Abstract: A method begins by a processing module identifying one or more devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN) potentially contributing to a DSN performance issue. For a device of the identified one or more devices, the method continues where the processing module determines a potential performance issue of the device and determines a performance test based on the potential performance issue. The method continues where the processing module issues a message to the device that includes test information specific for the device to execute the performance test and receives a response message that includes a specific test result data generated based on the test information. The method continues where the processing module determines, based on the specific test result data, whether the device has the potential performance issue and is contributing to the DSN performance issue.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) identifying a change in DSN memory of the DSN. For a set of encoded data slices effected by the change, the method continues with the processing module ascertaining updated properties of the DSN memory and performing an updating scoring function using properties of DSN access information and the updated properties of the DSN memory to produce an updated storage scoring resultant. The method continues with the processing module utilizing the updated storage scoring resultant to identify an updated set of storage units affiliated with a given storage pool of a plurality of storage pools of the DSN memory and sending at least one data migration request to at least one storage unit of the updated set of storage units regarding migration of at least one encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving a request to copy a data object in a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method continues with the DS processing module identifying one or more sets of at least a decode threshold number of slice names for one or more sets of encoded data slices of the data object and generating one or more sets of at least a decode threshold of new slice names. The method continues with the DS processing module sending the one or more sets of at least a decode threshold of new slice names to storage nodes of the DSN and instructing the storage nodes to link the one or more sets of at least a decode threshold of new slice names to the one or more sets of encoded data slices thereby producing a non-replicated copy of the data object.

Abstract: A computing system retrieves securely stored encrypted and encoded data from a dispersed data storage system. The computing system includes a processing module and a plurality of storage units. The processing module includes an error decoder and a decryptor and to decode and decrypt the encrypted and encoded data retrieved from the dispersed data storage system utilizing a read command to the storage units. The storage units retrieve the encrypted and encoded data and send the encrypted and encoded data to the processing module when receiving the read command.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a node of a dispersed storage network (DSN). In various embodiments, a dispersed storage (DS) management unit receives a device list originating from a hardware certificate authority (HCA). The HCA also provides a hardware certificate to the node. Upon receiving the hardware certificate from the node, the DS management unit determines if the certificate is valid by comparing it to information contained in the device list (such as a device ID or a serial number associated with the node). If the certificate is valid, the DS management unit sends a challenge message to the node and analyzes the resulting challenge message response to determine if it is valid. If the response is valid, the DS management unit provides a signed certificate to the node for use in authenticating the node to perform dispersed storage operations within the DSN.

Abstract: A method begins with a computing device receiving a request to acquire digital content from a digital content provider and forwarding the request to a dispersed storage network (DSN) pre-paid module. The method continues with the DSN pre-paid module validating the request, generating a plurality of sets of at least a threshold number of digital content read requests, and sending the plurality of sets of the at least a threshold number of digital content read requests to the digital content provider via the computing device when the request to acquire the digital content is validated. The method continues with at least one of the DSN pre-paid module and the computing device receiving a plurality of sets of at least a decoded threshold number of encoded data slices and decoding the plurality of sets of the at least a decoded threshold number of encoded data slices to produce the digital content.

Abstract: A method includes creating a file directory entry in a directory file of a secure hierarchical file directory system for a file. The file directory entry includes a path name, an encryption access control list, and a source name. The file is encrypted with a key and the key is encrypted with each public key of user devices authorized to access the file. The encryption access control list includes identities of the set of user devices and the set of object content keys. The method further includes encrypting the directory file using a second key. The method further includes generating second object content keys based on the second key and public keys of second user devices authorized to access the directory file. The method further includes creating a next level directory file entry in a next higher directory file of the secure hierarchical file directory system for the directory file.

Abstract: A method includes dispersed storage error encoding a data segment into a plurality of encoded micro slices in accordance with micro slice encoding parameters that include a micro slice width number and a micro slice decode threshold number. The micro slice decode threshold number of encoded micro slices is needed to recover the data segment. The method further includes arranging the plurality of encoded micro slices into a set of meta slices in accordance with meta slice encoding parameters that include a meta slice width number and a meta slice decode threshold number. The meta slice decode threshold number of encoded meta slices is needed to recover the micro slice decode threshold number of encoded micro slices. The method further includes sending the set of encoded meta slices to a set of storage units.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a storage unit of a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) from a computing device of the DSN, a write request of a set of write requests regarding an encoded data slice of a set of encoded data slices. The write request includes a write set information table that includes a listing of which storage unit of the set of storage units is being sent which encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices for storage therein. The method further includes interpreting the write set information table to determine that a particular encoded data slice assigned to a particular storage unit should be stored by a different storage unit. The method further includes facilitating storing of the particular encoded data slice in the different storage unit.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for determining drive health. The method includes one or more processors aggregating health data information associated with one or more memory devices in a dispersed storage network, where aggregating the health data information includes determining trends of the health data information on the dispersed storage network. The method further includes one or more processors determining health status of the dispersed storage network, where the health status is a function of the aggregated health data information associated with memory devices of the dispersed storage network. The method further includes one or more processors determining an action to execute on the dispersed storage network based on the determined health status of the dispersed storage network, wherein the action includes altering activity of the one or more memory devices on the dispersed storage network.

