A method and a system for reconnecting Server Message Block (SMB) clients to file handles. The method may include: generating a file handle, wherein the handle has a handle identifier and further associated with at least one data key other than the file name; embedding a protocol server identifier within the handle identifier, wherein the protocol server identifier relates to a protocol server to which the handle is assigned, wherein the protocol server is a data structure containing a list of all valid handles that belong to a specific file; sending an operation request from the client to the distributed file system, wherein the file system operation request includes the handle identifier and the at least one data key; locating the protocol server based on the protocol server identifier, upon receiving the operation request at the distributed file system; and validating the data key for executing the operation request.