An XML fragmenting mechanism uses an XML schema for the XML file to split up the XML file in a hierarchal structure of data blocks for storage in a storage system with a limited block size such as a cluster coordination service. The XML fragmenting mechanism creates an XML file map to document the structure of the XML file in the storage system. The XML fragmenting mechanism stores the data blocks in the storage system according to the XML file map and supports retrieval of all or part of the data in a format that supports XML validation.