95%
rename from middletier/cta/DirectoryEntry.hpp
rename to middletier/cta/DirEntry.hpp
index 4854cdcf3196bfb04b2941516f7a4a1b5ff0d16d..85e845ae02feaa4a5c76ac6ca9ce9ca4c610bd68 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/DirectoryEntry.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/DirEntry.hpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ namespace cta {
 /**
  * A directory entry.
  */
-class DirectoryEntry {
+class DirEntry {
 public:
 
   /**
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public:
    *
    * Initialises all integer member-variables to 0.
    */
-  DirectoryEntry();
+  DirEntry();
 
   /**
    * Constructor.
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
    * @param storageClassName The name of the directory's storage class or an
    * empty string if the directory does not have a storage class.
    */
-  DirectoryEntry(const EntryType entryType, const std::string &name,
+  DirEntry(const EntryType entryType, const std::string &name,
     const std::string &storageClassName);
 
   /**
@@ -130,6 +130,6 @@ private:
    */
   std::string m_storageClassName;
 
-}; // class DirectoryEntry
+}; // class DirEntry
 
 } // namespace cta
diff --git a/middletier/cta/DirectoryIterator.cpp b/middletier/cta/DirIterator.cpp
similarity index 73%
rename from middletier/cta/DirectoryIterator.cpp
rename to middletier/cta/DirIterator.cpp
index 68a95381c21b964921f7898753b63a77e3ebe4d0..890c74adbb0b3f595bde0971d5a55e667e637c06 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/DirectoryIterator.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/DirIterator.cpp
@@ -1,41 +1,41 @@
-#include "cta/DirectoryIterator.hpp"
+#include "cta/DirIterator.hpp"
 #include "cta/Exception.hpp"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryIterator::DirectoryIterator() {
+cta::DirIterator::DirIterator() {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryIterator::DirectoryIterator(
-  const std::list<DirectoryEntry> &entries): m_entries(entries) {
+cta::DirIterator::DirIterator(
+  const std::list<DirEntry> &entries): m_entries(entries) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // destructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryIterator::~DirectoryIterator() throw() {
+cta::DirIterator::~DirIterator() throw() {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // hasMore
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-bool cta::DirectoryIterator::hasMore() {
+bool cta::DirIterator::hasMore() {
   return !m_entries.empty();
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // next
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const cta::DirectoryEntry cta::DirectoryIterator::next() {
+const cta::DirEntry cta::DirIterator::next() {
   if(m_entries.empty()) {
     throw Exception("Out of bounds: There are no more directory entries");
   }
 
-  DirectoryEntry entry = m_entries.front();
+  DirEntry entry = m_entries.front();
   m_entries.pop_front();
   return entry;
 }
diff --git a/middletier/cta/DirectoryIterator.hpp b/middletier/cta/DirIterator.hpp
similarity index 69%
rename from middletier/cta/DirectoryIterator.hpp
rename to middletier/cta/DirIterator.hpp
index a4289324d86ce1ede5a890ff62fb577c3c9548ac..6dd52720543bd4e7642cfb443f351df445b58385 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/DirectoryIterator.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/DirIterator.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cta/DirectoryEntry.hpp"
+#include "cta/DirEntry.hpp"
 
 #include <list>
 
@@ -11,34 +11,34 @@ namespace cta {
  * through the contents of a directory.
  *
  * \code
- * DirectoryIterator &itor = ...
+ * DirIterator &itor = ...
  *
  * while(itor.hasMore())) {
- *   const DirectoryEntry &entry = itor.next();
+ *   const DirEntry &entry = itor.next();
  *
  *   // Do something with entry
  * }
  * \endcode
  */
-class DirectoryIterator {
+class DirIterator {
 public:
 
   /**
    * Constructor.
    */
-  DirectoryIterator();
+  DirIterator();
 
   /**
    * Constructor.
    *
    * @param entries The directory entries.
    */
-  DirectoryIterator(const std::list<DirectoryEntry> &entries);
+  DirIterator(const std::list<DirEntry> &entries);
 
   /**
    * Destructor.
    */
-  ~DirectoryIterator() throw();
+  ~DirIterator() throw();
 
   /**
    * Returns true if there are more directory entries.
@@ -53,15 +53,15 @@ public:
    *
    * @return The next directory entry.
    */
-  const DirectoryEntry next();
+  const DirEntry next();
 
 private:
 
   /**
    * The directory entries.
    */
-  std::list<DirectoryEntry> m_entries;
+  std::list<DirEntry> m_entries;
 
-}; // DirectoryIterator
+}; // DirIterator
 
 } // namespace cta
diff --git a/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.cpp b/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirEntry.cpp
similarity index 78%
rename from middletier/cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.cpp
rename to middletier/cta/FileSystemDirEntry.cpp
index 7d37f6bc23974fd3d10e4be21ece8c85f994e488..1afbb9a5bbc33c46c2f0c4744c8294ad35227a6c 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirEntry.cpp
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
-#include "cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.hpp"
+#include "cta/FileSystemDirEntry.hpp"
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry::FileSystemDirectoryEntry():
+cta::FileSystemDirEntry::FileSystemDirEntry():
   m_storageClasses(NULL) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // constructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry::FileSystemDirectoryEntry(
-  FileSystemStorageClasses &storageClasses, const DirectoryEntry &entry):
+cta::FileSystemDirEntry::FileSystemDirEntry(
+  FileSystemStorageClasses &storageClasses, const DirEntry &entry):
   m_storageClasses(&storageClasses),
   m_entry(entry) {
   setStorageClassName(entry.getStorageClassName());
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry::FileSystemDirectoryEntry(
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getEntry
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const cta::DirectoryEntry &cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry::getEntry()
+const cta::DirEntry &cta::FileSystemDirEntry::getEntry()
   const throw() {
   return m_entry;
 }
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ const cta::DirectoryEntry &cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry::getEntry()
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // setStorageClassName
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry::setStorageClassName(
+void cta::FileSystemDirEntry::setStorageClassName(
   const std::string &storageClassName) {
   const std::string previousStorageClassName = m_entry.getStorageClassName();
 
diff --git a/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.hpp b/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirEntry.hpp
similarity index 73%
rename from middletier/cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.hpp
rename to middletier/cta/FileSystemDirEntry.hpp
index 250fab3d0deae3994bd31cce29b37cf33fa7361c..bb96d6ecd66698de2829fa500e283265653f78fa 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/FileSystemDirEntry.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cta/DirectoryEntry.hpp"
+#include "cta/DirEntry.hpp"
 #include "cta/FileSystemStorageClasses.hpp"
 
 namespace cta {
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ namespace cta {
  * Class used to store a directory entry and to provide other information and/or
  * features required by the file system.
  */
-class FileSystemDirectoryEntry {
+class FileSystemDirEntry {
 public:
 
