System and method for managing snapshots of storage objects for snapshot deletions

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions for managing snapshots of storage objects stored in a storage system, wherein execution of the program instructions by one or more processors of a computer system causes the one or more processors to perform steps comprising:

• receiving a request to delete a storage object stored in a storage structure in the storage system, wherein the storage structure is also used to store any snapshots of the storage object;
• in response to the request to delete the storage object, checking the storage structure to determine if there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure;
• and
• after checking the storage structure to determine if there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure, marking the storage object as being delete designated without deleting the storage structure when a determination is made that there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure and deleting the storage structure that includes the storage object when a determination is made that there is no snapshot in the storage structure.

A computer system comprising:

• a storage system having computer data storage devices to store at least one storage structure;
• memory;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• receive a request to delete a storage object stored in a storage structure in the storage system, wherein the storage structure is also used to store any snapshots of the storage object;
• in response to the request to delete the storage object, check the storage structure to determine if there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure;
• and
• after checking the storage structure to determine if there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure, mark the storage object as being delete designated without deleting the storage structure when a determination is made that there is at least one snapshot in the storage structure and delete the storage structure that includes the storage object when a determination is made that there is no snapshot in the storage structure.