diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/FlushMetadataOnlyTest.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/FlushMetadataOnlyTest.java
index f9421a1..1251d91 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/FlushMetadataOnlyTest.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/FlushMetadataOnlyTest.java
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.test.common.TestHelper;
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.context.IHyracksTaskContext;
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.job.JobId;
-import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.primitive.VoidPointable;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.DataUtils;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.IIndexDataflowHelper;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.dataflow.IndexDataflowHelperFactory;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
         StorageTestUtils.flush(dsLifecycleMgr, lsmBtree, false);
         // assert one disk component
         Assert.assertEquals(1, lsmBtree.getDiskComponents().size());
-        VoidPointable pointable = VoidPointable.FACTORY.createPointable();
+        ArrayBackedValueStorage pointable = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
         ComponentUtils.get(lsmBtree, key, pointable);
         Assert.assertTrue(DataUtils.equals(pointable, value));
         // ensure that we can search this component
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/LogMarkerTest.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/LogMarkerTest.java
index 0a968c8..2121327 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/LogMarkerTest.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/java/org/apache/asterix/test/dataflow/LogMarkerTest.java
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.test.FrameWriterTestUtils.FrameWriterOperation;
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.util.HyracksConstants;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.primitive.LongPointable;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAppender;
 import org.apache.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ITupleReference;
 import org.apache.hyracks.dataflow.common.io.MessagingFrameTupleAppender;
@@ -156,9 +157,10 @@
                         iHelperFactory.create(ctx.getJobletContext().getServiceContext(), 0);
                 dataflowHelper.open();
                 LSMBTree btree = (LSMBTree) dataflowHelper.getIndexInstance();
-                LongPointable longPointable = LongPointable.FACTORY.createPointable();
-                ComponentUtils.get(btree, ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY, longPointable);
-                long lsn = longPointable.getLong();
+                ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+
+                ComponentUtils.get(btree, ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY, buffer);
+                long lsn = LongPointable.getLong(buffer.getByteArray(), buffer.getStartOffset());
                 int numOfMarkers = 0;
                 LogReader logReader = (LogReader) nc.getTransactionSubsystem().getLogManager().getLogReader(false);
                 long expectedMarkerId = markerId - 1;
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/ioopcallbacks/AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback.java b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/ioopcallbacks/AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback.java
index b9f0cc7..f027979 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/ioopcallbacks/AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/ioopcallbacks/AbstractLSMIOOperationCallback.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.common.storage.ResourceReference;
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.primitive.LongPointable;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.IMetadataPageManager;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.freepage.MutableArrayValueReference;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMComponent;
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@
     protected ILSMComponentId[] nextComponentIds;
 
     protected final ILSMComponentIdGenerator idGenerator;
+    protected final ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage(Long.BYTES);
     private final IIndexCheckpointManagerProvider indexCheckpointManagerProvider;
     private final Map<ILSMComponentId, Long> componentLsnMap = new HashMap<>();
 
@@ -128,7 +130,7 @@
             }
             LongPointable markerLsn = LongPointable.FACTORY
                     .createPointable(ComponentUtils.getLong(opCtx.getComponentsToBeMerged().get(0).getMetadata(),
-                            ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY, ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND));
+                            ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY, ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND, buffer));
             opCtx.getNewComponent().getMetadata().put(ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY, markerLsn);
         } else if (opCtx.getIoOperationType() == LSMIOOperationType.FLUSH) {
             // advance memory component indexes
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/transactions/PrimaryIndexLogMarkerCallback.java b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/transactions/PrimaryIndexLogMarkerCallback.java
index abe474b..a2ab15f 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/transactions/PrimaryIndexLogMarkerCallback.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/common/transactions/PrimaryIndexLogMarkerCallback.java
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.primitive.LongPointable;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMDiskComponent;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMIndex;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMMemoryComponent;
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@
 public class PrimaryIndexLogMarkerCallback implements ILogMarkerCallback {
     private final LongPointable pointable = LongPointable.FACTORY.createPointable();
     private final ILSMIndex index;
+    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage(Long.BYTES);
 
