A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. The computing device receives a data access request for a data object and determines a first revision number of a corresponding set of EDSs stored among first SU(s) and a second revision number of a corresponding trimmed copy of the set of EDSs stored among second SU(s). When the second revision number compares favorably to the first revision number, the computing device issues the data access request to the first SU(s) and/or the second SU(s) and issues the data access request for the data object to only the first SU(s) when it doesn't.

A method for use in a dispersed storage network operates to determine first information dispersal algorithm (IDA) parameters; determine second IDA parameters; divide data for storage to produce a plurality of first segments in accordance with the first IDA parameters and a plurality of second segments in accordance with the second IDA parameters; dispersed storage error encode the plurality of first segments utilizing the first IDA parameters to produce sets of first encoded data slices; dispersed storage error encode the plurality of second segments utilizing the second IDA parameters to produce sets of second encoded data slices; and facilitate storage of the sets of first encoded data slices and the sets of second encoded data slices in a plurality of storage units.

A method for execution in a storage network begins with a storage network entity receiving a write request for a data object, where the data object is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the storage network entity determining whether to store a plurality of copies of the data object; and in response to a decision to store a plurality of copies of the data object, determining a plurality of vaults for storage of the data object. The method then continues by identifying a multicast IP address associated with the plurality vaults for storage of the plurality of copies. The method then continues by generating a multicast IP message to a plurality of storage units associated with each vault of the plurality of vaults, where the storage units of the plurality of storage units are configured to determine a multicast IP address from the multicast IP message. Finally, the method continues by facilitating storage of the plurality of copies of the data object in the plurality of vaults.

A first dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit operates to store data as one or more first sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units utilizing a first information dispersal algorithm having a first decode threshold number and determine whether to store the data as one or more second sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units utilizing a second IDA having a second decode threshold number. When determined to store the data as the one or more second sets of encoded data slices, the first DST processing unit further operates to encode the data utilizing the second IDA to produce the one or more second sets of encoded data slices, and facilitate storage of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices in at least a subset of the set of storage units.

A method for use in a dispersed storage network operates to identify a selected DSTE unit of a subset of DSTE units to perform one or more partial tasks of a task to be performed on at least one encoded data slice; issue the one or more partial tasks to the selected DSTE unit; receive one or more partial results from the selected DSTE unit, wherein the selected DSTE unit performs the one or more partial tasks on the at least one encoded data slice to produce the one or more partial results; and output a result based on the received one or more partial task.

A method for use in a dispersed storage network operates to initiate retrieval of a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of one or more sets of encoded data slices in accordance with a first recovery approach. When a recovery time frame expires prior to receiving a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices, the method proceeds to select a second data recovery approach that differs from the first recovery approach; recover a sufficient number of encoded data slices in accordance with the second data recovery approach; and dispersed storage error decode the sufficient number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data.

A method for use in a dispersed storage network operates to determine first information dispersal algorithm (IDA) parameters; determine second IDA parameters; divide data for storage to produce a plurality of first segments in accordance with the first IDA parameters and a plurality of second segments in accordance with the second IDA parameters; dispersed storage error encode the plurality of first segments utilizing the first IDA parameters to produce sets of first encoded data slices; dispersed storage error encode the plurality of second segments utilizing the second IDA parameters to produce sets of second encoded data slices; and facilitate storage of the sets of first encoded data slices and the sets of second encoded data slices in a plurality of storage units.

A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. A computing device receives a data access request for an encoded data slice (EDS) associated with a data object. The computing device compares a slice name of the data access request with slice names stored within RAM. When the data access request slice name compares unfavorably with those stored slice names, the computing device transmits an empty data access response that includes no EDS to the other computing device without needing to access a hard disk drive (HDD) that stores EDSs. Alternatively, the computing device transmits a data access response that includes the EDS.

A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations. The computing device receives a data access request for a data object and determines a first revision number of a corresponding set of EDSs stored among first SU(s) and a second revision number of a corresponding trimmed copy of the set of EDSs stored among second SU(s). When the second revision number compares favorably to the first revision number, the computing device issues the data access request to the first SU(s) and/or the second SU(s) and issues the data access request for the data object to only the first SU(s) when it doesn't.

A method for use in a dispersed storage network operates to select a recovery of selected ones of one or more first sets of encoded data slices in response to detecting a storage error associated with the selected ones of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices; issue requests for a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of selected ones of one or more second sets of encoded data slices corresponding to the selected ones of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices; decode the second decode threshold number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data in response to receiving the second decode threshold number of encoded data slices; encode the recovered data utilizing first IDA parameters associated with the first IDA to produce one or more rebuilt encoded data slices corresponding to the selected ones of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices; and facilitate storage of the one or more rebuilt encoded data slices.