   /**
    * Constructor.
    */
-  FileSystemDirectoryEntry();
+  FileSystemDirEntry();
 
   /**
    * Constructor.
@@ -23,15 +23,15 @@ public:
    * @param storageClasses The storage classes used by the file system.
    * @param entry The directory entry.
    */
-  FileSystemDirectoryEntry(FileSystemStorageClasses &storageClasses,
-    const DirectoryEntry &entry);
+  FileSystemDirEntry(FileSystemStorageClasses &storageClasses,
+    const DirEntry &entry);
 
   /**
    * Returns the directory entry.
    *
    * @return The directory entry.
    */
-  const DirectoryEntry &getEntry() const throw();
+  const DirEntry &getEntry() const throw();
 
   /**
    * Sets the name of the storage class.
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ private:
   /**
    * The directory entry.
    */
-  DirectoryEntry m_entry;
+  DirEntry m_entry;
 
-}; // FileSystemDirectoryEntry
+}; // FileSystemDirEntry
 
 } // namespace cta
diff --git a/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.cpp b/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.cpp
index e2588ae78bb0cbc6a9e9a2700d979b1e31b5e3e8..6a76235558fed8090488e9f7cafae0d463a3fec5 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.cpp
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ cta::FileSystemNode::FileSystemNode():
 // constructor
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cta::FileSystemNode::FileSystemNode(FileSystemStorageClasses &storageclasses, 
-  const DirectoryEntry &entry):
+  const DirEntry &entry):
   m_storageClasses(&storageclasses),
-  m_entry(FileSystemDirectoryEntry(storageclasses, entry)) {
+  m_entry(FileSystemDirEntry(storageclasses, entry)) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ const cta::FileSystemNode &cta::FileSystemNode::getParent() const {
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getFileSystemEntry
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry &cta::FileSystemNode::getFileSystemEntry()
+cta::FileSystemDirEntry &cta::FileSystemNode::getFileSystemEntry()
   throw() {
   return m_entry;
 }
@@ -72,24 +72,24 @@ cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry &cta::FileSystemNode::getFileSystemEntry()
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // getFileSystemEntry
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry &cta::FileSystemNode::getFileSystemEntry()
+const cta::FileSystemDirEntry &cta::FileSystemNode::getFileSystemEntry()
   const throw() {
   return m_entry;
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// getDirectoryEntries
+// getDirEntries
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::list<cta::DirectoryEntry> cta::FileSystemNode::getDirectoryEntries()
+std::list<cta::DirEntry> cta::FileSystemNode::getDirEntries()
   const {
-  std::list<DirectoryEntry> entries;
+  std::list<DirEntry> entries;
   for(std::map<std::string, FileSystemNode*>::const_iterator itor =
     m_children.begin(); itor != m_children.end(); itor++) {
     const FileSystemNode *const childNode = itor->second;
     if(NULL == childNode) {
-      throw(Exception("getDirectoryEntries encountered a NULL child pointer"));
+      throw(Exception("getDirEntries encountered a NULL child pointer"));
     }
-    const cta::FileSystemDirectoryEntry &childEntry =
+    const cta::FileSystemDirEntry &childEntry =
       childNode->getFileSystemEntry();
     entries.push_back(childEntry.getEntry());
   }
diff --git a/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.hpp b/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.hpp
index 2250f86c6259ed82501d1eaf57be1995c49bfa87..fc1d5e9b97e336d0eaa70a6bd23c9ab85a799332 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/FileSystemNode.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cta/FileSystemDirectoryEntry.hpp"
+#include "cta/FileSystemDirEntry.hpp"
 #include "cta/FileSystemStorageClasses.hpp"
 
 #include <map>
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ public:
    * Constructor.
    *
    * @param storageclasses The storage classes used in the file system.
-   * @param entry The description of the node in the form of a DirectoryEntry.
+   * @param entry The description of the node in the form of a DirEntry.
    */
   FileSystemNode(FileSystemStorageClasses &storageclasses,
-    const DirectoryEntry &entry);
+    const DirEntry &entry);
 
   /**
    * Destructor.
@@ -49,14 +49,14 @@ public:
    *
    * @return The file-system directory-entry.
    */
-  FileSystemDirectoryEntry &getFileSystemEntry() throw();
+  FileSystemDirEntry &getFileSystemEntry() throw();
 
   /**
    * Returns the file-system directory-entry.
    *
    * @return The file-system directory-entry.
    */
-  const FileSystemDirectoryEntry &getFileSystemEntry() const throw();
+  const FileSystemDirEntry &getFileSystemEntry() const throw();
 
   /**
    * Gets the contents of this file system node in the form of a list of
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ public:
    * @return The contents of this file system node in the form of a list of
    * DirectoryEntries.
    */
-  std::list<DirectoryEntry> getDirectoryEntries() const;
+  std::list<DirEntry> getDirEntries() const;
 
   /**
    * Adds the specified node to the children of this node.
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ private:
   /**
    * The file-system diretcory-entry.
    */
-  FileSystemDirectoryEntry m_entry;
+  FileSystemDirEntry m_entry;
 
