Abstract: A computing device for use in a storage network includes one or more network interfaces, memory with operational instructions and a processing module. The processing module is configured to execute the operational instructions receive a storage request for data and select a plurality of memory devices for storage of the data. The processing module partitions the data into a plurality of chunk sets and encode each chunk set of the plurality of chunk sets according to a dispersed storage error coded function to produce a plurality of chunks. Finally, the processing module facilitates storage of each chunk of the plurality of chunks in a memory device of the plurality of memory devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in a storage network operate by: storing, in a first storage unit of a first set of storage units of the storage network, a first encoded data slice corresponding to at least one data object; assigning one or more additional storage units to the storage network to form a second set of storage units, the second set of storage units including the one or more additional storage units; migrating the first encoded data slice from the first storage unit to at least one of the one or more additional storage units of the second set of storage units; and reallocating a mapping of the first encoded data slice from the first storage unit to the at least one of the one or more additional storage units of the second set of storage units.

Abstract: A storage network operates by: encoding, via a dispersed error encoding, at least one data object as a write threshold number of encoded data slices; storing the write threshold number of the encoded data slices in a set of storage units of the storage network; determining when, due to a failure of at least one of the set of storage units, less than a pillar width number of the encoded data slices of a common revision are retrievable from the set of storage units: retrieving a decode threshold number of the encoded data slices from others of the set of storage units; decoding the decode threshold number of the encoded data slices to reproduce the at least one data object; restoring availability of the pillar width number of the encoded data slices of the common revision by: rebuilding at least a subset of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices, based on an encoding of the at least one data object; and storing the at least a subset of encoded data slices in the storage network.

Abstract: A method includes retrieving an encoded data slice from memory of a storage network, where the encoded data slice is associated with a slice integrity value stored in the memory, and where a data segment of data is error encoded into a set of encoded data slices that includes the encoded data slice. The method further includes generating a second slice integrity value based on the retrieved encoded data slice. The method further includes determining whether the second slice integrity value compares favorably to the slice integrity value. When the second slice integrity value compares unfavorably to the slice integrity value, the method further includes facilitating rebuilding of the encoded data slice to produce a rebuilt encoded data slice. The method further includes storing the rebuilt encoded data slice in the memory.

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 method for execution by a computing device of a storage network includes determining a utilization level of a local flash memory. The method further includes determining whether the utilization level compares favorably to a utilization threshold. When the utilization level compares favorably to the utilization threshold, The method further includes sending an encoded data slice storage solicitation message to another computing device. The method further includes receiving a plurality of encoded data slices from the other computing device, where data is dispersed storage error encoded into pluralities of sets of encoded data slices, and where the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices includes the plurality of encoded data slices. The method further includes storing the plurality of encoded data slices in the local flash memory.

Abstract: A method includes determining an information dispersal algorithm width number and determining a number of primary storage slots from a number of storage slots associated with a set of storage units deployed across multiple sites, where the number of primary storage slots is equal to or greater than the information dispersal algorithm width number. The method further includes determining a mapping of primary storage slots to storage units. The method further includes sending configuration information to the set of storage units that includes the mapping. The method further includes storing a set of encoded data slices in the primary storage slots in accordance with the configuration information, where a data segment is error encoded into the set of encoded data slices in accordance with the information dispersal algorithm width number and a decode threshold number, which is a number of encoded data slices are needed to reconstruct the data segment.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a storage unit of a storage network identifying a first storage format used to store a plurality of encoded data slices in a first memory of the storage unit and continues with the processing module determining to utilize another storage format for storage of the plurality of encoded data slices. The method then continues, with the storage unit selecting a second storage format for storage of the plurality of encoded data slices and initiating migration of the plurality of encoded data slices from the first storage format to storage using the second storage format. Finally, the method continues with updating a performance metric for at least a portion of the storage network while initiating migrating the plurality of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a storage unit of a set of storage units of a storage network, a write request regarding an encoded data slice, where the write request includes a slice payload and a corresponding revision level of the encoded data slice. The method further includes determining whether the corresponding revision level of the encoded data slice is a next revision level. The method further includes generating a write response message that includes a status message for the encoded data slice based on the determining whether the corresponding revision level of the encoded data slice is the next revision level, where when the corresponding revision level is the next revision level, the status message includes an operation succeeded message. The method further includes sending the write response message to a computing device of the storage network.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a storage network includes determining an encoded data slice reduction scheme for a set of encoded data slices stored in a set of storage units of the storage network, where a data segment of data is encoded into the set of encoded data slices in accordance with encoding parameters, and where the encoding parameters include a pillar width number and a decode threshold number. The method further includes maintaining storage of the set of encoded data slices in accordance with the encoded data slice reduction scheme, where the maintaining storage includes keeping a number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices equal to or greater than the decode threshold number and less than the pillar width number.

Abstract: Apparatus for tiered storage of data in a storage network. In an example of operation, a computing device receives a data object for storage and forwards the data object for storage in a first plurality of memory devices of a first memory type. The computing device determines a system level storage efficiency for the data object based, at least in part, on a data attribute associated with the data object. The computing device further selects, based at least in part on the system level storage efficiency preference, a second plurality of memory devices comprised of a second memory type. The computing device determines error encoding parameters based on the second plurality of memory devices, retrieves the data object from the first plurality of memory devices, and encodes the data object with the error encoding parameters to generate a plurality of encoded data slices for storage in the second plurality of memory devices.

Abstract: A storage network processing system includes a processor, a network interface and memory that stores operational instructions. The operation instructions enable the processor to receive a data object for storage and dispersed error encode the data object in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a plurality of encoded data slices. The operation instructions further enable the processor to generate to determine a plurality of site slice sets from the plurality of encoded data slices, where each site slice set of the plurality of site slice sets includes a number of unique encoded data slices of the plurality of encoded data slices that is greater than or equal to a site write threshold value. The operation instructions further enable the processor to a designate one of a plurality of storage sites for each of the plurality of site slice sets and transmit each of the plurality of site slice sets to a corresponding designated one of the plurality of storage sites via the network.

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 method for execution by a storage network, the method begins by determining a failure rate of storage nodes of an active storage pool, establishing a number of standby storage nodes based on the determined failure rate, identifying resource identifiers for the failed storage node, selecting an available standby storage node, facilitating populating the selected available standby storage node with data slices associated with the failed storage node, utilizing the selected available standby storage node, facilitating population of a replacement storage node with the data slices from the selected available standby storage node and facilitating processing of further receive data access requests for data associated with the associated resource identifiers by utilizing the replacement storage node.

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.