The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for generating a hierarchy of metadata tables for a database comprising containers including tables. The tables are identified by table names and assigned to containers. A first table is assigned to two containers and may define two table instances of the first table. The hierarchy of metadata tables includes a first metadata table defining mappings between container identifiers, table names, table sections, and unique identifiers for corresponding data within table sections of table instances defined with the table names mapped to the container identifiers. In response to receiving a request to generate a replication of table content, a second metadata table is generated to identify a unique set of table instances from the set of the containers based on evaluating the first metadata table. The unique set of table instances comprises data from the database storage without repetition.