   /**
    * The child nodes as a map from name to node.
diff --git a/middletier/cta/MiddleTierAdmin.hpp b/middletier/cta/MiddleTierAdmin.hpp
index 80ed9592c1ec91a1c613af73448ff9a37e88c593..c480a0436ff35a07568b4149d297de79b621476c 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/MiddleTierAdmin.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/MiddleTierAdmin.hpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "cta/AdminUser.hpp"
 #include "cta/ArchivalJob.hpp"
 #include "cta/ArchivalRoute.hpp"
-#include "cta/DirectoryIterator.hpp"
+#include "cta/DirIterator.hpp"
 #include "cta/LogicalLibrary.hpp"
 #include "cta/SecurityIdentity.hpp"
 #include "cta/StorageClass.hpp"
diff --git a/middletier/cta/MiddleTierUser.hpp b/middletier/cta/MiddleTierUser.hpp
index 4acf4825e5efc6b5a30dc68db410d79550af56ec..eba4a623b6d71f94737403aa930f8d8cce76625e 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/MiddleTierUser.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/MiddleTierUser.hpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "cta/ArchivalJob.hpp"
 #include "cta/ArchivalRoute.hpp"
-#include "cta/DirectoryIterator.hpp"
+#include "cta/DirIterator.hpp"
 #include "cta/LogicalLibrary.hpp"
 #include "cta/RetrievalJob.hpp"
 #include "cta/SecurityIdentity.hpp"
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public:
    * directory.
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    */
-  virtual void createDirectory(
+  virtual void createDir(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath) = 0;
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public:
    * directory.
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    */
-  virtual void deleteDirectory(
+  virtual void deleteDir(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath) = 0;
 
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public:
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    * @return An iterator over the contents of the directory.
    */
-  virtual DirectoryIterator getDirectoryContents(
+  virtual DirIterator getDirContents(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath) const = 0;
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public:
    * @return The directory entry information for the specified directory or file
    * within the archive namespace.
    */
-  virtual DirectoryEntry stat(
+  virtual DirEntry stat(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string path) const = 0;
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ public:
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    * @param storageClassName The name of the storage class.
    */
-  virtual void setDirectoryStorageClass(
+  virtual void setDirStorageClass(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath,
     const std::string &storageClassName) = 0;
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public:
    * the directory to be cleared.
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    */
-  virtual void clearDirectoryStorageClass(
+  virtual void clearDirStorageClass(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath) = 0;
 
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ public:
    * @return The name of the storage class if the directory has one, else an
    * empty string.
    */
-  virtual std::string getDirectoryStorageClass(
+  virtual std::string getDirStorageClass(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath) const = 0;
 
diff --git a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierAdminTest.cpp b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierAdminTest.cpp
index 14c8d6050d14d2efd8fc7bcafc0da5f7d99d781e..ac9912ea3a7acd74dbd10b69e7066923127b3e44 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierAdminTest.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierAdminTest.cpp
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierAdminTest,
   }
 
   SqliteMiddleTierUser userApi(vfs,sqlitedb);
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/",
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, "/",
     storageClassName));
 
   ASSERT_THROW(adminApi.deleteStorageClass(requester, storageClassName),
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierAdminTest,
     ASSERT_EQ(nbCopies, storageClass.getNbCopies());
   }
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.clearDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.clearDirStorageClass(requester, "/"));
 
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(adminApi.deleteStorageClass(requester, storageClassName));
 
diff --git a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.cpp b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.cpp
index 860619d879c1a80775f5511906e5d2e9331f66cf..467af32416968f943d97876f14f9031812ce2157 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.cpp
@@ -20,64 +20,64 @@ cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::~SqliteMiddleTierUser() throw() {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// createDirectory
+// createDir
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::createDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester,
+void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::createDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::string &dirPath) {
-  m_vfs.createDirectory(requester, dirPath, 0777);
+  m_vfs.createDir(requester, dirPath, 0777);
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// deleteDirectory
+// deleteDir
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::deleteDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester,
+void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::deleteDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::string &dirPath) {
-  m_vfs.deleteDirectory(requester, dirPath);
+  m_vfs.deleteDir(requester, dirPath);
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// getDirectoryContents
+// getDirContents
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryIterator cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::getDirectoryContents(
+cta::DirIterator cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::getDirContents(
   const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath) const {
-  return m_vfs.getDirectoryContents(requester, dirPath);
+  return m_vfs.getDirContents(requester, dirPath);
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // stat
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryEntry cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::stat(
+cta::DirEntry cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::stat(
   const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::string path) const {
-  return m_vfs.statDirectoryEntry(requester, path);
+  return m_vfs.statDirEntry(requester, path);
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// setDirectoryStorageClass
+// setDirStorageClass
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::setDirectoryStorageClass(
+void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::setDirStorageClass(
   const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::string &dirPath,
   const std::string &storageClassName) {
-  m_vfs.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath, storageClassName);
+  m_vfs.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath, storageClassName);
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// clearDirectoryStorageClass
+// clearDirStorageClass
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::clearDirectoryStorageClass(
+void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::clearDirStorageClass(
   const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::string &dirPath) {
-  m_vfs.clearDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath);
+  m_vfs.clearDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath);
 }
   
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// getDirectoryStorageClass
+// getDirStorageClass
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::string cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::getDirectoryStorageClass(
+std::string cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::getDirStorageClass(
   const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::string &dirPath) const {
-  return m_vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath);
+  return m_vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath);
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -85,28 +85,28 @@ std::string cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::getDirectoryStorageClass(
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::archive(const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::list<std::string> &srcUrls, const std::string &dstPath) {
-  if(m_vfs.isExistingDirectory(requester, dstPath)) {
-    return archiveToDirectory(requester, srcUrls, dstPath);
+  if(m_vfs.isExistingDir(requester, dstPath)) {
+    return archiveToDir(requester, srcUrls, dstPath);
   } else {
     return archiveToFile(requester, srcUrls, dstPath);
   }
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// archiveToDirectory
+// archiveToDir
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::archiveToDirectory(
+void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::archiveToDir(
   const SecurityIdentity &requester,
   const std::list<std::string> &srcUrls,
   const std::string &dstDir) {
   if(0 == srcUrls.size()) {
     throw Exception("At least one source file should be provided");
   }
-  std::string storageClassName = m_vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dstDir);
+  std::string storageClassName = m_vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, dstDir);
   cta::StorageClass storageClass = m_db.getStorageClassByName(requester, storageClassName);
   if(storageClass.getNbCopies()==0) {       
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "archiveToDirectory() - Storage class " << storageClassName << " has 0 copies";
+    message << "archiveToDir() - Storage class " << storageClassName << " has 0 copies";
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
   for(int i=1; i<=storageClass.getNbCopies(); i++) {
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ void cta::SqliteMiddleTierUser::archiveToFile(
   }
   
