Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module selecting a data segment and verifying integrity values of encoded data slices generated by encoding the data segment. When integrity values of a decode threshold number of encoded data slices are affirmatively verified, the method continues with the DS processing module verifying an integrity value of the data segment. When the integrity value of the data segment is affirmatively verified, the method continues with the DS processing module generating a new set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module verifying concurrency of the set of encoded data slices with the new set of encoded data slices and for each encoded data slice having a negative concurrency verification, flagging the encoded data slice as being potentially compromised.

Abstract: A method begins with a processing module receiving data for storage. The method continues with the processing module determining storage metadata regarding storage requirements of the data. When the storage metadata includes a first type of storage mode, the method continues with the processing module determining a first error coding dispersal storage function; identifying first memory of DSN memory; encoding the data in accordance with the first error coding dispersal storage functions; and outputting the first encoded data slices to the first memory for storage therein. When the storage metadata includes a second type of storage mode, the method continues with the processing module determining a second error coding dispersal storage function; identifying second memory of a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory; encoding the data in accordance with the second error coding dispersal storage functions; and outputting the second encoded data slices to the second memory for storage therein.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module receiving data to store and determining error coding dispersal storage function parameters. The method continues with the processing module encoding at least a portion of the data in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce a set of data slices. The method continues with the processing module defining addressable storage sectors within the single hard drive based on a number of data slices within the set of data slices to produce a set of addressable storage sectors. The method continues with the processing module storing data slices of the set of data slices in corresponding addressable storage sectors of the set of addressable storage sectors.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving a request regarding at least a portion of corresponding encoded data slices, wherein a collection of encrypted and encoded data slices of a plurality of collections of encrypted and encoded data slices includes a common data aspect, wherein encrypted and encoded data slices of the collection of encrypted and encoded data slices are produced by individually encrypting corresponding encoded data slices using a common encrypting character string and representations of the corresponding encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying the common encrypting character string of the corresponding encoded data slices. When the request is to delete the corresponding encoded data slices, the method continues with the DS processing module obfuscating the common encrypting character string in a local memory such that the collection of encrypted and encoded data slices are effectively incomprehensible.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving a file creation request to create a new file from portions of a set of existing files. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying data segments associated with the set of existing files corresponding to the portions of the set of existing files to produce identified data segments and identifying sets of encoded data slices of the identified data segments to produce identified sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module determining addressing information for the identified sets of encoded data slices from existing addressing information of the set of existing files and generating a segment allocation table for the new file based on the addressing information of the identified sets of encoded data slices such that the new file is created without duplication of the portions of the existing files.

Abstract: A computing device boot-up method begins by a processing module detecting a boot-up of the computing device. The method continues with the processing module addressing a distributed basic input/output system (BIOS) memory to retrieve a plurality of error coded BIOS data slices. The method continues with the processing module reconstructing BIOS data from the plurality of error coded BIOS data slices using an error coding dispersal function. The method continues with the computing device booting up in accordance with the BIOS data.