A method for avoiding inode number conflict during metadata restoration at a restoration location is provided. The method includes receiving metadata for a first file including an inode containing an initial internal inode number and a directory entry containing an external inode number, determining an allocation status of the initial internal inode number at the restoration location, identifying an available internal inode number to be allocated to the first file, updating the initial internal inode number in the inode for the first file with the available internal inode number, registering the available internal inode number and the external inode number in an inode mapping table indicating correspondence between the available internal inode number and the external inode number, and restoring the inode based on the available internal inode number.