   const std::string &srcFileName = srcUrls.front();
-  std::string storageClassName = m_vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, cta::Utils::getEnclosingDirPath(dstFile));
+  std::string storageClassName = m_vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, cta::Utils::getEnclosingDirPath(dstFile));
   cta::StorageClass storageClass = m_db.getStorageClassByName(requester, storageClassName);
   if(storageClass.getNbCopies()==0) {       
     std::ostringstream message;
diff --git a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.hpp b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.hpp
index eebcd6cbec5ebd8e8fd6749b9eedd61ea57fd2db..085a347fbd6b2e54aaa363bcc0427556ab314470 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUser.hpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public:
    * directory.
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    */
-  void createDirectory(
+  void createDir(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath);
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public:
    * directory.
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    */
-  void deleteDirectory(
+  void deleteDir(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath);
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public:
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    * @return An iterator over the contents of the directory.
    */
-  DirectoryIterator getDirectoryContents(
+  DirIterator getDirContents(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath) const;
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public:
    * @return The directory entry information for the specified directory or file
    * within the archive namespace.
    */
-  DirectoryEntry stat(
+  DirEntry stat(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string path) const;
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public:
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    * @param storageClassName The name of the storage class.
    */
-  void setDirectoryStorageClass(
+  void setDirStorageClass(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath,
     const std::string &storageClassName);
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
    * the directory to be cleared.
    * @param dirPath The absolute path of the directory.
    */
-  void clearDirectoryStorageClass(
+  void clearDirStorageClass(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath);
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public:
    * @return The name of the storage class if the directory has one, else an
    * empty string.
    */
-  std::string getDirectoryStorageClass(
+  std::string getDirStorageClass(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::string &dirPath) const;
 
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ private:
    * @return True if the specified absolute path is that of an existing
    * directory within the archive namepsace.
    */
-  bool isAnExistingDirectory(const std::string &path) const throw();
+  bool isAnExistingDir(const std::string &path) const throw();
 
   /**
    * Archives the specified list of source files to the specified destination
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ private:
    * @param srcUrls List of one or more source files.
    * @param dstDir Destination directory within the archive namespace.
    */
-  void archiveToDirectory(
+  void archiveToDir(
     const SecurityIdentity &requester,
     const std::list<std::string> &srcUrls,
     const std::string &dstDir);
diff --git a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUserTest.cpp b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUserTest.cpp
index ad5492143196cf30a5d6a9c9e5e0952a44b1852d..4bbdbe46aea68cced4a0572b6f14168d9d060777 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUserTest.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/SqliteMiddleTierUserTest.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ protected:
 };
 
 TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
-  getDirectoryContents_root_dir_is_empty) {
+  getDirContents_root_dir_is_empty) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "/";
 
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  DirIterator itor;
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
   ASSERT_FALSE(itor.hasMore());
 }
 
-TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_empty_string) {
+TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDir_empty_string) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_empty_string) {
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "";
 
-  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath), std::exception);
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
-  createDirectory_consecutive_slashes) {
+  createDir_consecutive_slashes) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "//";
 
-  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath), std::exception);
 }
 
-TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_invalid_chars) {
+TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDir_invalid_chars) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_invalid_chars) {
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent/?parent";
   
-  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath), std::exception);
 }
 
-TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_top_level) {
+TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDir_top_level) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -77,22 +77,22 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_top_level) {
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
   
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
 
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
   ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-  DirectoryEntry entry;
+  DirEntry entry;
 
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
   ASSERT_EQ(std::string("grandparent"), entry.getName());
 }
 
-TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_second_level) {
+TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDir_second_level) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -100,44 +100,44 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_second_level) {
   SqliteMiddleTierUser userApi(vfs, db);
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
 
-  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/").empty());
+  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/").empty());
 
   {
     const std::string topLevelDirPath = "/grandparent";
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, topLevelDirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, topLevelDirPath));
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("grandparent"), entry.getName());
   }
 
-  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent").empty());
+  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent").empty());
 
   {
     const std::string secondLevelDirPath = "/grandparent/parent";
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, secondLevelDirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, secondLevelDirPath));
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -145,25 +145,25 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, createDirectory_second_level) {
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("parent"), entry.getName());
   }
 
-  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester,
+  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester,
     "/grandparent/parent").empty());
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
-  createDirectory_inherit_storage_class) {
+  createDir_inherit_storage_class) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   SqliteMiddleTierUser userApi(vfs, db);
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
 
-  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/").empty());
+  ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/").empty());
 
   {
     SqliteMiddleTierAdmin adminApi(vfs, db);
@@ -184,45 +184,45 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   {
     const std::string topLevelDirPath = "/grandparent";
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, topLevelDirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, topLevelDirPath));
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("grandparent"), entry.getName());
 
-    ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent").empty());
+    ASSERT_TRUE(userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent").empty());
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent",
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent",
       "TestStorageClass"));
   }
 
   ASSERT_EQ(std::string("TestStorageClass"),
-    userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent"));
+    userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent"));
 
   {
     const std::string secondLevelDirPath = "/grandparent/parent";
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, secondLevelDirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, secondLevelDirPath));
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -230,13 +230,13 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -244,10 +244,10 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   }
 
   ASSERT_EQ(std::string("TestStorageClass"),
-    userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent/parent"));
+    userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/grandparent/parent"));
 }
 
-TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, deleteDirectory_root) {
+TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, deleteDir_root) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -256,10 +256,10 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, deleteDirectory_root) {
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "/";
 
-  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.deleteDirectory(requester, "/"), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.deleteDir(requester, "/"), std::exception);
 }
 
-TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, deleteDirectory_existing_top_level) {
+TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, deleteDir_existing_top_level) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -268,35 +268,35 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, deleteDirectory_existing_top_level)
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
   
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("grandparent"), entry.getName());
   }
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.deleteDirectory(requester, "/grandparent"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.deleteDir(requester, "/grandparent"));
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
   
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
   
     ASSERT_FALSE(itor.hasMore());
   }
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
-  deleteDirectory_non_empty_top_level) {
+  deleteDir_non_empty_top_level) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -307,15 +307,15 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   {
     const std::string topLevelDirPath = "/grandparent";
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, topLevelDirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, topLevelDirPath));
 
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -325,15 +325,15 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   {
     const std::string secondLevelDirPath = "/grandparent/parent";
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, secondLevelDirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, secondLevelDirPath));
 
