Abstract: A distributed storage integrity system in a dispersed storage network includes a scanning agent and a control unit. The scanning agent identifies an encoded data slice that requires rebuilding, wherein the encoded data slice is one of a plurality of encoded data slices generated from a data segment using an error encoding dispersal function. The control unit retrieves at least a number T of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment based on the error encoding dispersal function. The control unit is operable to reconstruct the data segment from at least the number T of the encoded data slices and generate a rebuilt encoded data slice from the reconstructed data segment. The scanning agent is located in a storage unit and the control unit is located in the storage unit or in a storage integrity processing unit, a dispersed storage processing unit or a dispersed storage managing 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 processing system of a storage network operates by: sending, to at least one storage unit of the storage network, at least one read request corresponding to at least a read threshold number of a set of encoded data slices to be retrieved, wherein the set of encoded data slices correspond to data, wherein the data is coded in accordance with dispersed error coding parameters that include a write threshold number and the read threshold number, wherein the write threshold number is a number of encoded data slices in the set of encoded data slices and wherein the read threshold number is a number of the set of encoded data slices that is required to decode the data; receiving, via the at least one processing circuit and from the at least one storage unit, a first subset of the set of encoded data slices, wherein the first subset is missing at least one missing encoded data slice that was not received from the at least one storage unit in response to the at least one read request and wherein a number of encoded

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a storage network includes obtaining performance information for a storage device of a set of storage devices of the storage network, wherein data is error encoded into sets of encoded data slices that are stored in the storage devices. The method further includes obtaining additional performance information for each storage device of the storage devices, wherein the additional performance information is based on historical data. The method further includes comparing the performance information to the additional performance information to produce comparison performance information and identifying at least one component of the comparison performance information. The method further includes comparing the at least one component to a corresponding error threshold and outputting indication of a performance error for the storage device when at least one component of the comparison performance information is greater than an error threshold.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a storage network for transferring data includes detecting a shutdown associated with a local flash memory of the storage network. The method further includes determining whether to transfer encoded data slices stored in the local flash memory, wherein a plurality of data segments are dispersed storage error encoded in accordance with distributed data storage parameters to produce pluralities of sets of encoded data slices that include the encoded data slices. When determining to transfer, the method includes determining a group of encoded data slices stored in the local flash memory to transfer, determining at least one storage location for storage of the group of encoded data slices, transferring the group of encoded data slices to the at least one storage location and outputting a transfer message indicating that the group of encoded data slices has been transferred.

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 processing modules of a storage network begins by receiving an access request for a set of encoded data slices, where the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, a data segment of which is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of encoded data slices. The method continues by determining whether a revision for one or more encoded data slices in a first storage module is a most recent revision level for the one or more encoded data slices and when the one or more encoded data slices is a most recent revision level, determining whether the revision level for the one or more encoded data slices in a second storage module is the most recent revision level.

Abstract: A storage network receives data and a corresponding task, selects a storage units for the task, determines whether the data slice is locally available and when the data slice is not locally available, determines whether a redundant data slice is available from another storage unit. When the redundant data slice is not available from another storage unit, the storage network facilitates rebuilding the data slice to produce a rebuilt data slice by retrieving a decode threshold number of data slices corresponding to the data slice, decoding the decode threshold number of data slices to reproduce a data segment and re-encoding the data segment to produce a pillar width number of data slices that includes the rebuilt data slice.

Abstract: method and apparatus for synchronizing replicated data in a storage network. In an embodiment, a method begins by a processing module of a computing device identifying a first storage set and a second storage set for replicated storage of a data object. The processing module initiates storage of the data object in both the first and second storage sets, and further maintains a synchronization status for the data object. The processing module determines, based at least in part on the synchronization status, to resynchronize the first storage set and the second storage set. In response to determining to resynchronize the first storage set and the second storage set, the processing module identifies a latest available revision of the data object, determines that the second storage set requires the latest available revision of the data object to maintain synchronization, and facilitates storage of the identified latest available revision of the data object in the second storage set.

Abstract: A method for use in a distributed storage network including a distributed storage network (DSN) memory, which in turn includes multiple storage units, includes determining storage parameters associated with error-encoded data slices generated from data to be stored in the DSN memory. The storage parameters include information indicating a read-threshold number of error-encoded data slices required to recover the data. The method further includes distributedly storing the error-encoded data slices among the plurality of storage units so that the number of the error-encoded data slices stored in any particular storage unit is chosen so that in the event of a failure of any individual storage unit, at least a read-threshold number of error-encoded data slices are still accessible from the remaining storage units.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes an environment sensor and a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes front and back channels. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber to abate an external factor of concern associated with an external environment as sensed by the environment sensor.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a secondary object sensor and a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a front channel and a back channel. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber to control motion of the object with regards to a secondary object.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling an object includes a secondary object sensor and a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a front channel and a back channel. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber to control motion of the object with regards to a secondary object.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a storage network analyzing storage network memory for a level of usability and based on the analyzing, selecting alternative memory available for receipt of encoded data slices stored in current memory, where a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments and a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module determining whether to move encoded data slices from current memory to alternative memory and based on a determination to move slices, allocating alternative memory. Finally, the processing module moves at least some encoded data slices from a current memory to alternate memory and updates a memory assignment mechanism for the at least some encoded data slices.

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 processing system operates by: storing a data segment as a set of encoded data slices, wherein the set of encoded data slices are dispersed storage error encoded and stored in at least one storage unit of a storage network; receiving, from a requestor, an access request associated with the data segment; detecting an access anomaly associated with the access request, the access anomaly having one of a plurality of anomaly types; denying the access request in response to detecting the access anomaly; generating, based on the one of the plurality of anomaly types, 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 a vault management device of a storage network includes determining a failure impact level to vaults of the storage network based on a failed storage unit within the vaults, where the vaults include a first vault that is associated with a first set of storage units and a first decode threshold number, and a second vault that is associated with a second set of storage units and a second decode threshold number, and where the failure impact level is based on the number of non-failed storage units within each of the vaults. The method continues with determining a failure abatement approach based on the failure impact level. The method continues by with facilitating the failure abatement approach.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a storage network begins or continues by generating a plurality of estimated efficiency models associated with a plurality of processing units of the storage network, where an estimated efficiency model of the plurality of estimated efficiency models includes estimated efficiency probabilities, and where the estimated efficiency probabilities correspond to data access request types for a processing unit of the plurality of processing units. The method further includes storing the plurality of estimated efficiency models in memory of the storage network.

Abstract: A computing device includes processing circuitry configured to determine whether to modify the dispersed error encoding parameters of a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) stored in a distributed storage network to produce a set of modified EDSs, wherein a data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments and in response to a determination to modify the dispersed error encoding parameters of the set of EDSs, identify a plurality of storage units to store the modified EDSs and determine modified dispersed error encoding parameters for the modified EDSs. The computing device is further configured to assign each storage unit of the plurality of storage units to execute one or more storage modification tasks associated with producing the modified EDSs; and transmit one or more EDS of the set of EDSs to each storage unit of the plurality of storage units for modification and storage.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a secondary object sensor and a head unit device that includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain a portion of the STF. The chamber further includes an alternative reservoir and a piston compartment. The head unit system further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment. The piston includes a piston bypass to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber.