Vblock metadata management

A method for processing a write request, comprising:

• receiving a request to write data to a live vblock, wherein the request to write data is a first write request for the live vblock;
• accessing a merged metadata record associated with the live vblock, wherein the merged metadata record comprises metadata corresponding to metadata in metadata records for all but a last snapshot included in a set of snapshots having a metadata record;
• adding metadata associated with the request to write data to a metadata record for the live vblock;
• merging a metadata record for the last snapshot into the merged metadata record;
• and
• updating a first identifier of the merged metadata record to identify the live vblock.

A system, comprising:

• a memory storing a set of instructions;
• and
• one or more processors that, when executing the set of instructions, are configured to:
• receive a request to write data to a live vblock, wherein the request to write data is a first write request for the live vblock;
• access a merged metadata record associated with the live vblock, wherein the merged metadata record comprises metadata corresponding to metadata in metadata records for all but a last snapshot included in a set of snapshots having a metadata record;
• add metadata associated with the request to write data to a metadata record for the live vblock;
• merge a metadata record for the last snapshot into the merged metadata record;
• and
• update a first identifier of the merged metadata record to identify the live vblock.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps of:

• managing a metadata record for each snapshot of a vblock that has been written to;
• and
• managing a merged metadata record, the merged metadata record comprising:
• metadata corresponding to the metadata in the metadata records for all but a last snapshot or a live vblock having a metadata record,
• a first identifier of a next to last snapshot having a metadata record, and
• a second identifier of the last snapshot or the live vblock having a metadata record.