System and method for storing meta-data indexes within a computer storage system

A computer storage system, said computer storage system comprising:

• a processor of a machine;
• an array of storage units, each storage unit in said array of storage units for storing
• computer files, said computer files having associated meta-data comprising at least one meta-data type, each meta-data type having at least one meta-data value, each of said computer files being stored in a primary storage location and a back-up storage location of said array of storage units that are identifiable using a hasher system,
• a meta-data index file, said meta-data index file identifying a first set of computer files that each have a same meta-data type with a same meta-data value, said first set of computer file sorted by a different meta-data type, and
• a meta-data index appendix file that is a separate file that corresponds to said meta-data index file, said meta-data index appendix file identifying a second set of unordered computer files not contained in said meta-data index file, each having said same meta-data type with said same meta-data value as said first set of computer files of said meta-data index file, said meta-data index appendix file periodically integrated into said meta-data index file;
• and
• a meta-data index module to perform, using the processor of the machine, a sort to integrate filenames of said second set of computer files in said meta-data index appendix file, said meta-data index appendix file being separate from the first meta-data index file into said meta-data index file.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions that is executable by a processor to cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

• storing a plurality of computer files in a computer storage system, said computer files having associated meta-data comprising at least one meta-data type, each meta-data type having at least one meta-data value, each of said plurality of computer files being stored in a primary storage location and a back-up storage location that are identifiable using a hasher system;
• storing a first meta-data index file comprising a list of computer files that each have associated meta-data of a same first meta-data type with a same first meta-data value, said list of computer files ordered by a second meta-type;
• storing, in a first appendix file that comprises a list of unordered computer files not contained in said first meta-data index file, a new filename of a new computer file having associated meta-data of said same first meta-data type with said same first meta-data value as that of said list of computer files in said first meta-data index file, said first appendix file being a separate file from said first meta-data index file;
• and
• periodically performing a sort to integrate filenames of computer files listed in said first appendix file that is separate from the first meta-data index file into said first meta-data index file.