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 involving a set of EDSs associated with a data object that are distributedly stored among storage units (SUs) including first SU(s) coupled via a local network of the DSN and second SU(s) remotely located to the computing device and coupled via an external network of the DSN. The computing device caches within the at least one memory therein a subset of EDSs stored within the second SU(s) remotely located to the computing device and coupled to the computing device via the external network.

A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN) begins, when processing a slice request of one or more encoded data slices associated with a vault within the DSN, by identifying a multicast IP address associated with the vault. The method continues by generating a multicast IP message. The method continues by sending the multicast IP message to a plurality of storage units of the DSN. The method continues by extracting, by each storage unit receiving the multicast IP message, the multicast IP address. The method continues, when the extracted IP address compares favorably to a subscribed IP address, by processing the slice request for one or more encoded data slices and the corresponding slice name for each encoded data where the processing the slice request of one or more encoded data slices includes one or more of: storing a received encoded data slice when receiving a write slice request or issuing a read slice response that includes a retrieved encoded data slice when receiving a read slice request.