Abstract: A method includes determining an acceptable site failure number for storing a set of encoded data slices based on available sites and storage units within the available sites. The method further includes determining dispersed storage error encoding parameters based on the acceptable site failure number, wherein the parameters includes a decode threshold number and a total width number. The method further includes encoding, in accordance with the parameters, a data segment of data to produce the set of encoded data slices. The method further includes generating a slice mapping based on the acceptable site failure number, the available sites, and the storage units within the available storage units within the available sites. The method further includes sending, based on the slice mapping, the set of encoded data slices to at least some of the storage units within at least some of the available sites for storage therein.

Abstract: A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module dividing a very large data object into a plurality of data regions and generating a data object storage tracking table that includes sections for identifying one or more data regions that are available or unavailable for retrieval. The method continues with the DS processing module dividing a first data region into data segments and disperse storage error encoding the data segments to produce sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the DS processing module sending DSN write requests regarding storing the sets of encoded data slices to storage units and when at least a write threshold number of write responses is received for each of the sets of encoded data slices, updating the data object storage tracking table to indicate that the first data region is available for retrieval.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN) generating a signed registry information packet, dispersed storage error encoding the signed registry information packet to produce a set of encoded registry information slices, and generating a set of signed encoded registry information slice packets for storage in storage units of the DSN. The method continues with the processing module retrieving a decode threshold number of signed encoded registry information slice packets. For each of the decode threshold number of signed encoded registry information slice packets, the method continues with the processing module recovering an encoded registry information slice.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module dispersed storage error encoding a data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices and dispersed storage error encoding metadata associated with the data segment to produce a set of encoded metadata slices. The method continues with the processing module creating a set of data slice names for the set of encoded data slices and creating a set of metadata slice names based on the set of data slice names. The method continues with the processing module sending the set of encoded data slices and the set of data slice names to a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage therein. The method continues with the processing module sending the set of encoded metadata slices and the set of metadata slice names to the DSN memory for storage therein.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for determining drive health. The method includes one or more processors aggregating health data information associated with one or more memory devices in a dispersed storage network, where aggregating the health data information includes determining trends of the health data information on the dispersed storage network. The method further includes one or more processors determining health status of the dispersed storage network, where the health status is a function of the aggregated health data information associated with memory devices of the dispersed storage network. The method further includes one or more processors determining an action to execute on the dispersed storage network based on the determined health status of the dispersed storage network, wherein the action includes altering activity of the one or more memory devices on the dispersed storage network.

Abstract: A method for authenticating a user device request by a dispersed storage managing unit (DSMU) in a dispersed storage network (DSN) begins by the DSMU receiving from a proxy element an authentication request for a portion of a user device request, verifying the request and when validated determining when a permissions list indicates the user device has access permission. The method continues with the proxy element being allowed to execute the portion of the user device request and receiving from another proxy element an authentication request for another portion of the user device request. The method then continues with the request being verified, and when validated, determining when the permissions list indicates the user device has access permission. The method then continues with the another proxy element being allowed to execute the authentication request for the another portion of the user request.

Abstract: A method begins by a processing module dispersed storage error encoding a data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices and dispersed storage error encoding metadata associated with the data segment to produce a set of encoded metadata slices. The method continues with the processing module creating a set of data slice names for the set of encoded data slices and creating a set of metadata slice names based on the set of data slice names. The method continues with the processing module sending the set of encoded data slices and the set of data slice names to a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage therein. The method continues with the processing module sending the set of encoded metadata slices and the set of metadata slice names to the DSN memory for storage therein.

Abstract: A method includes receiving streaming data. The method further includes dividing the streaming data into data segments. The method further includes performing a unity matrix function on a data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices. The method further includes storing the set of encoded data slices in a set of storage units of the DSN. After storage of the set of encoded data slices, the method further includes performing a redundancy portion of an encoding matrix on the set of encoded data slices to produce a set of redundancy encoded data slices and storing the set of redundancy encoded data slices in a set of set of storage units of the DSN.

Abstract: A distributed storage network (DSN) includes a user device and a plurality of DSN memories, wherein each of the DSN memories includes a plurality of storage units. The user device includes at least one network interface to the plurality of DSN memories and at least one processing module that is operable to determine one of the plurality of DSN memories for storing a data object based on a comparison of one or more storage requirements of the data object and one or more DSN attributes of the plurality of DSN memories.

Abstract: A computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN) includes a memory, interface and a processing module operable to identify an encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices to produce an identified encoded data slice. The processing module generates a set of first write requests regarding the set of encoded data slices less the identified encoded data slice, and generates a set of second write requests regarding the identified encoded data slice. The set of second write requests include the identified encoded data slice and replications of the identified encoded data slice. The processing module sends the set of first write requests to storage units of the DSN, and sends 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.