The background import process to service the command import command is currently processing the client file space definition information for file space filespace name belonging to client node node name. The file space is imported under the name new filespace name. During import processing, file spaces defined for clients are not replaced, and file copy information in the file spaces are imported to new file space names so that client file copies are not mixed with existing definitions. Import processing can then create file spaces with names generated by the import processor for client nodes that existed prior to the import operation.