     /**
      * @param index:
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@
         long lsn;
         try {
             lsn = ComponentUtils.getLong(index.getCurrentMemoryComponent().getMetadata(), ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY,
-                    ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND);
+                    ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND, buffer);
         } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
             // Should never happen since this is a memory component
             throw new IllegalStateException(e);
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@
         for (ILSMDiskComponent c : diskComponents) {
             try {
                 long lsn = ComponentUtils.getLong(c.getMetadata(), ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY,
-                        ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND);
+                        ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND, buffer);
                 if (lsn != ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND) {
                     return lsn;
                 }
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@
             if (c.isReadable()) {
                 try {
                     lsn = ComponentUtils.getLong(c.getMetadata(), ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY,
-                            ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND);
+                            ComponentUtils.NOT_FOUND, buffer);
                 } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
                     // Should never happen since this is a memory component
                     throw new IllegalStateException(e);
@@ -117,7 +119,11 @@
     @Override
     public void after(long lsn) {
         pointable.setLong(lsn);
-        index.getCurrentMemoryComponent().getMetadata().put(ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY, pointable);
+        try {
+            index.getCurrentMemoryComponent().getMetadata().put(ComponentUtils.MARKER_LSN_KEY, pointable);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+        }
     }
 
     public ILSMIndex getIndex() {
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-api/src/main/resources/errormsg/en.properties b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-api/src/main/resources/errormsg/en.properties
index 8635efd..1846062 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-api/src/main/resources/errormsg/en.properties
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-api/src/main/resources/errormsg/en.properties
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
 96 = Illegal attempt to enter empty component
 97 = Illegal attempt to exit empty component
 98 = A flush operation has failed
-99 = A merge operation has failed
+99 = A merge operation has failed. The component %1$s was found in the list of index components
 100 = Failed to shutdown event processor for %1$s
 101 = Page %1$s does not exist in file %2$s
 102 = Failed to open virtual buffer cache since it is already open
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/ArrayBackedValueStorage.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/ArrayBackedValueStorage.java
index e075f4e..d5a4481 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/ArrayBackedValueStorage.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/ArrayBackedValueStorage.java
@@ -22,12 +22,22 @@
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.util.Objects;
 
+import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IMutableValueStorage;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IPointable;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
 
-public class ArrayBackedValueStorage implements IMutableValueStorage {
+public class ArrayBackedValueStorage implements IMutableValueStorage, IPointable {
 
-    private final GrowableArray data = new GrowableArray();
+    private final GrowableArray data;
+
+    public ArrayBackedValueStorage(int size) {
+        data = new GrowableArray(size);
+    }
+
+    public ArrayBackedValueStorage() {
+        data = new GrowableArray();
+    }
 
     @Override
     public void reset() {
@@ -54,16 +64,15 @@
         return data.getLength();
     }
 
-    //TODO: don't swallow, but throw the exception
-    public void append(IValueReference value) {
+    public void append(IValueReference value) throws HyracksDataException {
         try {
             data.append(value);
         } catch (IOException e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
+            throw HyracksDataException.create(e);
         }
     }
 
-    public void assign(IValueReference value) {
+    public void assign(IValueReference value) throws HyracksDataException {
         reset();
         append(value);
     }
@@ -89,4 +98,31 @@
         return Objects.equals(data, other.data);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public void set(byte[] bytes, int start, int length) {
+        reset();
+        if (bytes != null) {
+            try {
+                data.append(bytes, start, length);
+            } catch (IOException e) {
+                throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void set(IValueReference pointer) {
+        try {
+            assign(pointer);
+        } catch (HyracksDataException e) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException(e);
+        }
+    }
+
+    public byte[] toByteArray() {
+        byte[] byteArray = new byte[getLength()];
+        System.arraycopy(getByteArray(), getStartOffset(), byteArray, 0, getLength());
+        return byteArray;
+    }
+
 }
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/GrowableArray.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/GrowableArray.java
index 994d286..12486d9 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/GrowableArray.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-data/hyracks-data-std/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/data/std/util/GrowableArray.java
@@ -26,8 +26,18 @@
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
 
 public class GrowableArray implements IDataOutputProvider {
-    private final ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream baaos = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
-    private final RewindableDataOutputStream dos = new RewindableDataOutputStream(baaos);
+    private final ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream baaos;
+    private final RewindableDataOutputStream dos;
+
+    public GrowableArray() {
+        baaos = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream();
+        dos = new RewindableDataOutputStream(baaos);
+    }
+
+    public GrowableArray(int size) {
+        baaos = new ByteArrayAccessibleOutputStream(size);
+        dos = new RewindableDataOutputStream(baaos);
+    }
 
