Abstract: A method includes identifying an independent data object of a plurality of independent data objects for retrieval from dispersed storage network (DSN) memory. The method further includes determining a mapping of the plurality of independent data objects into a data matrix, wherein the mapping is in accordance with the dispersed storage error encoding function. The method further includes identifying, based on the mapping, an encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices corresponding to the independent data object. The method further includes sending a retrieval request to a storage unit of the DSN memory regarding the encoded data slice. When the encoded data slice is received, the method further includes decoding the encoding data slice in accordance with the dispersed storage error encoding function and the mapping to reproduce the independent data object.

Abstract: A head unit device for controlling motion of an object includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a piston. The piston is housed within the chamber and exerts pressure against the STF from a force applied to the piston from the object. The STF is configured to have a decreasing viscosity in response to a first range of shear rates and an increasing viscosity in response to a second range of shear rates. The piston includes at least one piston bypass between opposite sides of the piston that controls flow of the STF between the opposite sides of the piston to selectively react with a shear threshold effect of the first range of shear rates or the second range of shear rates.

Abstract: A storage network operates by: receiving a plurality of identifiers associated with a user including a user identifier and a group identifier; generating a plurality of key pairs associated with the plurality of user identifiers, the plurality of key pairs including a first key pair and a second key pair, the first key pair including a first public key and a first private key, and the second key pair including a second public key and a second private key; storing the plurality of key pairs; generating at least one request for a certificate; receiving at least one signed certificate in response to the at least one request; and accessing the storage network using the at least one signed certificate.

Abstract: A device for use in a storage network including storage network memory distributed amongst a plurality of storage units. The device includes a processing module operably couple to a memory that stores operational instructions. The processing module is configured to execute the operational instructions to determine storage parameters associated with encoded data slices generated from data to be stored in the plurality of storage units. The storage parameters include information indicating a read threshold number of encoded data slices required to recover the data. The method further includes facilitating distributed storage of the encoded data slices among the plurality of storage units such that the number of the error-encoded data slices stored in any particular storage unit is chosen so that in the event of an unavailability of any individual storage unit, at least a read threshold number of encoded data slices are still accessible from the remaining storage units.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a computing device of a storage network, a storage inconsistency exists for a set of encoded data slices based on an indicator of a difference list, where the difference list is regarding storage of the set of encoded data slices within a set of storage units of the storage network and where a data segment is error encoded into the set of encoded data slices. The method further includes determining a storage resolution of a plurality of storage resolutions for the storage inconsistency based on the one or more indicators. The method further includes facilitating the storage resolution to resolve the storage inconsistency for the set of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A method for execution by a storage network includes receiving a request pertaining to a data object. Metadata associated with the data object is determined and used to identify data segments associated with the data object and a set of storage units associated with the data segments. Based on a set of query requests, a response is received from a storage unit from the set of storage units. When the response indicates a storage environment that is unfavorable as compared to predetermined performance metrics, the storage network facilitates migration of encoded data slices associated with the storage unit to another storage unit.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more computing devices of a storage network includes identifying a storage unit of a set of storage units for testing, where a data segment of data is error encoded into a set of encoded data slices that is stored in the set of storage units. The method further includes determining whether a threshold number of favorably performing other storage units of the set of storage units will be available during the testing. When the threshold number of favorably performing other storage units will be available, the method further includes initiating the testing of the storage unit and setting a status of the storage unit to unavailable. When the testing has been completed, the method further includes updating the status of the storage unit to available. The method further includes generating a testing report regarding the testing of the storage unit.

Abstract: A method includes identifying traits associated with a number of storage units of a storage network to produce identified traits. The method further includes determining a plurality of sets of storage pool traits based on the identified traits, where a first set of storage pool traits of the plurality of sets of storage pool traits has a common trait of the identified traits. The method further includes selecting a plurality of groups of storage units from the number of storage units based on the plurality of sets of storage pool traits. The method further includes selecting a storage unit from each of the plurality of groups of storage units in accordance with a selection approach to produce a storage set of selected storage units. The method further includes utilizing the storage set of selected storage units for storing data in the storage network.

Abstract: A processing system is operable to encode data to produce a first set of data slices based on a value of a width parameter. The data is stored based on maintaining storage of the first set of data slices across a set of storage units of a storage pool. Storage of the first set of data slices is maintained in the set of storage units of the storage pool after addition of an additional set of storage units added to the storage pool. The value of the width parameter is increased to an increased value to produce an updated width parameter. The data is re-encoded in accordance with the updated width parameter to produce a second set of data slices. The data is re-stored based on maintaining storage of the second set of data slices across the expanded set of storage units of the storage pool.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more computing devices of a storage network includes generating an audit record data file regarding the execution of a data access request associated with a transaction within the storage network, where the transaction is associated with encoded data slices. The method continues with generating an audit object data log that includes at least the audit record data file and storing the audit object data log in at least one memory of the storage network. The method continues retrieving, from the at least one memory, the audit record data file of the audit object data log based on the information associated with the transaction. The method continues auditing the transaction for storage network operational compliance based on at least the audit record data file.