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -341,29 +341,29 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("parent"), entry.getName());
   }
 
-  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.deleteDirectory(requester, "/grandparent"), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.deleteDir(requester, "/grandparent"), std::exception);
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
+    DirIterator itor;
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/grandparent"));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
 
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
-  deleteDirectory_non_existing_top_level) {
+  deleteDir_non_existing_top_level) {
   using namespace cta;
   
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -380,10 +380,10 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   SqliteMiddleTierUser userApi(vfs, db);
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
 
-  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.deleteDirectory(requester, "/grandparent"), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_THROW(userApi.deleteDir(requester, "/grandparent"), std::exception);
 }
 
-TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, setDirectoryStorageClass_top_level) {
+TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, setDirStorageClass_top_level) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -392,15 +392,15 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, setDirectoryStorageClass_top_level)
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
 
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
   ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-  DirectoryEntry entry;
+  DirEntry entry;
 
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, setDirectoryStorageClass_top_level)
 
   {
     std::string name;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
     ASSERT_TRUE(name.empty());
   }
 
@@ -421,18 +421,18 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, setDirectoryStorageClass_top_level)
       nbCopies, comment));
   }
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   {
     std::string name;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
     ASSERT_EQ(storageClassName, name);
   }
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
-  clearDirectoryStorageClass_top_level) {
+  clearDirStorageClass_top_level) {
   using namespace cta;
 
   SqliteDatabase db;
@@ -441,15 +441,15 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
 
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
 
   ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
 
-  DirectoryEntry entry;
+  DirEntry entry;
 
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
 
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
 
   {
     std::string name;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
     ASSERT_TRUE(name.empty());
   }
 
@@ -468,23 +468,23 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(adminApi.createStorageClass(requester, storageClassName,
     nbCopies, comment));
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   {
     std::string name;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
     ASSERT_EQ(storageClassName, name);
   }
 
   ASSERT_THROW(adminApi.deleteStorageClass(requester, storageClassName),
     std::exception);
 
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.clearDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.clearDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
 
   {
     std::string name;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(name = userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath));
     ASSERT_TRUE(name.empty());
   }
 
@@ -507,8 +507,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, archive_to_new_file) {
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   const std::string tapePoolName = "TestTapePool";
@@ -528,32 +528,32 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, archive_to_new_file) {
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.archive(requester, srcUrls, dstPath));
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    DirIterator itor;
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("grandparent"), entry.getName());
-    ASSERT_EQ(DirectoryEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY, entry.getType());
+    ASSERT_EQ(DirEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY, entry.getType());
     ASSERT_EQ(storageClassName, entry.getStorageClassName());
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester,
+    DirIterator itor;
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester,
       "/grandparent"));
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("parent_file"), entry.getName());
-    ASSERT_EQ(DirectoryEntry::ENTRYTYPE_FILE, entry.getType());
+    ASSERT_EQ(DirEntry::ENTRYTYPE_FILE, entry.getType());
     ASSERT_EQ(storageClassName, entry.getStorageClassName());
   }
 
   {
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = userApi.stat(requester, dstPath));
-    ASSERT_EQ(DirectoryEntry::ENTRYTYPE_FILE, entry.getType());
+    ASSERT_EQ(DirEntry::ENTRYTYPE_FILE, entry.getType());
     ASSERT_EQ(storageClassName, entry.getStorageClassName());
   }
 
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
 
   std::list<std::string> srcUrls;
   srcUrls.push_back("diskUrl");
@@ -637,8 +637,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   std::list<std::string> srcUrls;
@@ -663,8 +663,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, archive_to_new_file_with_no_route) {
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   const std::string tapePoolName = "TestTapePool";
@@ -696,8 +696,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   const std::string tapePoolName = "TestTapePool";
@@ -733,8 +733,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, archive_to_directory) {
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   const std::string tapePoolName = "TestTapePool";
@@ -757,23 +757,23 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, archive_to_directory) {
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.archive(requester, srcUrls, dstPath));
 
   {
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+    DirIterator itor;
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
     ASSERT_TRUE(itor.hasMore());
-    DirectoryEntry entry;
+    DirEntry entry;
     ASSERT_NO_THROW(entry = itor.next());
     ASSERT_EQ(std::string("grandparent"), entry.getName());
-    ASSERT_EQ(DirectoryEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY, entry.getType());
+    ASSERT_EQ(DirEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY, entry.getType());
     ASSERT_EQ(storageClassName, entry.getStorageClassName());
   }
 
   {
     std::set<std::string> archiveFileNames;
-    DirectoryIterator itor;
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester,
+    DirIterator itor;
+    ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = userApi.getDirContents(requester,
       "/grandparent"));
     while(itor.hasMore()) {
-      const DirectoryEntry entry = itor.next();
+      const DirEntry entry = itor.next();
       archiveFileNames.insert(entry.getName());
     }
     ASSERT_EQ(4, archiveFileNames.size());
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
   const SecurityIdentity requester;
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
 
   std::list<std::string> srcUrls;
   srcUrls.push_back("diskUrl1");
@@ -878,8 +878,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   std::list<std::string> srcUrls;
@@ -907,8 +907,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest, archive_to_directory_with_no_route)
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   const std::string tapePoolName = "TestTapePool";
@@ -943,8 +943,8 @@ TEST_F(cta_client_SqliteMiddleTierUserTest,
     nbCopies, storageClassComment));
 
   const std::string dirPath = "/grandparent";
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDirectory(requester, dirPath));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.createDir(requester, dirPath));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath,
     storageClassName));
 
   const std::string tapePoolName = "TestTapePool";
diff --git a/middletier/cta/Vfs.cpp b/middletier/cta/Vfs.cpp
index 793761ef96c9cae245af27c7c2fe618c67160661..e19a1c674ed8a183e6576ce439ffe885f41bc580 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/Vfs.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/Vfs.cpp
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ void cta::Vfs::checkDirectoryExists(const std::string &dirPath) {
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// isExistingDirectory
+// isExistingDir
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-bool cta::Vfs::isExistingDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath) {
+bool cta::Vfs::isExistingDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath) {
   cta::Utils::checkAbsolutePathSyntax(dirPath);
   struct stat stat_result;
   int rc;
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ void cta::Vfs::checkPathnameDoesNotExist(const std::string &dirPath) {
 // checkStorageClassIsNotInUse
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cta::Vfs::checkStorageClassIsNotInUse(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &storageClass, const std::string &dirPath) {
-  if(getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, dirPath)==storageClass) {
+  if(getDirStorageClass(requester, dirPath)==storageClass) {
     std::ostringstream message;
     message << "checkStorageClassIsNotInUse() - " << dirPath << " has the " << storageClass << " storage class.";
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
@@ -146,9 +146,9 @@ cta::Vfs::~Vfs() throw() {
 }  
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// setDirectoryStorageClass
+// setDirStorageClass
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::Vfs::setDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path, const std::string &storageClassName) {
+void cta::Vfs::setDirStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path, const std::string &storageClassName) {
   cta::Utils::checkAbsolutePathSyntax(path);
   checkDirectoryExists(m_fsDir+path);
   
