Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by determining a failure rate of storage units of an active storage unit pool, establishing a number of standby storage units based on the determined failure rate, identifying an associated DSN address range of the failed storage unit, selecting an available standby storage unit, facilitating populating the selected available standby storage unit with data slices associated with the failed storage unit, utilizing the selected available standby storage unit, facilitating population of a replacement storage unit with the data slices from the selected available standby storage unit and facilitating processing of further receive data access requests for data associated with the associated DSN address range by utilizing the replacement storage unit.

Abstract: A method for execution by a storage unit of a dispersed storage network includes receiving an access request from a requestor. An access anomaly of the access request is detected, and the access request is queued for processing in response. An anomaly detection indicator is issued to a plurality of other storage units. A secondary authentication process is initiated with the requestor, and a secondary authentication response from the requestor. The access request is processed when the secondary authentication response is favorable.

Abstract: A method begins by receiving a storage request to store one or more portions of a data object. The method continues by determining whether the one or more portions are stored within a dispersed storage network memory. When stored, the method continues by determining a retrieval demand for each portion. When the retrieval demand for a first portion is below a first threshold, the method continues by indicating that an existing copy of the first portion will be used for retrieval requests of the first portion. When the retrieval demand is above the first threshold, the method continues by copying the existing copy to create a first portion copy and indicating that the existing copy will be used for retrieval requests from a first group of user computing devices and indicating that the first portion copy will be used for retrieval requests from a second group of user computing devices.

Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit that includes a processor includes generating storage unit heat data based on a plurality of temperature readings received from each of a plurality of storage units, where the storage unit heat data indicates a first hot storage unit. A pair of storage units is selected from the plurality of storage units based on the storage unit heat data, where the pair of storage units includes the first hot storage unit and a second storage unit. A data swap request is generated for transmission to the pair of storage units, where the data swap request includes an instruction to transfer at least one first data slice from the first hot storage unit to the second storage unit and to transfer at least one second data slice from the second storage unit to the first hot storage unit.

Abstract: A dispersed storage network facilitates isolating the introduction of software defects in dispersed storage units. A search strategy is employed whereby after identifying a test failure in a current version of the memory software code, a code version since a previous successfully tested version is identified. An interim version that represents the point at which approximately one half the changes were introduced is then tested. When there is a test failure, the next interim version selected for testing represents the point at which approximately one half the changes were introduced between the first interim version tested and the current version. If no failure, a next interim version is tested that represents the point at which approximately one half the changes were introduced between the previous successfully tested version and the first interim version tested.

Abstract: A method for use in a distributed storage network (DSN) including a plurality of distributed storage (DS) units includes determining to create a new storage pool that includes a set of storage groups, which in turn include one or more memory sections. The memory sections include one or more DS units. Memory information is obtained for the DS units, and the DS units are stratified based on available memory capacity. A DSN address range of the new storage pool is mapped to one or more sub-DSN address ranges for the memory sections based on a level of available storage capacity of the new storage pool. For each of the memory sections, particular DS units are selected in accordance with a memory selection scheme using the memory information. Configuration information identifying the DS units selected for inclusion in particular memory sections is issued to the DS units.