     @Override
     public DataOutput getDataOutput() {
@@ -65,7 +75,11 @@
     }
 
     public void append(IValueReference value) throws IOException {
-        dos.write(value.getByteArray(), value.getStartOffset(), value.getLength());
+        append(value.getByteArray(), value.getStartOffset(), value.getLength());
+    }
+
+    public void append(byte[] data, int offset, int length) throws IOException {
+        dos.write(data, offset, length);
     }
 
     public void setSize(int bytesRequired) {
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/api/IComponentMetadata.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/api/IComponentMetadata.java
index 5dee557..fa69d7a 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/api/IComponentMetadata.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/api/IComponentMetadata.java
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 package org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api;
 
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IPointable;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 
 public interface IComponentMetadata {
 
@@ -41,14 +41,5 @@
      * @param value
      * @throws HyracksDataException
      */
-    void get(IValueReference key, IPointable value) throws HyracksDataException;
-
-    /**
-     * Get the value
-     *
-     * @param key
-     * @return
-     * @throws HyracksDataException
-     */
-    IValueReference get(IValueReference key) throws HyracksDataException;
+    void get(IValueReference key, ArrayBackedValueStorage value) throws HyracksDataException;
 }
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/AbstractLSMDiskComponent.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/AbstractLSMDiskComponent.java
index 26c7b0d..c4616d3 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/AbstractLSMDiskComponent.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/AbstractLSMDiskComponent.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 package org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.impls;
 
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.IMetadataPageManager;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMComponentFilter;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMComponentId;
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@
     private static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger();
 
     private final DiskComponentMetadata metadata;
+    private final ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer = new ArrayBackedValueStorage(Long.BYTES);
 
     // a variable cache of componentId stored in metadata.
     // since componentId is immutable, we do not want to read from metadata every time the componentId
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@
         }
         synchronized (this) {
             if (componentId == null) {
-                componentId = LSMComponentIdUtils.readFrom(metadata);
+                componentId = LSMComponentIdUtils.readFrom(metadata, buffer);
             }
         }
         if (componentId.missing()) {
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/BlockingIOOperationCallbackWrapper.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/BlockingIOOperationCallbackWrapper.java
index 042720c..a8ee286 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/BlockingIOOperationCallbackWrapper.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/BlockingIOOperationCallbackWrapper.java
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     }
 
     public synchronized void waitForIO() throws InterruptedException {
-        if (!notified) {
+        while (!notified) {
             wait();
         }
         notified = false;
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/DiskComponentMetadata.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/DiskComponentMetadata.java
index d1244ce..649989c 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/DiskComponentMetadata.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/DiskComponentMetadata.java
@@ -19,9 +19,8 @@
 package org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.impls;
 
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IPointable;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
-import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.primitive.VoidPointable;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.IMetadataPageManager;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.IComponentMetadata;
 
@@ -39,17 +38,10 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void get(IValueReference key, IPointable value) throws HyracksDataException {
+    public void get(IValueReference key, ArrayBackedValueStorage value) throws HyracksDataException {
         mdpManager.get(mdpManager.createMetadataFrame(), key, value);
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public IValueReference get(IValueReference key) throws HyracksDataException {
-        VoidPointable value = VoidPointable.FACTORY.createPointable();
-        get(key, value);
-        return value;
-    }
-
     public void put(MemoryComponentMetadata metadata) throws HyracksDataException {
         metadata.copy(mdpManager);
     }
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/EmptyDiskComponentMetadata.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/EmptyDiskComponentMetadata.java
index 7d1925b..d0fe8a9 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/EmptyDiskComponentMetadata.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/EmptyDiskComponentMetadata.java
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
 package org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.impls;
 
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IPointable;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 
 public class EmptyDiskComponentMetadata extends DiskComponentMetadata {
     public static final EmptyDiskComponentMetadata INSTANCE = new EmptyDiskComponentMetadata();
@@ -35,12 +35,7 @@
     }
 