@@ -156,15 +156,15 @@ void cta::Vfs::setDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const
   if(rc != 0) {
     char buf[256];
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "setDirectoryStorageClass() - " << m_fsDir+path << " setxattr error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
+    message << "setDirStorageClass() - " << m_fsDir+path << " setxattr error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
 }  
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// clearDirectoryStorageClass
+// clearDirStorageClass
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::Vfs::clearDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path) {
+void cta::Vfs::clearDirStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path) {
   cta::Utils::checkAbsolutePathSyntax(path);
   checkDirectoryExists(m_fsDir+path);
   
@@ -172,15 +172,15 @@ void cta::Vfs::clearDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, con
   if(rc != 0) {
     char buf[256];
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "clearDirectoryStorageClass() - " << m_fsDir+path << " setxattr error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
+    message << "clearDirStorageClass() - " << m_fsDir+path << " setxattr error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
 }  
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// getDirectoryStorageClass
+// getDirStorageClass
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::string cta::Vfs::getDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path) {
+std::string cta::Vfs::getDirStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path) {
   cta::Utils::checkAbsolutePathSyntax(path);
   checkDirectoryExists(m_fsDir+path);
   
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ std::string cta::Vfs::getDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester
   if(rc == -1) {
     char buf[256];
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "getDirectoryStorageClass() - " << m_fsDir+path << " getxattr error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
+    message << "getDirStorageClass() - " << m_fsDir+path << " getxattr error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
   return std::string(value);
@@ -222,24 +222,24 @@ void cta::Vfs::createFile(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &
 }  
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// createDirectory
+// createDir
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::Vfs::createDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname, const uint16_t mode) {  
+void cta::Vfs::createDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname, const uint16_t mode) {  
   cta::Utils::checkAbsolutePathSyntax(pathname);  
   std::string path = cta::Utils::getEnclosingDirPath(pathname);
   std::string name = cta::Utils::getEnclosedName(pathname);
   checkDirectoryExists(m_fsDir+path);
-  std::string inheritedStorageClass = getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, path);
+  std::string inheritedStorageClass = getDirStorageClass(requester, path);
   
   int rc = mkdir((m_fsDir+pathname).c_str(), mode);
   if(rc != 0) {
     char buf[256];
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "createDirectory() - mkdir " << m_fsDir+pathname << " error. Reason: \n" << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
+    message << "createDir() - mkdir " << m_fsDir+pathname << " error. Reason: \n" << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
   
-  setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, pathname, inheritedStorageClass);
+  setDirStorageClass(requester, pathname, inheritedStorageClass);
 }  
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -258,12 +258,12 @@ void cta::Vfs::deleteFile(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &
 }  
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// deleteDirectory
+// deleteDir
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-void cta::Vfs::deleteDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname) {
+void cta::Vfs::deleteDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname) {
   if(pathname=="/") {    
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "deleteDirectory() - Cannot delete root directory";
+    message << "deleteDir() - Cannot delete root directory";
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
   cta::Utils::checkAbsolutePathSyntax(pathname);
@@ -272,15 +272,15 @@ void cta::Vfs::deleteDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::str
   if(rc != 0) {
     char buf[256];
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "deleteDirectory() - rmdir " << m_fsDir+pathname << " error. Reason: \n" << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
+    message << "deleteDir() - rmdir " << m_fsDir+pathname << " error. Reason: \n" << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }  
 }  
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// statDirectoryEntry
+// statDirEntry
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryEntry cta::Vfs::statDirectoryEntry(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname) {
+cta::DirEntry cta::Vfs::statDirEntry(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname) {
   std::string name = cta::Utils::getEnclosedName(pathname);
   std::string path = cta::Utils::getEnclosingDirPath(pathname);
   
@@ -291,44 +291,44 @@ cta::DirectoryEntry cta::Vfs::statDirectoryEntry(const SecurityIdentity &request
   if(rc != 0) {
     char buf[256];
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "statDirectoryEntry() - " << m_fsDir+pathname << " stat error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
+    message << "statDirEntry() - " << m_fsDir+pathname << " stat error. Reason: " << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
   
-  cta::DirectoryEntry::EntryType entryType;
+  cta::DirEntry::EntryType entryType;
   std::string storageClassName;
   
   if(S_ISDIR(stat_result.st_mode)) {
-    entryType = cta::DirectoryEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY;
-    storageClassName = getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, pathname);
+    entryType = cta::DirEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY;
+    storageClassName = getDirStorageClass(requester, pathname);
   }
   else if(S_ISREG(stat_result.st_mode)) {
-    entryType = cta::DirectoryEntry::ENTRYTYPE_FILE;
-    storageClassName = getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, path);
+    entryType = cta::DirEntry::ENTRYTYPE_FILE;
+    storageClassName = getDirStorageClass(requester, path);
   }
   else {
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "statDirectoryEntry() - " << m_fsDir+pathname << " is not a directory nor a regular file";
+    message << "statDirEntry() - " << m_fsDir+pathname << " is not a directory nor a regular file";
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   } 
   
