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 a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. A computing device receives a data access request for an encoded data slice (EDS) associated with a data object. The computing device compares a slice name of the data access request with slice names stored within RAM. When the data access request slice name compares unfavorably with those stored slice names, the computing device transmits an empty data access response that includes no EDS to the other computing device without needing to access a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores EDSs. Alternatively, the computing device transmits a data access response that includes the EDS.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) determining a fault domain for a portion of the DSN and generating a local redundancy for the fault domain. The method continues with the processing module identifying storage locations available for storing the first local redundancy, selecting storage locations for storing the first local redundancy and continues with the processing module facilitating storage of the local redundancy in the storage locations. Upon detecting a storage failure in the DSN, the method continues with the processing module determining whether the storage failure is associated with the fault domain and in response determining whether the first local redundancy is associated with the first fault domain. In response to determining that the local redundancy is associated with the first fault domain the method continues with the processing module recovering the local redundancy and correcting the storage failure.

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 a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. A computing device receives a data access request for an encoded data slice (EDS) associated with a data object. The computing device compares a slice name of the data access request with slice names stored within RAM. When the data access request slice name compares unfavorably with those stored slice names, the computing device transmits an empty data access response that includes no EDS to the other computing device without needing to access a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores EDSs. Alternatively, the computing device transmits a data access response that includes the EDS.

Abstract: A method for transferring data encoding begins by receiving a data access request to access a data object that is based on a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) that is distributedly stored among a plurality of storage units (SUs) associated with a plurality of storage sites, and continues with a computing device selecting respective numbers of SUs at each of the plurality of storage sites to support the data access request. The method continues with the computing device selecting another computing device that is associated with a storage site of the plurality of storage sites to process the data access request, based on the respective numbers of SUs at each of the plurality of storage sites. The method continues with the computing device transmitting the data access request to the another computing device to for processing.

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 a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. A computing device receives a data access request for an encoded data slice (EDS) associated with a data object. The computing device compares a slice name of the data access request with slice names stored within RAM. When the data access request slice name compares unfavorably with those stored slice names, the computing device transmits an empty data access response that includes no EDS to the other computing device without needing to access a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores EDSs. Alternatively, the computing device transmits a data access response that includes the EDS.

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 a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. A computing device receives a data access request for an encoded data slice (EDS) associated with a data object. The computing device compares a slice name of the data access request with slice names stored within RAM. When the data access request slice name compares unfavorably with those stored slice names, the computing device transmits an empty data access response that includes no EDS to the other computing device without needing to access a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores EDSs. Alternatively, the computing device transmits a data access response that includes the EDS.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) determining a fault domain for a portion of the DSN and generating a local redundancy for the fault domain. The method continues with the processing module identifying storage locations available for storing the first local redundancy, selecting storage locations for storing the first local redundancy and continues with the processing module facilitating storage of the local redundancy in the storage locations. Upon detecting a storage failure in the DSN, the method continues with the processing module determining whether the storage failure is associated with the fault domain and in response determining whether the first local redundancy is associated with the first fault domain. In response to determining that the local redundancy is associated with the first fault domain the method continues with the processing module recovering the local redundancy and correcting the storage failure.

Abstract: A method begins by storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) receiving a retrieval request for a data object, where each storage unit stores a unique group of encoded data slices of the data object and a local set of encoded recovery data slices. The method continues with some storage units sending the unique group of encoded data slices to a requesting computing device and with one storage unit sending an encoded recovery data slice to the requesting computing device. The method continues with the requesting computing device identifying an errant unique group encoded data slice, correcting the errant encoded data slice based on received data slices to produce an updated unique group of encoded data slices, and dispersed storage error decoding the updated unique group of encoded data slices and the unique groups of encoded data slices from other storage units to recover the data object.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a data object for retrieval. The data object is encoded in accordance with first encoded parameters and stored as a plurality of sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units. The method further includes determining whether an access metric regarding the data object exceeds an access threshold. When the access metric is equal to or exceeds the access threshold, the data object is further encoded in accordance with second encoding parameters and stored as a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices in a second set of storage units. The method further includes issuing retrieval requests to the second set of storage units regarding the second plurality of encoded data slices in accordance with a read threshold of the second encoding parameters. The method further includes recovering the data object from the second plurality of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A method begins by a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) storing a plurality of encoded data slices, where each storage unit stores a unique sub-set of encoded data slices. The method continues with each storage unit dispersed storage error encoding at least a recovery threshold number of encoded data slices to produce a local set of encoded recovery data slices. In response to a retrieval request, the method continues with a device identifying a storage unit of an initial recovery number of storage units having a rebuilding issue and determining whether the rebuilding issue is correctable at a DSN level. When the rebuilding issue is correctable at the DSN level the method continues with the device selecting another storage unit to replace the storage unit to produce a recovery number of storage units and sending retrieve requests to the recovery number of storage units.

