Cache storage system and method

A cache storage system for use in a data storage system, the data storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices and having a plurality of virtual addresses, each virtual address associated with a data object, each data object stored at a storage device location, each storage device location having a unique identifier, the cache storage system comprising:

• a cache for storing a data object associated with at least one virtual address;
• a virtual address table for storing a plurality of virtual addresses;
• and
• a location identifier table for storing at least one storage device location identifier;
• wherein, for a first virtual address, the first virtual address data object is staged into the cache, the location identifier for the first virtual address data object is stored in the location identifier table, and the first virtual address is stored in the virtual address table and linked to the location identifier for the first virtual address data object stored in the location identifier table, and wherein, for a second virtual address, a pointer is generated for use in pointing to the first virtual address data object staged in the cache when the location identifier of the second virtual address data object matches the location identifier stored in the location identifier table of the first virtual address data object, and the second virtual address is stored in the virtual address table and linked to the first virtual address.

A cache storage method for use in a data storage system, the data storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices and having a plurality of virtual addresses, each virtual address associated with a data object, each data object stored at a storage device location, each storage device location having a unique identifier, the method comprising:

• providing a cache for storing a data object associated with at least one virtual address;
• providing a virtual address table for storing a plurality of virtual addresses;
• and
• providing a location identifier table for storing at least one storage device location identifier;
• wherein, for a first virtual address, the first virtual address data object is staged into the cache, the location identifier for the first virtual address data object is stored in the location identifier table, and the first virtual address is stored in the virtual address table and linked to the location identifier for the first virtual address data object stored in the location identifier table, and wherein, for a second virtual address, a pointer is generated for use in pointing to the first virtual address data object staged in the cache when the location identifier of the second virtual address data object matches the location identifier stored in the location identifier table of the first virtual address data object, and the second virtual address is stored in the virtual address table and linked to the first virtual address.