     @Override
-    public void get(IValueReference key, IPointable value) throws HyracksDataException {
-        throw new IllegalStateException("Attempt to read metadata of empty component");
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public IValueReference get(IValueReference key) throws HyracksDataException {
+    public void get(IValueReference key, ArrayBackedValueStorage value) throws HyracksDataException {
         throw new IllegalStateException("Attempt to read metadata of empty component");
     }
 
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/LSMHarness.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/LSMHarness.java
index eed8f6e..59f48d4 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/LSMHarness.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/LSMHarness.java
@@ -601,6 +601,7 @@
     public void scheduleMerge(ILSMIndexOperationContext ctx, ILSMIOOperationCallback callback)
             throws HyracksDataException {
         if (!getAndEnterComponents(ctx, LSMOperationType.MERGE, true)) {
+            LOGGER.info("Failed to enter components for merge operation. Calling finalize");
             ctx.setIoOperationType(LSMIOOperationType.MERGE);
             callback.afterFinalize(ctx);
             return;
@@ -871,10 +872,12 @@
             scheduleMerge(ctx, ioCallback);
         }
         IOOperationUtils.waitForIoOperation(ioCallback);
-        // ensure that merge has succeeded
-        for (ILSMDiskComponent component : toBeDeleted) {
-            if (lsmIndex.getDiskComponents().contains(component)) {
-                throw HyracksDataException.create(ErrorCode.A_MERGE_OPERATION_HAS_FAILED);
+        synchronized (opTracker) {
+            // ensure that merge has succeeded
+            for (ILSMDiskComponent component : toBeDeleted) {
+                if (lsmIndex.getDiskComponents().contains(component)) {
+                    throw HyracksDataException.create(ErrorCode.A_MERGE_OPERATION_HAS_FAILED, component.toString());
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/MemoryComponentMetadata.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/MemoryComponentMetadata.java
index 3179790..e73fa0a 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/MemoryComponentMetadata.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/impls/MemoryComponentMetadata.java
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantReadWriteLock;
 
 import org.apache.commons.lang3.tuple.Pair;
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
-import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IPointable;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.IMetadataPageManager;
@@ -35,61 +35,94 @@
 
 public class MemoryComponentMetadata implements IComponentMetadata {
     private static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger();
-    private static final byte[] empty = new byte[0];
+    private final ReentrantReadWriteLock lock = new ReentrantReadWriteLock();
     private final List<org.apache.commons.lang3.tuple.Pair<IValueReference, ArrayBackedValueStorage>> store =
             new ArrayList<>();
 
     /**
      * Note: for memory metadata, it is expected that the key will be constant
+     *
+     * @throws HyracksDataException
      */
     @Override
-    public void put(IValueReference key, IValueReference value) {
-        ArrayBackedValueStorage stored = get(key);
-        if (stored == null) {
-            stored = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
-            store.add(Pair.of(key, stored));
+    public void put(IValueReference key, IValueReference value) throws HyracksDataException {
+        lock.writeLock().lock();
+        try {
+            ArrayBackedValueStorage stored = get(key);
+            if (stored == null) {
+                stored = new ArrayBackedValueStorage();
+                store.add(Pair.of(key, stored));
+            }
+            stored.assign(value);
+        } finally {
+            lock.writeLock().unlock();
         }
-        stored.assign(value);
     }
 
     /**
      * Note: for memory metadata, it is expected that the key will be constant
+     *
+     * @throws HyracksDataException
      */
     @Override
-    public void get(IValueReference key, IPointable value) {
-        value.set(empty, 0, 0);
-        ArrayBackedValueStorage stored = get(key);
-        if (stored != null) {
-            value.set(stored);
+    public void get(IValueReference key, ArrayBackedValueStorage value) throws HyracksDataException {
+        lock.readLock().lock();
+        try {
+            value.reset();
+            ArrayBackedValueStorage stored = get(key);
+            if (stored != null) {
+                value.append(stored);
+            }
+        } finally {
+            lock.readLock().unlock();
         }
     }
 
