diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/pom.xml b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/pom.xml
index 1e1bc8d..207954f 100644
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/pom.xml
+++ b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/pom.xml
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@
       </plugin>
     </plugins>
   </build>
-  <dependencies>
+  <dependencies>  	
   	<dependency>
   		<groupId>edu.uci.ics.hyracks</groupId>
-  		<artifactId>hyracks-storage-common</artifactId>
+  		<artifactId>hyracks-storage-am-common</artifactId>
   		<version>0.1.4</version>
   		<type>jar</type>
   		<scope>compile</scope>
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/api/IBTreeMetaDataFrame.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/api/IBTreeMetaDataFrame.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 58739e2..0000000
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/api/IBTreeMetaDataFrame.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * you may obtain a copy of the License from
- * 
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.buffercache.ICachedPage;
-
-public interface IBTreeMetaDataFrame {
-    public void initBuffer(int level);
-
-    public void setPage(ICachedPage page);
-
-    public ICachedPage getPage();
-
-    public byte getLevel();
-
-    public void setLevel(byte level);
-
-    public int getNextPage();
-
-    public void setNextPage(int nextPage);
-
-    public int getMaxPage();
-
-    public void setMaxPage(int maxPage);
-
-    public int getFreePage();
-
-    public boolean hasSpace();
-
-    public void addFreePage(int freePage);
-}
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/api/IBTreeMetaDataFrameFactory.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/api/IBTreeMetaDataFrameFactory.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 2912cf9..0000000
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/api/IBTreeMetaDataFrameFactory.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * you may obtain a copy of the License from
- * 
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api;
-
-public interface IBTreeMetaDataFrameFactory {
-    public IBTreeMetaDataFrame getFrame();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeBulkLoadOperatorNodePushable.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeBulkLoadOperatorNodePushable.java
index 6e13ed7..f2f347f 100644
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeBulkLoadOperatorNodePushable.java
+++ b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeBulkLoadOperatorNodePushable.java
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.api.exceptions.HyracksDataException;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAccessor;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.base.AbstractUnaryInputSinkOperatorNodePushable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeMetaDataFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.frames.MetaDataFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTree;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.frames.LIFOMetaDataFrame;
 
 public class BTreeBulkLoadOperatorNodePushable extends
 		AbstractUnaryInputSinkOperatorNodePushable {
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 				opDesc.getOperatorId(), 0);
 		accessor = new FrameTupleAccessor(btreeOpHelper
 				.getHyracksStageletContext().getFrameSize(), recDesc);
-		IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame = new MetaDataFrame();
+		ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame = new LIFOMetaDataFrame();
 		try {
 			btreeOpHelper.init();
 			btreeOpHelper.getBTree().open(btreeOpHelper.getBTreeFileId());
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeDiskOrderScanOperatorNodePushable.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeDiskOrderScanOperatorNodePushable.java
index c362183..279a0c3 100644
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeDiskOrderScanOperatorNodePushable.java
+++ b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeDiskOrderScanOperatorNodePushable.java
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.data.accessors.ITupleReference;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.base.AbstractUnaryOutputSourceOperatorNodePushable;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeLeafFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeMetaDataFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.frames.MetaDataFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.DiskOrderScanCursor;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.MultiComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.frames.LIFOMetaDataFrame;
 
 public class BTreeDiskOrderScanOperatorNodePushable extends AbstractUnaryOutputSourceOperatorNodePushable {
     private final BTreeOpHelper btreeOpHelper;
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 
         IBTreeLeafFrame cursorFrame = btreeOpHelper.getOperatorDescriptor().getLeafFactory().getFrame();
         DiskOrderScanCursor cursor = new DiskOrderScanCursor(cursorFrame);
-        IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame = new MetaDataFrame();
+        ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame = new LIFOMetaDataFrame();
 
         try {
         
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeInsertUpdateDeleteOperatorNodePushable.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeInsertUpdateDeleteOperatorNodePushable.java
index acb7d0f..733cb88 100644
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeInsertUpdateDeleteOperatorNodePushable.java
+++ b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeInsertUpdateDeleteOperatorNodePushable.java
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.io.FrameTupleAccessor;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.common.comm.util.FrameUtils;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.base.AbstractUnaryInputUnaryOutputOperatorNodePushable;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.frames.MetaDataFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTree;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeOp;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTreeOpContext;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.frames.LIFOMetaDataFrame;
 
