Method for maintaining multiple fingerprint tables in a deduplicating storage system

A method comprising:

• maintaining a first fingerprint table comprising a first plurality of entries;
• and
• maintaining a second fingerprint table comprising a second plurality of entries;
• wherein each of the first plurality of entries and each of the second plurality of entries is configured to store a fingerprint corresponding to data stored in a data storage medium;
• generating a first fingerprint corresponding to a data component of a received write operation;
• accessing the first fingerprint table;
• and
• writing the data component to a data storage medium without accessing the second fingerprint table;
• and
• in response to determining the first fingerprint table does not include an entry that corresponds to the first fingerprint first fingerprint table.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein said program instructions are executable to:

• maintain a first fingerprint table comprising a first plurality of entries;
• and
• maintain a second fingerprint table comprising a second plurality of entries;
• wherein each of the first plurality of entries and each of the second plurality of entries is configured to store a fingerprint corresponding to data stored in a data storage medium;
• generating a fingerprint corresponding to a data component of a received write operation;
• access the first fingerprint table;
• and
• write the data component to a data storage medium without accessing the second fingerprint table, in response to determining the first fingerprint table does not include an entry that corresponds to the first fingerprint.