Storage Network Having Metadata Storage Trees

A processing system of a storage system comprises:

• at least one processor;
• a memory that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processing system to:
• determining metadata for a data slice of a plurality of data slices;
• storing the metadata in a metadata storage tree, wherein the metadata storage tree is stored via a first plurality of memory devices of a first memory type;
• storing the data slice in a slice storage location indicated by the metadata, within a second plurality of memory devices of a second memory type;
• receiving an access request corresponding to the data slice;
• retrieving the slice storage location for the data slice from the metadata storage tree by accessing the metadata for the data slice in the metadata storage tree;
• and
• accessing the data slice in the slice storage location.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises:

• at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing system that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing system to:
• determining metadata for a data slice of a plurality of data slices;
• storing the metadata in a metadata storage tree, wherein the metadata storage tree is stored via a first plurality of memory devices of a first memory type;
• storing the data slice in a slice storage location indicated by the metadata, within a second plurality of memory devices of a second memory type;
• receiving an access request corresponding to the data slice;
• retrieving the slice storage location for the data slice from the metadata storage tree by accessing the metadata for the data slice in the metadata storage tree;
• and
• accessing the data slice in the slice storage location.