 public class BTreeInsertUpdateDeleteOperatorNodePushable extends AbstractUnaryInputUnaryOutputOperatorNodePushable {
     private final BTreeOpHelper btreeOpHelper;
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     		btreeOpHelper.init();
     		btreeOpHelper.getBTree().open(btreeOpHelper.getBTreeFileId());
     		opCtx = btreeOpHelper.getBTree().createOpContext(op, btreeOpHelper.getLeafFrame(),
-    				btreeOpHelper.getInteriorFrame(), new MetaDataFrame());
+    				btreeOpHelper.getInteriorFrame(), new LIFOMetaDataFrame());
     	} catch(Exception e) {
     		// cleanup in case of failure
     		btreeOpHelper.deinit();
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeOpHelper.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeOpHelper.java
index 880cc25..51826ce 100644
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeOpHelper.java
+++ b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/dataflow/BTreeOpHelper.java
@@ -21,9 +21,12 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.dataflow.std.file.IFileSplitProvider;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeInteriorFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeLeafFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.frames.MetaDataFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.BTree;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.impls.MultiComparator;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.IFreePageManager;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.frames.LIFOMetaDataFrame;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.freepage.LinkedListFreePageManager;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.buffercache.IBufferCache;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.file.IFileMapProvider;
 
@@ -109,10 +112,12 @@
 					MultiComparator cmp = new MultiComparator(opDesc
 							.getTypeTraits(), comparators);
 
-					btree = new BTree(bufferCache, opDesc.getInteriorFactory(),
+					// TODO: abstract away in some kind of factory
+					IFreePageManager freePageManager = new LinkedListFreePageManager(bufferCache, btreeFileId, 0);
+					btree = new BTree(bufferCache, freePageManager, opDesc.getInteriorFactory(),
 							opDesc.getLeafFactory(), cmp);
 					if (mode == BTreeMode.CREATE_BTREE) {
-						MetaDataFrame metaFrame = new MetaDataFrame();
+						ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame = new LIFOMetaDataFrame();
 						try {
 							btree.create(btreeFileId, leafFrame, metaFrame);
 							btree.open(btreeFileId);
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/MetaDataFrame.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/MetaDataFrame.java
deleted file mode 100644
index a219dd6..0000000
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/MetaDataFrame.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,114 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * you may obtain a copy of the License from
- * 
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.frames;
-
-import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeMetaDataFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.buffercache.ICachedPage;
-
-// all meta pages of this kind have a negative level
-// the first meta page has level -1, all other meta pages have level -2
-// the first meta page is special because it guarantees to have a correct max page
-// other meta pages (i.e., with level -2) have junk in the max page field
-
-public class MetaDataFrame implements IBTreeMetaDataFrame {
-
-    protected static final int tupleCountOff = 0;
-    protected static final int freeSpaceOff = tupleCountOff + 4;
-    protected static final int maxPageOff = freeSpaceOff + 4;
-    protected static final byte levelOff = maxPageOff + 1;
-    protected static final byte nextPageOff = maxPageOff + 8;
-
-    protected ICachedPage page = null;
-    protected ByteBuffer buf = null;
-
-    public int getMaxPage() {
-        return buf.getInt(maxPageOff);
-    }
-
-    public void setMaxPage(int maxPage) {
-        buf.putInt(maxPageOff, maxPage);
-    }
-
-    public int getFreePage() {
-        int tupleCount = buf.getInt(tupleCountOff);
-        if (tupleCount > 0) {
-            // return the last page from the linked list of free pages
-            // TODO: this is a dumb policy, but good enough for now
-            int lastPageOff = buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff) - 4;
-            buf.putInt(freeSpaceOff, lastPageOff);
-            buf.putInt(tupleCountOff, tupleCount - 1);
-            return buf.getInt(lastPageOff);
-        } else {
-            return -1;
-        }
-    }
-
-    // must be checked before adding free page
-    // user of this class is responsible for getting a free page as a new meta
-    // page, latching it, etc. if there is no space on this page
-    public boolean hasSpace() {
-        return buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff) + 4 < buf.capacity();
-    }
-
-    // on bounds checking is done, there must be free space
-    public void addFreePage(int freePage) {
-        int freeSpace = buf.getInt(freeSpaceOff);
-        buf.putInt(freeSpace, freePage);
-        buf.putInt(freeSpaceOff, freeSpace + 4);
-        buf.putInt(tupleCountOff, buf.getInt(tupleCountOff) + 1);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public byte getLevel() {
-        return buf.get(levelOff);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public void setLevel(byte level) {
-        buf.put(levelOff, level);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public ICachedPage getPage() {
-        return page;
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public void setPage(ICachedPage page) {
-        this.page = page;
-        this.buf = page.getBuffer();
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public void initBuffer(int level) {
-        buf.putInt(freeSpaceOff, nextPageOff + 4);
-        buf.putInt(tupleCountOff, 0);
-        buf.putInt(levelOff, level);
-        buf.putInt(nextPageOff, -1);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public int getNextPage() {
-        return buf.getInt(nextPageOff);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    public void setNextPage(int nextPage) {
-        buf.putInt(nextPageOff, nextPage);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/MetaDataFrameFactory.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/MetaDataFrameFactory.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 9896bf9..0000000
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/frames/MetaDataFrameFactory.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,26 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright 2009-2010 by The Regents of the University of California
- * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
- * you may obtain a copy of the License from
- * 
- *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
- * 
- * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
- * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
- * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
- * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
- * limitations under the License.
- */
-
-package edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.frames;
-
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeMetaDataFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeMetaDataFrameFactory;
-
-public class MetaDataFrameFactory implements IBTreeMetaDataFrameFactory {
-    @Override
-    public IBTreeMetaDataFrame getFrame() {
-        return new MetaDataFrame();
-    }
-}
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTree.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTree.java
index 7a8ee73..1902572 100644
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTree.java
+++ b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTree.java
@@ -28,22 +28,24 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeInteriorFrameFactory;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeLeafFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeLeafFrameFactory;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeMetaDataFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeTupleWriter;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.frames.NSMInteriorFrame;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.IFreePageManager;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.buffercache.IBufferCache;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.buffercache.ICachedPage;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.common.file.BufferedFileHandle;
 