Abstract: A method for transferring data encoding begins by receiving a data access request to access a data object that is based on a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) that is distributedly stored among a plurality of storage units (SUs) associated with a plurality of storage sites, and continues with a computing device selecting respective numbers of SUs at each of the plurality of storage sites to support the data access request. The method continues with the computing device selecting another computing device that is associated with a storage site of the plurality of storage sites to process the data access request, based on the respective numbers of SUs at each of the plurality of storage sites. The method continues with the computing device transmitting the data access request to the another computing device to for processing.

Abstract: A method for implementing an overdrive in a dispersed storage network begins by a processing module receiving an access request for a set of encoded data slices and continues with the processing module determining whether a level of access requests for the DSN meets a predetermined threshold. When the level of access requests for the DSN meets the predetermined threshold, the method continues with the processing module transitioning from a first operational mode to a second operational mode. The method continues with the processing module determining whether the level of access requests for the DSN is below the predetermined threshold, and when it is, transitioning back to the first operational mode.

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 a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. A computing device receives a data access request for an encoded data slice (EDS) associated with a data object. The computing device compares a slice name of the data access request with slice names stored within RAM. When the data access request slice name compares unfavorably with those stored slice names, the computing device transmits an empty data access response that includes no EDS to the other computing device without needing to access a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores EDSs. Alternatively, the computing device transmits a data access response that includes the EDS.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a data object for retrieval. The data object is encoded in accordance with first encoded parameters and stored as a plurality of sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units. The method further includes determining whether an access metric regarding the data object exceeds an access threshold. When the access metric is equal to or exceeds the access threshold, the data object is further encoded in accordance with second encoding parameters and stored as a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices in a second set of storage units. The method further includes issuing retrieval requests to the second set of storage units regarding the second plurality of encoded data slices in accordance with a read threshold of the second encoding parameters. The method further includes recovering the data object from the second plurality of encoded data slices.

Abstract: When an access metric regarding an encoded data object exceeds an access threshold, a method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) retrieving encoded data slices of a first plurality of sets of encoded data slices and recovering the data object utilizing first dispersed storage error encoding parameters. The method continues with the processing module re-encoding the recovered data object using second dispersed storage error encoding parameters to produce a re-encoded data object, where the re-encoded data object includes a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module outputting the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices to storage units of the DSN for storage therein and sending a message to retrieving devices of the DSN, where the message indicates use of the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices for the data object.

Abstract: A method begins by a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) storing a plurality of encoded data slices, where each storage unit stores a unique sub-set of encoded data slices. The method continues with each storage unit dispersed storage error encoding at least a recovery threshold number of encoded data slices to produce a local set of encoded recovery data slices. In response to a retrieval request, the method continues with a device identifying a storage unit of an initial recovery number of storage units having a rebuilding issue and determining whether the rebuilding issue is correctable at a DSN level. When the rebuilding issue is correctable at the DSN level the method continues with the device selecting another storage unit to replace the storage unit to produce a recovery number of storage units and sending retrieve requests to the recovery number of storage units.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) dividing data into a plurality of data units and generating a plurality of encryption keys from a master key associated with the data and a data identifier associated with the data. The method continues with the processing module encrypting the plurality of data units using the plurality of encryption keys to produce a plurality of encrypted data units and sending the plurality of encrypted data units to a first set of storage units of the DSN for storage. The method continues with the processing module encoding the master key to produce a plurality of encoded master key units and sending the plurality of encoded master key units to a second set of storage units of the DSN for storage.

Abstract: When an access metric regarding an encoded data object exceeds an access threshold, a method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) retrieving encoded data slices of a first plurality of sets of encoded data slices and recovering the data object utilizing first dispersed storage error encoding parameters. The method continues with the processing module re-encoding the recovered data object using second dispersed storage error encoding parameters to produce a re-encoded data object, where the re-encoded data object includes a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module outputting the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices to storage units of the DSN for storage therein and sending a message to retrieving devices of the DSN, where the message indicates use of the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices for the data object.

Abstract: A method begins by storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) receiving a retrieval request for a data object, where each storage unit stores a unique group of encoded data slices of the data object and a local set of encoded recovery data slices. The method continues with some storage units sending the unique group of encoded data slices to a requesting computing device and with one storage unit sending an encoded recovery data slice to the requesting computing device. The method continues with the requesting computing device identifying an errant unique group encoded data slice, correcting the errant encoded data slice based on received data slices to produce an updated unique group of encoded data slices, and dispersed storage error decoding the updated unique group of encoded data slices and the unique groups of encoded data slices from other storage units to recover the data object.