-  return cta::DirectoryEntry(entryType, name, storageClassName);
+  return cta::DirEntry(entryType, name, storageClassName);
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// getDirectoryEntries
+// getDirEntries
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-std::list<cta::DirectoryEntry> cta::Vfs::getDirectoryEntries(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath) {  
+std::list<cta::DirEntry> cta::Vfs::getDirEntries(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath) {  
   DIR *dp;
   dp = opendir((m_fsDir+dirPath).c_str());
   if(dp == NULL) {
     char buf[256];
     std::ostringstream message;
-    message << "getDirectoryEntries() - opendir " << m_fsDir+dirPath << " error. Reason: \n" << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
+    message << "getDirEntries() - opendir " << m_fsDir+dirPath << " error. Reason: \n" << strerror_r(errno, buf, 256);
     throw(Exception(message.str()));
   }
   
-  std::list<DirectoryEntry> entries;
+  std::list<DirEntry> entries;
   struct dirent *entry;
   
   while((entry = readdir(dp))) {
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ std::list<cta::DirectoryEntry> cta::Vfs::getDirectoryEntries(const SecurityIdent
       else {
         dirEntryPathname = dirPath+"/"+(entry->d_name);
       }
-      entries.push_back(statDirectoryEntry(requester, dirEntryPathname));
+      entries.push_back(statDirEntry(requester, dirEntryPathname));
     }
   }
   
@@ -349,17 +349,17 @@ std::list<cta::DirectoryEntry> cta::Vfs::getDirectoryEntries(const SecurityIdent
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// getDirectoryContents
+// getDirContents
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-cta::DirectoryIterator cta::Vfs::getDirectoryContents(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath) {
+cta::DirIterator cta::Vfs::getDirContents(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath) {
   cta::Utils::checkAbsolutePathSyntax(dirPath);
   checkDirectoryExists(m_fsDir+dirPath);
-  cta::DirectoryIterator it = getDirectoryEntries(requester, dirPath);
+  cta::DirIterator it = getDirEntries(requester, dirPath);
   return it;
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// getDirectoryContents
+// getDirContents
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 std::string cta::Vfs::getVidOfFile(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname, uint16_t copyNb) {
   return "T00001"; //everything is on one tape for the moment:)
diff --git a/middletier/cta/Vfs.hpp b/middletier/cta/Vfs.hpp
index c452aee6ac80b752545564030e032d3078487e59..3de20750402fc96d6b0fb79ae1227929809eeedc 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/Vfs.hpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/Vfs.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cta/DirectoryIterator.hpp"
+#include "cta/DirIterator.hpp"
 #include "cta/SecurityIdentity.hpp"
 
 namespace cta {
@@ -22,25 +22,25 @@ public:
    */
   ~Vfs() throw();  
   
-  void setDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path, const std::string &storageClassName);
+  void setDirStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path, const std::string &storageClassName);
   
-  void clearDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path);
+  void clearDirStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path);
   
-  std::string getDirectoryStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path);
+  std::string getDirStorageClass(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &path);
   
   void createFile(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname, const uint16_t mode);
   
-  void createDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname, const uint16_t mode);
+  void createDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname, const uint16_t mode);
   
   void deleteFile(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname);
   
-  void deleteDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname);
+  void deleteDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname);
   
-  cta::DirectoryEntry statDirectoryEntry(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname);
+  cta::DirEntry statDirEntry(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname);
   
-  cta::DirectoryIterator getDirectoryContents(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath);
+  cta::DirIterator getDirContents(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath);
   
-  bool isExistingDirectory(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath);
+  bool isExistingDir(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath);
   
   std::string getVidOfFile(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &pathname, uint16_t copyNb);
   
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ private:
   
   void checkPathnameDoesNotExist(const std::string &dirPath);
   
-  std::list<cta::DirectoryEntry> getDirectoryEntries(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath);
+  std::list<cta::DirEntry> getDirEntries(const SecurityIdentity &requester, const std::string &dirPath);
   
 }; // struct Vfs
 
diff --git a/middletier/cta/VfsTest.cpp b/middletier/cta/VfsTest.cpp
index 6958773c9fc709db3daf78e4f94b27114fdc3920..2cf4cce3b4efa0d63612ba10e8e6b0a15ec7579f 100644
--- a/middletier/cta/VfsTest.cpp
+++ b/middletier/cta/VfsTest.cpp
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, constructor_consistency) {
 
   Vfs vfs;
   cta::SecurityIdentity requester;
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
   
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
   ASSERT_FALSE(itor.hasMore());
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/"));
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, mkdir_functionality) {
@@ -31,11 +31,11 @@ TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, mkdir_functionality) {
 
   Vfs vfs;
   cta::SecurityIdentity requester;
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
   
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
-  ASSERT_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir1", 0777), std::exception);
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
+  ASSERT_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir1", 0777), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
   ASSERT_EQ(itor.hasMore(), true);
   ASSERT_EQ(itor.next().getName(), "dir1");
   ASSERT_EQ(itor.hasMore(), false);
@@ -46,11 +46,11 @@ TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, createFile_functionality) {
 
   Vfs vfs;
   cta::SecurityIdentity requester;
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
   
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createFile(requester, "/file1", 0666));
   ASSERT_THROW(vfs.createFile(requester, "/file1", 0666), std::exception);
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
   ASSERT_EQ(itor.hasMore(), true);
   ASSERT_EQ(itor.next().getName(), "file1");
   ASSERT_EQ(itor.hasMore(), false);
@@ -61,19 +61,19 @@ TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, rmdir_functionality) {
 
   Vfs vfs;
   cta::SecurityIdentity requester;
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
   
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.deleteDirectory(requester, "/dir1"));
-  ASSERT_THROW(vfs.deleteDirectory(requester, "/dir1"), std::exception);
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir2", 0777));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.deleteDir(requester, "/dir1"));
+  ASSERT_THROW(vfs.deleteDir(requester, "/dir1"), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir2", 0777));
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createFile(requester, "/dir2/file1", 0666));
-  ASSERT_THROW(vfs.deleteDirectory(requester, "/dir2"), std::exception);
+  ASSERT_THROW(vfs.deleteDir(requester, "/dir2"), std::exception);
   ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.deleteFile(requester, "/dir2/file1"));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.deleteDirectory(requester, "/dir2"));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirectoryContents(requester, "/"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.deleteDir(requester, "/dir2"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(itor = vfs.getDirContents(requester, "/"));
   ASSERT_FALSE(itor.hasMore());
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/"));  
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/"));  
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, storageClass_functionality) {
@@ -81,16 +81,16 @@ TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, storageClass_functionality) {
 