 public class BTree {
-
+	
     private final static int RESTART_OP = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
     private final static int MAX_RESTARTS = 10;
+    
+    // the root page never changes
+    private final int rootPage = 1;
 
-    private final int metaDataPage = 0; // page containing meta data, e.g.,
-    // maxPage
-    private final int rootPage = 1; // the root page never changes
-
+    private final IFreePageManager freePageManager;
+    
     private boolean created = false;
     private boolean loaded = false;
 
@@ -90,17 +92,18 @@
         return strBuilder.toString();
     }
 
-    public BTree(IBufferCache bufferCache, IBTreeInteriorFrameFactory interiorFrameFactory,
+    public BTree(IBufferCache bufferCache, IFreePageManager freePageManager, IBTreeInteriorFrameFactory interiorFrameFactory,
             IBTreeLeafFrameFactory leafFrameFactory, MultiComparator cmp) {
         this.bufferCache = bufferCache;
         this.interiorFrameFactory = interiorFrameFactory;
         this.leafFrameFactory = leafFrameFactory;
         this.cmp = cmp;
+        this.freePageManager = freePageManager;
         this.treeLatch = new ReentrantReadWriteLock(true);
         this.diskOrderScanPredicate = new RangePredicate(true, null, null, true, true, cmp, cmp);
     }
 
