Abstract: A dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit receives a data access request. An estimated end of life is determined for a plurality of DST execution units. A subset of the plurality of DST execution units is selected, based on a threshold number associated with the data access request and further based on the estimated end of life for the subset of the plurality of DST execution units. The data access request is executed via the subset of the plurality of DST execution units.

Abstract: A processing module of a computing device alternatingly sends a stream of data to a first or second processing device. When receiving the stream of data, the first processing device performs a first portion of a dispersed storage error encoding function on the received stream of data to produce a plurality of sets of a threshold number of slices and writes the plurality of sets of the threshold number of slices into first memory of a dispersed storage network (DSN). When not receiving the stream of data, the first processing device reads the plurality of sets of the threshold number of slices from the first memory, performs a second portion of the dispersed storage error encoding function using the plurality of sets of the threshold number of slices to produce a plurality of sets of redundancy slices, and writes the plurality of sets of redundancy slices into second DSN memory.

Abstract: A method includes identifying an encoded data slice for rebuilding. The method further includes determining whether a rebuilding threshold for the set of encoded data slices has been reached. When the rebuilding threshold has been reached, the method further includes determining, based on a condition of the DSN, whether to execute a rebuilding function, to delay execution of the rebuilding function, to adjust a rebuilding network protocol, or to modifying rebuilding criteria. When the determination is to execute the rebuilding function, the method further includes rebuilding the encoded data slice.

Abstract: A method includes, for a first phase of a multiple phase write operation, determining whether to send a write performance threshold number of write requests to a subset of the set of storage units regarding a write performance threshold number of encoded data slices. The method further includes, when the write performance threshold number of write requests is to be sent, sending them to the subset of the set of storage units. The method further includes, when the write threshold number of favorable responses have been received, determining whether to change the write performance threshold number for a second phase of the multiple write operation. The method further includes, when the write performance threshold number is to be changed, changing the write performance threshold number. The method further includes sending the changed write performance threshold number of write commit requests to a second subset of the set of storage units.

Abstract: A method includes dispersed storage error encoding a data object in accordance with temporary parameters. The method further includes generating a first source name. The method further includes sending, in accordance with the first source name, the first sets of encoded data slices to a first set of storage units for temporary storage therein. When a determination is made to permanently store the data object, the method further includes recovering the data object from the first sets of encoded data slices. The method further includes dispersed storage error encoding the recovered data object in accordance with permanent parameters to produce second sets of encoded data slices. The method further includes generating a second source name. The method further includes sending, in accordance with the second source name, the second sets of encoded data slices to a second set of storage units for permanent storage therein.

Abstract: A processing module of a computing device alternatingly sends a stream of data to a first or second processing device. When receiving the stream of data, the first processing device performs a first portion of a dispersed storage error encoding function on the received stream of data to produce a plurality of sets of a threshold number of slices and writes the plurality of sets of the threshold number of slices into first memory of a dispersed storage network (DSN). When not receiving the stream of data, the first processing device reads the plurality of sets of the threshold number of slices from the first memory, performs a second portion of the dispersed storage error encoding function using the plurality of sets of the threshold number of slices to produce a plurality of sets of redundancy slices, and writes the plurality of sets of redundancy slices into second DSN memory.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) monitoring network traffic within the DSN. When the network traffic compares unfavorably to a desired network traffic function, the method continues with the DS processing module reducing a portion of the network traffic due to rebuilding flagged encoded data slices by at least one of changing rebuilding criteria for the flagged encoded data slices and changing rebuilding network traffic protocols.

Abstract: In response to a write operation for a set of encoded data slices, a method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module determining whether to use a performance threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices. When the performance threshold number of encoded data slices is to be used, the method continues with the DS processing module determining the performance threshold number of encoded data slices and sending a performance threshold number of initial phase write requests to storage units. When a write threshold number of write responses are received, the method continues with the DS processing module sending a number of next phase write requests to the storage units, where the number of next phase write requests is equal to or greater than the write threshold number and is less than or equal to the performance threshold number.

Abstract: A method includes encoding a plurality of data objects using first dispersed storage error encoding parameters having a first level of redundancy to produce first plurality of encoded data objects. The method includes generating first storage commands for temporary storage of the first plurality of encoded data objects. The method includes selecting a set of data objects from the plurality of data objects for permanent storage. The method includes encoding the set of data objects using second dispersed storage error encoding parameters having a second level of redundancy to produce a second plurality of encoded data objects, wherein the second level of redundancy is greater than the first level of redundancy. The method includes generating second storage commands for permanent storage of the second plurality of encoded data objects.

Abstract: A method includes affiliating an authentication token with user information of a user. The method further includes generating a private/public key pairing associated with the user information. The method further includes applying a share encoding function on a private key of the private/public key pairing to produce a set of encoded shares. The method further includes generating a set of random numbers and generating a set of hidden passwords based on the user information. The method further includes generating a set of encryption keys based on the set of hidden passwords and the set of random numbers. The method further includes encrypting the set of encoded shares utilizing the set of encryption keys to produce a set of encrypted shares. The method further includes outputting the set of encrypted shares to the authentication token for storage therein and outputting the set of random numbers to a set of authenticating units.

