Techniques are disclosed for providing a distributed file storage system that permits containerized applications running in distinct container hosts to read/write to the same storage volume. In one embodiment, a file sharing volume service is configured to use a container orchestrator to start a respective file server for each shared storage volume mounted for use by user-level containerized application(s). The file sharing volume service further manages the file server by creating and updating a metadata entry that specifies (1) a count of a number of times the shared storage volume has been mounted for use, and (2) a port number exposed for use in mounting path(s) to access the shared storage volume. Upon receiving a request to run a containerized application with the shared storage volume, the file sharing volume service updates the metadata entry to increase the count, and retrieves and uses the port number to mount path(s) for accessing the shared storage volume.