In an exemplary aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for lifecycle management for file systems. The method comprises the following steps. At least one storage container adapted to support a file system is allocated. The at least one storage container and the file system are associated with a service class. The file system is created in the storage container. The service class is used during lifecycle actions performed on the file system. Lifecycle actions may comprise, e.g., creating, extending, replicating, moving, or migrating a file system. The service class for the file system may also be maintained for a lifecycle of the file system.