1. A method for performing a backup of files, the method comprising: receiving, at a backup system, a plurality of files to be backed up; segmenting, with a segmenter of the backup system, each file into one or more segments; forming a list for each file, wherein forming a list comprises: (a) determining whether each segment is present in a segment store, wherein a segment that is present in the segment store has an assigned reference label; (b) for each segment present in the segment store, adding to the list the assigned reference label; and (c) for each segment not present in the segment store, assigning a reference label to the segment, storing the segment and the reference label, and adding the reference label to the list; and storing, in a database of the near-line file system, an association between each file and the corresponding list.