Abstract: A storage network operates by: encoding a data segment into a set of encoded data slices, wherein a read threshold of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices is required to decode the data segment, wherein the read threshold has a value greater than one, and wherein the data segment has an associated security level; selecting a subset of the plurality of storage units based on the security level, wherein the subset includes at least the read threshold of storage units of the plurality of storage units, wherein each of the subset of the plurality of storage units has a connection security approach that corresponds to the security level; and communicating the set of encoded data slices to the subset of the plurality of storage units in accordance with the connection security approach associated with each of the subset of the plurality of storage units.

Abstract: A processing system of a storage network operates by: selecting a queue memory type of a plurality of memory types to store a data object, based on a size parameter associated with the data object; storing the data object in a queue memory device having the queue memory type, when the queue memory type is selected; selecting a main memory type of a plurality of memory types to store the data object, when the queue memory type is not selected; and storing the data object in a main memory device having the main memory type, when the queue memory type is not selected; wherein the data object is dispersed error encoded and stored as a plurality of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A source storage unit of a storage network operates by: sending a slice to migrate from the source storage unit to a destination storage unit; sending a slice verification request to the destination storage unit, wherein the slice verification request includes one or more of: a slice identifier, the slice, a revision indicator, a verification method indicator, or a nonce; receiving an integrity value from the destination storage unit; determining when the integrity value compares favorably to the slice verification request by determining when a hash of the slice and a nonce matches the integrity value or determining when a decrypted signature of the integrity value matches a hash of the slice and the nonce or the slice and the nonce; when the integrity value compares favorably to the slice verification request, updating a slice identifier assignment associated with a slice identifier corresponding to the slice, wherein updating the slice identifier assignment associates the destination storage unit with the s

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device to adjust efficiency of storing data in a storage network includes processing a data segment based on a storage approach to produce a processed data segment, the storage approach being based on an estimated overwrite frequency for the data segment. The method continues by error encoding the processed data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices, where a decode threshold number of encoded data slices is needed to recover the processed data segment. The method continues by storing the set of encoded data slices in the memory of the storage network.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more computing devices includes selecting a first routing path from a plurality of routing paths to a set of storage units based on routing path performance information, where the first routing path has a performance level greater than a first performance threshold. The method further includes selecting a second routing path from the plurality of routing paths based on the routing path performance information, where the second routing path has a performance level less than or equal to the first performance threshold. The method further includes sending a first subset of encoded data slices to the set of storage units via the first routing path for storage therein. The method further includes sending a second subset of encoded data slices to the set of storage units via the second routing path for storage therein.

Abstract: A processing system operates by: detecting an access anomaly associated with an access request from a requestor for a set of encoded data slices, the access anomaly having an unfavorable access pattern, wherein the set of encoded data slices is dispersed storage error encoded and stored in at least one storage unit of the storage network; denying the access request in response to detecting the access anomaly; generating, based on the unfavorable access pattern, an anomaly detection indicator identifying the requestor; and sending the anomaly detection indicator to other devices of the storage network.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more computing devices of a massive data ingestion system includes receiving data for storage in the massive data ingestion system. The method further includes storing a data segment of the data in a cache memory of the massive data ingestion system. The method further includes retrieving, based on one or more retrieval parameters, the data segment from the cache memory. The method further includes error encoding, in accordance with error encoding parameters, the data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices, wherein the error encoding parameters include a pillar width number and a decode threshold number, and wherein the decode threshold number is a minimum number of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment. The method further includes storing the set of encoded data slices in a set of storage units of the massive data ingestion system.

Abstract: A processing system of a storage network operates by: generating a request for a plurality of system registry files; receiving the plurality of system registry files via a network; generating a verification indicator based on an integrity check of the plurality of system registry files versus system registry integrity data corresponding to the plurality of system registry files; and storing the system registry files in memory when the verification indicator indicates that verification was successful.

Abstract: A method for processing data access requests in a storage network. The method includes receiving, by one or more processing modules, a data access request for a data object. A plurality of encoded data slices corresponding to the data object are stored in a distributed manner among a plurality of storage units associated with a plurality of storage sites of the storage network. The method continues with the one or more processing modules selecting respective numbers of storage units at each of the plurality of storage sites to support the data access request. A first computing device that is associated with a first storage site of the plurality of storage sites is also selected to further process the data access request. The method continues with the one or more processing modules transmitting the data access request to the first computing device to be further processed.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining, by a computing device of a storage network, provenance information for data associated with a set of storage units of the storage network, where the data is error encoded into a set of encoded data slices, in accordance with error encoding parameters, for storage in the set of storage units. The method further includes determining, by the computing device, probable error locations associated with the set of storage units based on the provenance information. The method further includes scanning, by the computing device, the probable error locations to determine whether an error exists for the set of encoded data slices.