The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for managing a file in a distributed storage system. The apparatus and method for managing a file in a distributed storage system calculates a retention time of the file based on at least one of a current time, a file creation time, a file modification time and a recent file inquiry time; selects the file as an archive file if the retention time of the file is larger than a predetermined reference time; and relocates an original file and some or all of copy files of the file selected as an archive file from an active server to an archive server or from an active disk to an archive disk. If the number of inquiries on the file selected as an archive file counted in a counting period is larger than a predetermined threshold value or the file is modified or changed, the original file and some or all of the copy files of the file are restored from the archive sever to the active server or from the archive disk to the active disk