-    public void create(int fileId, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws Exception {
+    public void create(int fileId, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws Exception {
 
         if (created)
             return;
@@ -111,24 +114,9 @@
             // check if another thread beat us to it
             if (created)
                 return;
-
-            // initialize meta data page
-            ICachedPage metaNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, metaDataPage), false);
-            pins++;
-
-            metaNode.acquireWriteLatch();
-            writeLatchesAcquired++;
-            try {
-                metaFrame.setPage(metaNode);
-                metaFrame.initBuffer((byte) -1);
-                metaFrame.setMaxPage(rootPage);
-            } finally {
-                metaNode.releaseWriteLatch();
-                writeLatchesReleased++;
-                bufferCache.unpin(metaNode);
-                unpins++;
-            }
-
+            
+            freePageManager.init(metaFrame, rootPage);
+            
             // initialize root page
             ICachedPage rootNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, rootPage), true);
             pins++;
@@ -159,159 +147,17 @@
     public void close() {
         fileId = -1;
     }
-
-    private int getFreePage(IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws HyracksDataException {
-        ICachedPage metaNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, metaDataPage), false);
-        pins++;
-
-        metaNode.acquireWriteLatch();
-        writeLatchesAcquired++;
-
-        int freePage = -1;
-        try {
-            metaFrame.setPage(metaNode);
-            freePage = metaFrame.getFreePage();
-            if (freePage < 0) { // no free page entry on this page
-                int nextPage = metaFrame.getNextPage();
-                if (nextPage > 0) { // sibling may have free pages
-                    ICachedPage nextNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, nextPage), false);
-                    pins++;
-
-                    nextNode.acquireWriteLatch();
-                    writeLatchesAcquired++;
-                    // we copy over the free space entries of nextpage into the
-                    // first meta page (metaDataPage)
-                    // we need to link the first page properly to the next page
-                    // of nextpage
-                    try {
-                        // remember entries that remain unchanged
-                        int maxPage = metaFrame.getMaxPage();
-
-                        // copy entire page (including sibling pointer, free
-                        // page entries, and all other info)
-                        // after this copy nextPage is considered a free page
-                        System.arraycopy(nextNode.getBuffer().array(), 0, metaNode.getBuffer().array(), 0, nextNode
-                                .getBuffer().capacity());
-
-                        // reset unchanged entry
-                        metaFrame.setMaxPage(maxPage);
-
-                        freePage = metaFrame.getFreePage();
-                        // sibling also has no free pages, this "should" not
-                        // happen, but we deal with it anyway just to be safe
-                        if (freePage < 0) {
-                            freePage = nextPage;
-                        } else {
-                            metaFrame.addFreePage(nextPage);
-                        }
-                    } finally {
-                        nextNode.releaseWriteLatch();
-                        writeLatchesReleased++;
-                        bufferCache.unpin(nextNode);
-                        unpins++;
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    freePage = metaFrame.getMaxPage();
-                    freePage++;
-                    metaFrame.setMaxPage(freePage);
-                }
-            }
-        } finally {
-            metaNode.releaseWriteLatch();
-            writeLatchesReleased++;
-            bufferCache.unpin(metaNode);
-            unpins++;
-        }
-
-        return freePage;
-    }
-
+    
     private void addFreePages(BTreeOpContext ctx) throws Exception {
         for (int i = 0; i < ctx.freePages.size(); i++) {
-            addFreePage(ctx.metaFrame, ctx.freePages.get(i));
+            // root page is special, don't add it to free pages
+        	if(ctx.freePages.get(i) != rootPage) {
+            	freePageManager.addFreePage(ctx.metaFrame, ctx.freePages.get(i));
+            }
         }
         ctx.freePages.clear();
     }
-
-    private void addFreePage(IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame, int freePage) throws Exception {
-        // root page is special, don't add it to free pages
-        if (freePage == rootPage)
-            return;
-
-        ICachedPage metaNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, metaDataPage), false);
-        pins++;
-
-        metaNode.acquireWriteLatch();
-        writeLatchesAcquired++;
-
-        metaFrame.setPage(metaNode);
-
-        try {
-            if (metaFrame.hasSpace()) {
-                metaFrame.addFreePage(freePage);
-            } else {
-                // allocate a new page in the chain of meta pages
-                int newPage = metaFrame.getFreePage();
-                if (newPage < 0) {
-                    throw new Exception("Inconsistent Meta Page State. It has no space, but it also has no entries.");
-                }
-
-                ICachedPage newNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, newPage), false);
-                pins++;
-
-                newNode.acquireWriteLatch();
-                writeLatchesAcquired++;
-
-                try {
-                    int metaMaxPage = metaFrame.getMaxPage();
-
-                    // copy metaDataPage to newNode
-                    System.arraycopy(metaNode.getBuffer().array(), 0, newNode.getBuffer().array(), 0, metaNode
-                            .getBuffer().capacity());
-
-                    metaFrame.initBuffer(-1);
-                    metaFrame.setNextPage(newPage);
-                    metaFrame.setMaxPage(metaMaxPage);
-                    metaFrame.addFreePage(freePage);
-                } finally {
-                    newNode.releaseWriteLatch();
-                    writeLatchesReleased++;
-
-                    bufferCache.unpin(newNode);
-                    unpins++;
-                }
-            }
-        } catch (Exception e) {
-            e.printStackTrace();
-        } finally {
-            metaNode.releaseWriteLatch();
-            writeLatchesReleased++;
-
-            bufferCache.unpin(metaNode);
-            unpins++;
-        }
-    }
-
-    public int getMaxPage(IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws HyracksDataException {
-        ICachedPage metaNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, metaDataPage), false);
-        pins++;
-
-        metaNode.acquireWriteLatch();
-        writeLatchesAcquired++;
-        int maxPage = -1;
-        try {
-            metaFrame.setPage(metaNode);
-            maxPage = metaFrame.getMaxPage();
-        } finally {
-            metaNode.releaseWriteLatch();
-            writeLatchesReleased++;
-            bufferCache.unpin(metaNode);
-            unpins++;
-        }
-
-        return maxPage;
-    }
-
+    
     public void printTree(IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame, ISerializerDeserializer[] fields)
             throws Exception {
         printTree(rootPage, null, false, leafFrame, interiorFrame, fields);
@@ -374,28 +220,11 @@
         }
     }
 
