Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes determining to determine to overwrite an original data object stored in a plurality of storage units with an updated data object. Validation level data can be determined, where the validation level data indicates a data object overwrite level, a data region overwrite level, or a data segment overwrite level. Checksum metadata associated with the original data object can be retrieved in response to determining to overwrite an original data object. Overwriting of a subset of data regions or data segments of the original data object can be foregone in response to generating validation data that indicates their checksums in the checksum metadata compare favorably to corresponding overwrite checksum values.

Abstract: A method for responding to a read request from a user for a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) in a distributed storage network begins with a processing module determining that a threshold number of encoded data slices is not available and continues with the processing module determining that one or more copies are available for the set of EDSs. The method continues with the processing module determining whether a combination of the one or more additional EDSs within the copy of the set of EDSs and the available EDSs from the set of EDSs is at least a read threshold number of EDSs, and when a read threshold is available based on the combination the processing module responds to the request using the combination.

Abstract: A method for responding to a read request from a user for a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) in a distributed storage network begins with a processing module determining that a threshold number of encoded data slices is not available and continues with the processing module determining that one or more copies are available for the set of EDSs. The method continues with the processing module determining whether a combination of the one or more additional EDSs within the copy of the set of EDSs and the available EDSs from the set of EDSs is at least a read threshold number of EDSs, and when a read threshold is available based on the combination the processing module responds to the request using the combination.

Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes determining to determine to overwrite an original data object stored in a plurality of storage units with an updated data object. Validation level data can be determined, where the validation level data indicates a data object overwrite level, a data region overwrite level, or a data segment overwrite level. Checksum metadata associated with the original data object can be retrieved in response to determining to overwrite an original data object. Overwriting of a subset of data regions or data segments of the original data object can be foregone in response to generating validation data that indicates their checksums in the checksum metadata compare favorably to corresponding overwrite checksum values.

Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes determining to determine to overwrite an original data object stored in a plurality of storage units with an updated data object. Validation level data can be determined, where the validation level data indicates a data object overwrite level, a data region overwrite level, or a data segment overwrite level. Checksum metadata associated with the original data object can be retrieved in response to determining to overwrite an original data object. Overwriting of a subset of data regions or data segments of the original data object can be foregone in response to generating validation data that indicates their checksums in the checksum metadata compare favorably to corresponding overwrite checksum values.

Abstract: A method for execution by a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit includes determining to determine to overwrite an original data object stored in a plurality of storage units with an updated data object. Validation level data can be determined, where the validation level data indicates a data object overwrite level, a data region overwrite level, or a data segment overwrite level. Checksum metadata associated with the original data object can be retrieved in response to determining to overwrite an original data object. Overwriting of a subset of data regions or data segments of the original data object can be foregone in response to generating validation data that indicates their checksums in the checksum metadata compare favorably to corresponding overwrite checksum values.