-    @Override
-    public ArrayBackedValueStorage get(IValueReference key) {
-        for (Pair<IValueReference, ArrayBackedValueStorage> pair : store) {
-            if (pair.getKey().equals(key)) {
-                return pair.getValue();
+    private ArrayBackedValueStorage get(IValueReference key) {
+        lock.readLock().lock();
+        try {
+            for (Pair<IValueReference, ArrayBackedValueStorage> pair : store) {
+                if (pair.getKey().equals(key)) {
+                    return pair.getValue();
+                }
             }
+            return null;
+        } finally {
+            lock.readLock().unlock();
         }
-        return null;
     }
 
     public void copy(IMetadataPageManager mdpManager) throws HyracksDataException {
-        LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Copying Metadata into a different component");
-        ITreeIndexMetadataFrame frame = mdpManager.createMetadataFrame();
-        for (Pair<IValueReference, ArrayBackedValueStorage> pair : store) {
-            if (LOGGER.isInfoEnabled()) {
-                LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Copying " + pair.getKey() + " : " + pair.getValue().getLength() + " bytes");
+        lock.readLock().lock();
+        try {
+            LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Copying Metadata into a different component");
+            ITreeIndexMetadataFrame frame = mdpManager.createMetadataFrame();
+            for (Pair<IValueReference, ArrayBackedValueStorage> pair : store) {
+                if (LOGGER.isInfoEnabled()) {
+                    LOGGER.log(Level.INFO, "Copying " + pair.getKey() + " : " + pair.getValue().getLength() + " bytes");
+                }
+                mdpManager.put(frame, pair.getKey(), pair.getValue());
             }
-            mdpManager.put(frame, pair.getKey(), pair.getValue());
+        } finally {
+            lock.readLock().unlock();
         }
     }
 
     public void copy(DiskComponentMetadata metadata) throws HyracksDataException {
-        metadata.put(this);
+        lock.readLock().lock();
+        try {
+            metadata.put(this);
+        } finally {
+            lock.readLock().unlock();
+        }
     }
 
     public void reset() {
-        store.clear();
+        lock.writeLock().lock();
+        try {
+            store.clear();
+        } finally {
+            lock.writeLock().unlock();
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/ComponentUtils.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/ComponentUtils.java
index 94a3702..4b7f338 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/ComponentUtils.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/ComponentUtils.java
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IPointable;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.api.IValueReference;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.primitive.LongPointable;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.bloomfilter.impls.BloomFilter;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndex;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.freepage.MutableArrayValueReference;
@@ -59,10 +60,10 @@
      * @throws HyracksDataException
      *             If the comopnent was a disk component and an IO error was encountered
      */
-    public static long getLong(IComponentMetadata metadata, IValueReference key, long defaultValue)
-            throws HyracksDataException {
-        IValueReference value = metadata.get(key);
-        return value == null || value.getLength() == 0 ? defaultValue
+    public static long getLong(IComponentMetadata metadata, IValueReference key, long defaultValue,
+            ArrayBackedValueStorage value) throws HyracksDataException {
+        metadata.get(key, value);
+        return value.getLength() == 0 ? defaultValue
                 : LongPointable.getLong(value.getByteArray(), value.getStartOffset());
     }
 
@@ -73,31 +74,36 @@
      *
      * @param index
      * @param key
-     * @param pointable
+     * @param value
      * @throws HyracksDataException
      */
-    public static void get(ILSMIndex index, IValueReference key, IPointable pointable) throws HyracksDataException {
+    public static void get(ILSMIndex index, IValueReference key, ArrayBackedValueStorage value)
+            throws HyracksDataException {
         boolean loggable = LOGGER.isDebugEnabled();
+        value.reset();
         if (loggable) {
             LOGGER.log(Level.DEBUG, "Getting " + key + " from index " + index);
         }
         // Lock the opTracker to ensure index components don't change
         synchronized (index.getOperationTracker()) {
-            index.getCurrentMemoryComponent().getMetadata().get(key, pointable);
-            if (pointable.getLength() == 0) {
+            ILSMMemoryComponent cmc = index.getCurrentMemoryComponent();
+            if (cmc.isReadable()) {
+                index.getCurrentMemoryComponent().getMetadata().get(key, value);
+            }
+            if (value.getLength() == 0) {
                 if (loggable) {
                     LOGGER.log(Level.DEBUG, key + " was not found in mutable memory component of " + index);
                 }
                 // was not found in the in current mutable component, search in the other in memory components
-                fromImmutableMemoryComponents(index, key, pointable);
-                if (pointable.getLength() == 0) {
+                fromImmutableMemoryComponents(index, key, value);
+                if (value.getLength() == 0) {
                     if (loggable) {
                         LOGGER.log(Level.DEBUG, key + " was not found in all immmutable memory components of " + index);
                     }
                     // was not found in the in all in memory components, search in the disk components
-                    fromDiskComponents(index, key, pointable);
+                    fromDiskComponents(index, key, value);
                     if (loggable) {
-                        if (pointable.getLength() == 0) {
+                        if (value.getLength() == 0) {
                             LOGGER.log(Level.DEBUG, key + " was not found in all disk components of " + index);
                         } else {
                             LOGGER.log(Level.DEBUG, key + " was found in disk components of " + index);
@@ -134,7 +140,7 @@
         }
     }
 