   Vfs vfs;
   cta::SecurityIdentity requester;
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
   
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1", "cms"));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("cms"), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.clearDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1", "atlas"));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("atlas"), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.setDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1", "cms"));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("cms"), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.clearDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.setDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1", "atlas"));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("atlas"), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
 }
 
 TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, storageClass_inheritance) {
@@ -98,17 +98,17 @@ TEST_F(cta_VfsTest, storageClass_inheritance) {
 
   Vfs vfs;
   cta::SecurityIdentity requester;
-  DirectoryIterator itor;
+  DirIterator itor;
   
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));  
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir1/dir1_1", 0777));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1/dir1_1"));  
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1", "cms"));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("cms"), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
-  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDirectory(requester, "/dir1/dir1_2", 0777));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("cms"), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1/dir1_2"));
-  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, "/dir1/dir1_1"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir1", 0777));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));  
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir1/dir1_1", 0777));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1/dir1_1"));  
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.setDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1", "cms"));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("cms"), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1"));
+  ASSERT_NO_THROW(vfs.createDir(requester, "/dir1/dir1_2", 0777));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string("cms"), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1/dir1_2"));
+  ASSERT_EQ(std::string(""), vfs.getDirStorageClass(requester, "/dir1/dir1_1"));
 }
 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.cpp b/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.cpp
index c31208a061d27de2f5f447f6ab26d2a523f37d7e..a90ad4ed8681e5d95176d9f5c9673544d1cc0877 100644
--- a/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.cpp
+++ b/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.cpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ int XrdProDir::open(const char *path, const XrdSecEntity *client, const char *op
   if(SFS_OK!=checkResult) {
     return checkResult;
   }
-  m_itor = m_userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, path);
+  m_itor = m_userApi.getDirContents(requester, path);
   return SFS_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.hpp b/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.hpp
index 8a75dc622e30d0e23154f0c9091c8c8b2809f62e..44eac7955a37eef941d5803bc3422adde1372136 100644
--- a/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.hpp
+++ b/xroot_plugins/XrdProDir.hpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ protected:
   /**
    * Iterator holding contents of the directory
    */
-  cta::DirectoryIterator m_itor;
+  cta::DirIterator m_itor;
   
   /**
    * Pointer to the user API object
diff --git a/xroot_plugins/XrdProFilesystem.cpp b/xroot_plugins/XrdProFilesystem.cpp
index 38f4bccb24b9d278d298203cf3326a9a92886a36..a1d64306213e7343220bc9ae01fa1e7de229bc00 100644
--- a/xroot_plugins/XrdProFilesystem.cpp
+++ b/xroot_plugins/XrdProFilesystem.cpp
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ int XrdProFilesystem::executeChdirclassCommand(const ParsedRequest &req, XrdOucE
     return SFS_DATA;
   }
   try {
-    m_userApi.setDirectoryStorageClass(requester, req.args.at(0), req.args.at(1));
+    m_userApi.setDirStorageClass(requester, req.args.at(0), req.args.at(1));
     std::ostringstream responseSS;
     responseSS << "[OK] Changed storage class of directory " << req.args.at(0) << " to " << req.args.at(1);
     eInfo.setErrInfo(responseSS.str().length()+1, responseSS.str().c_str());
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ int XrdProFilesystem::executeCldirclassCommand(const ParsedRequest &req, XrdOucE
     return SFS_DATA;
   }
   try {
-    m_userApi.clearDirectoryStorageClass(requester, req.args.at(0));
+    m_userApi.clearDirStorageClass(requester, req.args.at(0));
     std::ostringstream responseSS;
     responseSS << "[OK] Cleared storage class of directory " << req.args.at(0);
     eInfo.setErrInfo(responseSS.str().length()+1, responseSS.str().c_str());
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ int XrdProFilesystem::executeGetdirclassCommand(const ParsedRequest &req, XrdOuc
     return SFS_DATA;
   }
   try {
-    std::string stgClass = m_userApi.getDirectoryStorageClass(requester, req.args.at(0));
+    std::string stgClass = m_userApi.getDirStorageClass(requester, req.args.at(0));
     std::ostringstream responseSS;
     if(stgClass.empty()) {
       responseSS << "[OK] Directory " << req.args.at(0) << " does not have a storage class";      
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ int XrdProFilesystem::executeMkdirCommand(const ParsedRequest &req, XrdOucErrInf
     return SFS_DATA;
   }
   try {
-    m_userApi.createDirectory(requester, req.args.at(0));
+    m_userApi.createDir(requester, req.args.at(0));
     std::ostringstream responseSS;
     responseSS << "[OK] Directory " << req.args.at(0) << " created";
     eInfo.setErrInfo(responseSS.str().length()+1, responseSS.str().c_str());
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ int XrdProFilesystem::executeRmdirCommand(const ParsedRequest &req, XrdOucErrInf
     return SFS_DATA;
   }
   try {
-    m_userApi.deleteDirectory(requester, req.args.at(0));
+    m_userApi.deleteDir(requester, req.args.at(0));
     std::ostringstream responseSS;
     responseSS << "[OK] Directory " << req.args.at(0) << " removed";
     eInfo.setErrInfo(responseSS.str().length()+1, responseSS.str().c_str());
@@ -578,12 +578,12 @@ int XrdProFilesystem::executeLsCommand(const ParsedRequest &req, XrdOucErrInfo &
   }
   try {
     std::ostringstream responseSS;
-    cta::DirectoryIterator itor = m_userApi.getDirectoryContents(requester, req.args.at(0));
+    cta::DirIterator itor = m_userApi.getDirContents(requester, req.args.at(0));
     while(itor.hasMore()) {
-      const cta::DirectoryEntry &entry = itor.next();
+      const cta::DirEntry &entry = itor.next();
       
       responseSS << "\n";
-      responseSS << ((entry.getType() == cta::DirectoryEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY) ? "d" : "-");
+      responseSS << ((entry.getType() == cta::DirEntry::ENTRYTYPE_DIRECTORY) ? "d" : "-");
       responseSS << ((entry.getMode() & S_IRUSR) ? "r" : "-");
       responseSS << ((entry.getMode() & S_IWUSR) ? "w" : "-");
       responseSS << ((entry.getMode() & S_IXUSR) ? "x" : "-");