Achieving cache consistency while allowing concurrent changes to metadata

A computer system comprising:

• a first near-instantaneous version of client metadata cache created to record a state of client cache responsive to a metadata synchronization request;
• a first identifier assigned to said first near-instantaneous version of client metadata;
• a requestor to communicate said first near-instantaneous version of client metadata to a server in communication with shared storage media;
• a manager to allow a modification to a metadata cache of said requestor concurrent with synchronization of said first near-instantaneous version of said client metadata with said server;
• and
• said manager to support a subsequent asynchronous write operation to client data by creation of a second near-instantaneous version of said client metadata cache to reflect changes to client cache and metadata, and to assign a second identifier to said second near-instantaneous version.

An article comprising:

• a computer-readable recordable data storage medium;
• creating a first near-instantaneous version of client metadata cache and storing said first near-instantaneous version in said medium;
• means in the medium for assigning an identifier to said created first near-instantaneous version of client metadata;
• means in the medium for forwarding a metadata update provided by said first near-instantaneous version of client metadata cache from a client to a server in communication with shared storage media;
• means in the medium for allowing modification to a metadata cache of said client concurrent with synchronization of said metadata update provided by said first near-instantaneous version with said server, and supporting a subsequent asynchronous write operation to client data by creating a second near-instantaneous version of said client metadata cache reflecting changes to client cache and metadata, and assigning a second identifier to said second near-instantaneous version.