Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN) begins by receiving a data segment for dispersed storage error encoding. Prior to encoding, the method continues by determining whether to compress the data segment by predicting a first estimated processing cost (EPC) based on EPCs to dispersed storage error decode a compressed set of encoded data slices to recover a compressed data segment and EPCs to decompress the compressed data segment to recover the data segment and by predicting a second EPC based on EPCs to dispersed storage error decode the set of encoded data slices to recover the data segment. When the first EPC compares favorably to the second EPC, the method continues by compressing the data segment to produce the compressed data segment and dispersed storage error encoding the compressed data segment to produce the compressed set of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), a source name for a data object to be scanned for missing encoded data slices. The method further includes issuing list source requests to the set of storage units. When a list source response is not received from a storage unit of the set of storage units within a response timeframe, the method further includes identifying one or more encoded data slices stored on the storage unit as potentially missing encoded data slices; determining a next level missing encoded data slice determination approach for the storage unit based on one or more of: a number of potentially missing encoded data slices, a performance goal, a network loading level, a rebuilding loading level, a predetermination, and an entry of a system registry; and executing the next level missing encoded data slice determination approach.

Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes obtaining distributed storage and task network (DSTN) address range information for each memory device of a set of memory devices associated with a storage unit targeted for an upgrade; obtaining a list of slice names associated with selected slices stored in each memory device of the storage unit; retrieving the selected slices associated with the list of slice names; generating an integrity check value for the selected slices; storing one or more of: the integrity check value, the selected slices, or the list of slice names as original integrity information in a memory; and enabling an upgrade sequence of the DST execution unit.

Abstract: A method includes determining, by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), whether to utilize a non-standard DSN data accessing protocol or a standard DSN data accessing protocol to access data from the DSN. When the computing device determines to use the non-standard DSN data accessing protocol, the method further includes generating a set of non-standard data access requests. The method further includes sending the set of non-standard data access requests to storage units. The method further includes converting, by a storage unit, the non-standard data access request into one or more DSN slice names. The method further includes determining, by the storage unit, that the one or more DSN slice names are within a slice name range. When the one or more DSN slice names are within the slice name range, the method further includes executing, by the storage unit, the data access function.

Abstract: A method for execution by a resource allocation module includes facilitating migration of a first set of encoded data slices stored at a storage unit for decommissioning to a newly commissioned storage unit, and facilitating migration of a remaining set of encoded data slices stored at the storage unit for decommissioning as foster encoded data slices to at least one other storage unit. For each foster encoded data slice, it is determined whether to facilitate migration of the foster encoded data slice to the newly commissioned storage unit. When determining to facilitate the migration of the foster encoded data slice, the migration of the foster encoded data slice to the newly commissioned storage unit is facilitated. An association of the newly commissioned storage unit and identity of the foster encoded data slice is updated in response to detecting successful migration of the foster encoded data slice.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method begins by receiving a data segment of a data object for dispersed storage error encoding. Prior to the dispersed storage error encoding, the method continues by determining whether to compress the data segment by predicting a first estimated processing cost based on estimated processing costs to compress the data segment to produce a compressed data segment and estimated processing costs to dispersed storage error encode the compressed data segment and predicting a second estimated processing cost based on estimated processing costs to dispersed storage error encode the data segment. When the first estimated processing cost compares favorably to the second estimated processing cost, the method continues by compressing the data segment to produce the compressed data segment and dispersed storage error encoding the compressed data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A method for ensuring appropriate content formatting of data prior to storage in a dispersed storage network (DSN) includes sending a content format verification code (“code”) to a secure execution module. The method further includes signing the code with a secure execution module signature to produce a trusted code and sending the trusted code to a trusted computing module. The method further includes sending, by the trusted computing module, the secure execution module signature and a trusted content format verification code identification to a dispersed storage (DS) processing unit. When the secure execution module signature and the trusted code ID are verified, the method includes sending a write request to the trusted computing module, determining whether the data is in the appropriate content format based on the trusted code, and when the data of the write request is in the appropriate format, sending the data to the DS processing unit.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module determining, by a first storage unit, that a storage growth rate is unfavorable for the first storage unit over an estimated time frame of reallocating at least a portion of encoded data slices stored in the first storage unit to one or more additional storage units. The method continues with the processing module when the storage growth rate is unfavorable, selecting an unfavorable growth rate abatement approach to include prioritizing new deletes and outgoing allocations such that estimated required storage capacity is less than available storage capacity of the first storage unit for the estimated time frame of the reallocation of the at least a portion of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module facilitating implementation of the unfavorable growth rate abatement approach.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by performing a key derivation function on a password to produce a key and issuing a set of blinded passwords to a set of storage units, where the blinded passwords are generated based on the key. The method continues by receiving at least a decode threshold number of confidential information responses, where each of the confidential information responses includes an encrypted encoded data slice and an associated passkey, regenerating a set of keys using the associated passkeys of the confidential information, decrypting a set of encrypted slices of the confidential information using the set of keys to reproduce a set of encoded data slices, and dispersed storage error decoding a decode threshold number of the set of reproduced encoded data slices to produce recovered data.