-    public void diskOrderScan(DiskOrderScanCursor cursor, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame)
+    public void diskOrderScan(DiskOrderScanCursor cursor, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame)
             throws HyracksDataException {
         int currentPageId = rootPage + 1;
-        int maxPageId = -1;
-
-        ICachedPage metaNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, metaDataPage), false);
-        pins++;
-
-        metaNode.acquireReadLatch();
-        readLatchesAcquired++;
-
-        try {
-            metaFrame.setPage(metaNode);
-            maxPageId = metaFrame.getMaxPage();
-        } finally {
-            metaNode.releaseReadLatch();
-            readLatchesAcquired++;
-
-            bufferCache.unpin(metaNode);
-            unpins++;
-        }
-
+        int maxPageId = freePageManager.getMaxPage(metaFrame);
+        
         ICachedPage page = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, currentPageId), false);
         page.acquireReadLatch();
         cursor.setBufferCache(bufferCache);
@@ -481,7 +310,7 @@
             // is really required
             writeLatchesAcquired++;
             try {
-                int newLeftId = getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
+                int newLeftId = freePageManager.getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
                 ICachedPage newLeftNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, newLeftId), true);
                 pins++;
                 newLeftNode.acquireWriteLatch(); // TODO: think about whether
@@ -620,7 +449,7 @@
                     treeLatchesAcquired++;
                     try {
 
-                        int rightPageId = getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
+                        int rightPageId = freePageManager.getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
                         ICachedPage rightNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, rightPageId), true);
                         pins++;
                         rightNode.acquireWriteLatch();
@@ -708,7 +537,7 @@
         switch (spaceStatus) {
             case INSUFFICIENT_SPACE: {
                 splitsByLevel[ctx.interiorFrame.getLevel()]++; // debug
-                int rightPageId = getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
+                int rightPageId = freePageManager.getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
                 ICachedPage rightNode = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, rightPageId), true);
                 pins++;
                 rightNode.acquireWriteLatch();
@@ -1182,18 +1011,18 @@
         private final ArrayList<NodeFrontier> nodeFrontiers = new ArrayList<NodeFrontier>();
         private final IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame;
         private final IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame;
-        private final IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame;
+        private final ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame;
 
         private final IBTreeTupleWriter tupleWriter;
 
         public BulkLoadContext(float fillFactor, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame,
-                IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws HyracksDataException {
+                ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws HyracksDataException {
 
             splitKey = new SplitKey(leafFrame.getTupleWriter().createTupleReference());
             tupleWriter = leafFrame.getTupleWriter();
 
