Abstract: Aspects of disclosure provide methods, systems, and computer-readable media for direct data displacement. The methods include in view of a write request pertaining to a first object, determining, based on a first signature of the first object, whether an index of a storage system comprises an existing object record pertaining to the first object; and in response to determining that the index of the storage system does not include an existing object record pertaining to the first signature, creating a first object record in the index comprising the first signature and a reference count. The methods further include in response to determining that the index of the storage system includes an existing object record pertaining to the first signature, updating a reference count associated with the first object stored in the existing object.

Abstract: A method for managing metadata in a scale out storage system is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of nodes, a storage pool, first metadata that maps logical addresses of logical data blocks to corresponding content identifiers, and second metadata that maps content identifiers to corresponding physical addresses of physical data blocks in the storage pool and maintains a reference count. During an add-a-node operation, the processors are configured to move from the existing nodes to the new node some of its physical data blocks, their content identifiers and reference counts in the second metadata without accessing or altering the first metadata. A method is disclosed to move a logical device from one node to another by de-activating the logical device's first metadata on the first node and activating and retrieving the logical device's first metadata on the second node.