Abstract: A method for execution by a resource allocation module includes facilitating migration of a first set of encoded data slices stored at a storage unit for decommissioning to a newly commissioned storage unit, and facilitating migration of a remaining set of encoded data slices stored at the storage unit for decommissioning as foster encoded data slices to at least one other storage unit. For each foster encoded data slice, it is determined whether to facilitate migration of the foster encoded data slice to the newly commissioned storage unit. When determining to facilitate the migration of the foster encoded data slice, the migration of the foster encoded data slice to the newly commissioned storage unit is facilitated. An association of the newly commissioned storage unit and identity of the foster encoded data slice is updated in response to detecting successful migration of the foster encoded data slice.

Abstract: A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to execute the operational instructions to perform various operations and functions. The computing device obtains DSN address range assignments for at least two other storage units (SUs) based on addition of a SU. The computing device also determines a common address range magnitude to transfer. Then, for each of the at least two other SUs, the computing device selects a corresponding SU address range and also facilitates transferring corresponding encoded data slices (EDSs) that are associated with at least one data object and corresponding DSN address range assignments for each of the corresponding SU address ranges from the at least two other SUs to the first SU.

Abstract: A method for distributed monitoring of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) including a plurality of sets of storage units. A managing unit of the DSN obtains configuration information relating to the DSN storage resources and selects a target storage unit to be monitored. The managing unit also determines a number of other storage units to be used in monitoring the target storage unit. Selection of the monitoring storage units includes determining, for each of a plurality of storage units of the DSN, an estimated failure correlation level with the target storage unit. Based at least in part on this information, the determined number of storage units are selected and assigned to monitor the target storage unit. The managing unit subsequently receives status information, relating to the target storage unit, from the monitoring storage units.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device within a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method beings when data accesses occur for a data object of a storage container within the DSN. The method continues by updating, for at least some of the data accesses, an object value for the data object to produce an updated object value. The method continues by updating an object retention cost for the data object to produce an updated object retention cost. The method continues by updating a data object retention policy for the data object based on the updated object value and the updated object retentions costs. When one of the data accesses is a deletion event, the method continues by utilizing a current updated data object retention policy to determine a deletion-retention option for the data object. The method continues by executing the deletion-retention option on the data object.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module determining, by a first storage unit, that a storage growth rate is unfavorable for the first storage unit over an estimated time frame of reallocating at least a portion of encoded data slices stored in the first storage unit to one or more additional storage units. The method continues with the processing module when the storage growth rate is unfavorable, selecting an unfavorable growth rate abatement approach such that estimated required storage capacity is less than available storage capacity of the first storage unit for the estimated time frame of the reallocation of the at least a portion of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module facilitating implementation of the unfavorable growth rate abatement approach.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module detecting a boot operation by a device in a DSN. The method continues with the DS processing module retrieving initialization information, accessing a first DSN memory and generating access request for encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module receiving and decoding configuration information and operational software for the device and installing the operational software. A registration request is generated based on the configuration information and a registration request is generated and transmitted to a second DSN memory. The method continues with the DS processing module receiving registration information from the second DSN memory.

Abstract: A method for execution by a processing system of a dispersed storage network includes receiving first slices encoded via a first information dispersal algorithm (IDA) in a response to an access request corresponding to an associated data object and determining when a number of the first slices is less than a read threshold corresponding to the first IDA and that the data object is also encoded into second slices via a second IDA. If so, the processing system identifies missing slices encoded via the first IDA corresponding to the access request; determines at least one of the second slices encoded via the second IDA corresponding to the missing slices; retrieves the at least one of the second slices; and generates the data object based on the first slices encoded via the first IDA and the at least one of the second slices encoded via the second IDA.

Abstract: A method for updating storage resources in a dispersed storage network operates to determine a storage utilization factor for a storage pool that includes a set of storage resources when old storage resources are being reallocated to new storage resources. The method continues by denying write type requests during reallocation when the storage utilization factor is at or above a threshold and processing write type requests when the storage utilization factor is at or below the threshold. When the reallocation is complete the storage utilization factor is recalculated.

Abstract: A method includes maintaining, by a storage unit, a plurality of source name based addressing maps regarding encoding data slice storage by a plurality of storage units. The method further includes receiving, by the storage unit, an access request for an encoded data slice having a source name corresponding to a DSN address. The method further includes accessing, by the storage unit, the source name based address maps to determine whether the encoded data slice is effected by the DAP redistribution operation. The method further includes, when the encoded data slice is effected by the DAP redistribution operation, determining, by the storage unit, to execute the access request, proxy the access request, or deny the access request. The method further includes, when the determination is to execute the access request, executing, by the storage unit, the access request for the encoded data slice.

Abstract: A method for execution by a resource allocation module includes facilitating migration of a first set of encoded data slices stored at a storage unit for decommissioning to a newly commissioned storage unit, and facilitating migration of a remaining set of encoded data slices stored at the storage unit for decommissioning as foster encoded data slices to at least one other storage unit. For each foster encoded data slice, it is determined whether to facilitate migration of the foster encoded data slice to the newly commissioned storage unit. When determining to facilitate the migration of the foster encoded data slice, the migration of the foster encoded data slice to the newly commissioned storage unit is facilitated. An association of the newly commissioned storage unit and identity of the foster encoded data slice is updated in response to detecting successful migration of the foster encoded data slice.

Abstract: A method for execution by a managing unit of a dispersed storage network (DSN) includes facilitating capture of log information from a plurality of entities of the DSN for storage in a log vault of the DSN. An error condition with regards to at least one of the plurality of entities can be detected. Error correlation information that includes an identified at least one of the plurality of entities can be generated based on the error condition and the log information. A DSN configuration change can be facilitated based on the error correlation information.