             NodeFrontier leafFrontier = new NodeFrontier(leafFrame.createTupleReference());
-            leafFrontier.pageId = getFreePage(metaFrame);
+            leafFrontier.pageId = freePageManager.getFreePage(metaFrame);
             leafFrontier.page = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, leafFrontier.pageId), bulkNewPage);
             leafFrontier.page.acquireWriteLatch();
 
@@ -1216,7 +1045,7 @@
 
         private void addLevel() throws HyracksDataException {
             NodeFrontier frontier = new NodeFrontier(tupleWriter.createTupleReference());
-            frontier.pageId = getFreePage(metaFrame);
+            frontier.pageId = freePageManager.getFreePage(metaFrame);
             frontier.page = bufferCache.pin(BufferedFileHandle.getDiskPageId(fileId, frontier.pageId), bulkNewPage);
             frontier.page.acquireWriteLatch();
             frontier.lastTuple.setFieldCount(cmp.getKeyFieldCount());
@@ -1258,7 +1087,7 @@
 
             frontier.page.releaseWriteLatch();
             bufferCache.unpin(frontier.page);
-            frontier.pageId = getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
+            frontier.pageId = freePageManager.getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
 
             ctx.splitKey.setRightPage(frontier.pageId);
             propagateBulk(ctx, level + 1);
@@ -1280,7 +1109,7 @@
 
     // assumes btree has been created and opened
     public BulkLoadContext beginBulkLoad(float fillFactor, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame,
-            IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame, IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws HyracksDataException {
+            IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame, ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame) throws HyracksDataException {
 
         if (loaded)
             throw new HyracksDataException("Trying to bulk-load BTree but has BTree already been loaded.");
@@ -1313,7 +1142,7 @@
             ctx.splitKey.getTuple().resetByOffset(ctx.splitKey.getBuffer(), 0);
             ctx.splitKey.setLeftPage(leafFrontier.pageId);
             int prevPageId = leafFrontier.pageId;
-            leafFrontier.pageId = getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
+            leafFrontier.pageId = freePageManager.getFreePage(ctx.metaFrame);
 
             leafFrame.setNextLeaf(leafFrontier.pageId);
             leafFrontier.page.releaseWriteLatch();
@@ -1365,7 +1194,7 @@
     }
 
     public BTreeOpContext createOpContext(BTreeOp op, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame,
-            IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame) {
+            ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame) {
         // TODO: figure out better tree-height hint
         return new BTreeOpContext(op, leafFrame, interiorFrame, metaFrame, 6);
     }
@@ -1381,4 +1210,8 @@
     public MultiComparator getMultiComparator() {
         return cmp;
     }
+    
+    public IFreePageManager getFreePageManager() {
+    	return freePageManager;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeOpContext.java b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeOpContext.java
index 84c11a2..fb59d07 100644
--- a/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeOpContext.java
+++ b/hyracks-storage-am-btree/src/main/java/edu/uci/ics/hyracks/storage/am/btree/impls/BTreeOpContext.java
@@ -18,13 +18,13 @@
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeCursor;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeInteriorFrame;
 import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeLeafFrame;
-import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.btree.api.IBTreeMetaDataFrame;
+import edu.uci.ics.hyracks.storage.am.common.api.ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame;
 
 public final class BTreeOpContext {
     public final BTreeOp op;
     public final IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame;
     public final IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame;
-    public final IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame;
+    public final ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame;
     public IBTreeCursor cursor;
     public RangePredicate pred;
     public final SplitKey splitKey;
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
     public final IntArrayList freePages;
 
     public BTreeOpContext(BTreeOp op, IBTreeLeafFrame leafFrame, IBTreeInteriorFrame interiorFrame,
-            IBTreeMetaDataFrame metaFrame, int treeHeightHint) {
+    		ITreeIndexMetaDataFrame metaFrame, int treeHeightHint) {
         this.op = op;
         this.leafFrame = leafFrame;
         this.interiorFrame = interiorFrame;