-    private static void fromDiskComponents(ILSMIndex index, IValueReference key, IPointable pointable)
+    private static void fromDiskComponents(ILSMIndex index, IValueReference key, ArrayBackedValueStorage value)
             throws HyracksDataException {
         boolean loggable = LOGGER.isDebugEnabled();
         if (loggable) {
@@ -144,15 +150,16 @@
             if (loggable) {
                 LOGGER.log(Level.DEBUG, "Getting " + key + " from disk components " + c);
             }
-            c.getMetadata().get(key, pointable);
-            if (pointable.getLength() != 0) {
+            c.getMetadata().get(key, value);
+            if (value.getLength() != 0) {
                 // Found
                 return;
             }
         }
     }
 
-    private static void fromImmutableMemoryComponents(ILSMIndex index, IValueReference key, IPointable pointable) {
+    private static void fromImmutableMemoryComponents(ILSMIndex index, IValueReference key,
+            ArrayBackedValueStorage value) throws HyracksDataException {
         boolean loggable = LOGGER.isDebugEnabled();
         if (loggable) {
             LOGGER.log(Level.DEBUG, "Getting " + key + " from immutable memory components of " + index);
@@ -174,8 +181,8 @@
             }
             ILSMMemoryComponent c = index.getMemoryComponents().get(next);
             if (c.isReadable()) {
-                c.getMetadata().get(key, pointable);
-                if (pointable.getLength() != 0) {
+                c.getMetadata().get(key, value);
+                if (value.getLength() != 0) {
                     // Found
                     return;
                 }
diff --git a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/LSMComponentIdUtils.java b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/LSMComponentIdUtils.java
index 3c88543..6d4b0a7 100644
--- a/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/LSMComponentIdUtils.java
+++ b/hyracks-fullstack/hyracks/hyracks-storage-am-lsm-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hyracks/storage/am/lsm/common/util/LSMComponentIdUtils.java
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 import org.apache.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.primitive.LongPointable;
+import org.apache.hyracks.data.std.util.ArrayBackedValueStorage;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.common.freepage.MutableArrayValueReference;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.IComponentMetadata;
 import org.apache.hyracks.storage.am.lsm.common.api.ILSMComponentId;
@@ -37,9 +38,10 @@
 
     }
 
-    public static ILSMComponentId readFrom(IComponentMetadata metadata) throws HyracksDataException {
-        long minId = ComponentUtils.getLong(metadata, COMPONENT_ID_MIN_KEY, LSMComponentId.NOT_FOUND);
-        long maxId = ComponentUtils.getLong(metadata, COMPONENT_ID_MAX_KEY, LSMComponentId.NOT_FOUND);
+    public static ILSMComponentId readFrom(IComponentMetadata metadata, ArrayBackedValueStorage buffer)
+            throws HyracksDataException {
+        long minId = ComponentUtils.getLong(metadata, COMPONENT_ID_MIN_KEY, LSMComponentId.NOT_FOUND, buffer);
+        long maxId = ComponentUtils.getLong(metadata, COMPONENT_ID_MAX_KEY, LSMComponentId.NOT_FOUND, buffer);
         if (minId == LSMComponentId.NOT_FOUND || maxId == LSMComponentId.NOT_FOUND) {
             return LSMComponentId.MISSING_COMPONENT_ID;
         } else {