Abstract: A method includes generating, by execution units, a plurality of sets of a decode threshold number of encoded data slices from data streams. A first execution unit produces a first encoded data slice for each set of the plurality of sets of the decode threshold number of encoded data slices from a first data stream. The method further includes generating, by at least some of the execution units, a plurality of sets of partially encoded data slices from the plurality of a sets of a decode number of encoded data slices. When partially encoded data slices are processed, the processed partially encoded data slices represent redundancy encoded data slices. The decode threshold number of encoded data slices combined with the redundancy encoded data slices forms a full set of encoded data slices. The method further includes sending the partially encoded data slices to other execution units for storage therein.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module establishing data identifying criteria for searching data on a network, establishing data analyzing criteria for analyzing found data of the data on the network, and establishing distributed computing criteria. The method continues with the DS processing module distributing the data identifying criteria and the data analyzing criteria to a set of distributed storage and task (DST) units. The method continues with the DS processing module receiving a set of network data partial resultants from the set of DST units, wherein the set of DST units generates the set of network data partial results in accordance with the data identifying criteria to produce found data and analyzing the found data in accordance with the data analyzing criteria. The method continues with the DS processing module processing the set of network data partial resultants to produce a network data resultant.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module selecting a set of distributed storage and task (DST) execution units for executing a task and determining dispersed storage error coding parameters for data. The method continues with the DS processing module dispersed storage error encoding the data in accordance with the parameters to produce a plurality of encoded data blocks and grouping the plurality of encoded data blocks into a plurality of encoded data block groupings. The method continues with the DS processing module partitioning the task into a set of partial tasks, outputting at least some of the plurality of encoded data block groupings to the set of DST execution units, and outputting the set of partial tasks to the set of DST execution units for execution of the set of partial tasks on the at least some of plurality of encoded data block groupings.

Abstract: A method begins with a computing device dividing data into data partitions. For a data partition of the data partitions, the method continues with the computing device associating indexing information with the data partition. The method continues with the computing device segmenting the data partition into a plurality of data segments. The method continues with the computing device dispersed storage error encoding the plurality of data segments to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the computing device grouping encoded data slices of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices to produce a set of groupings of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A method begins by a requesting entity sending a normal data segment access request to first and second groups of storage units of a dispersed storage network. The method continues with the requesting entity sending a group failure data segment access request to the first group of storage units when the second group of storage units has less than a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices available. When the second group of storage units has reestablished that the at least the decode threshold number of encoded data slices is available, the method continues with the requesting entity sending a re-integration data segment write request to the first and second groups of storage units and sending a re-integration data segment read request to the first group of storage units.

Abstract: A set of storage devices coordinates selection of dispersed storage error encoding parameters for storing a stream of data and coordinates selection of encoded data storage devices and redundancy encoded data storage devices of the set of storage devices. The encoded data storage devices coordinates storage of a decode threshold amount of encoded data of the stream of data in accordance with the dispersed storage error encoding parameters. The encoded data storage devices send information regarding the decode threshold amount of encoded data to the redundancy encoded data storage devices. The redundancy encoded data storage devices generates redundancy encoded data based on the information regarding the decode threshold amount of encoded data and in accordance with the dispersed storage error encoding parameters. The redundancy encoded data storage devices store the redundancy encoded data to provide error encoded reliable storage of the stream of data.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving a certificate signing request (CSR) from a user device. The method continues with the DS processing module generating a set of hidden passwords based on the CSR and accessing a set of authenticating units to obtain a set of passkeys. The method continues with the DS processing module retrieving a set of encrypted shares and decrypting the set of encrypted shares to produce a set of encoded shares. The method continues with the DS processing module decoding the set of encoded shares to recapture a private key and generating a user signed certificate based on the private key. The method continues with the DS processing module discarding the private key to substantially protect the private key from the user device and outputting the user signed certificate to the user device.

Abstract: A method includes encoding a plurality of data objects using first dispersed storage error encoding parameters having a first level of redundancy to produce first plurality of encoded data objects. The method includes generating first storage commands for temporary storage of the first plurality of encoded data objects. The method includes selecting a set of data objects from the plurality of data objects for permanent storage. The method includes encoding the set of data objects using second dispersed storage error encoding parameters having a second level of redundancy to produce a second plurality of encoded data objects, wherein the second level of redundancy is greater than the first level of redundancy. The method includes generating second storage commands for permanent storage of the second plurality of encoded data objects.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving data from a plurality of sources and queuing the data for storage in a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method continues with the DS processing module utilizing temporary dispersed storage error encoding parameters for efficient and reliable error encoded temporary storage of the data in the DSN. For a data object of the data temporarily stored in the DSN, the method continues with the DS processing module determining non-temporary storage parameters for the data object, retrieving first encoded data slices regarding the data object from the DSN, reconstructing the data object from the first encoded data slices in accordance with the temporary dispersed storage error encoding parameters, encoding the reconstructed data object in accordance with the non-temporary storage parameters for the data object to produce second encoded data slices, and storing the second encoded data slices in the DSN.

Abstract: A method for writing a set of encoded data slices to memory of a dispersed storage network (DSN) begins by a processing module identifying an encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices for a redundant write operation to produce an identified encoded data slice. The method continues with the processing module generating a set of first write requests regarding the set of encoded data slices less the identified encoded data slice and generating a set of second write requests regarding the identified encoded data slice. The method continues with the processing module sending the set of first write requests to storage units of the DSN and sending the set of second write requests to a set of storage units of the DSN, where each storage unit of the set of storage units is sent a corresponding one of the set of second write requests.