A storage system includes a storage server adapted to receive data, determine parity data based upon the data, and store the data and the parity data in a storage array associated with the storage server. The data and the parity data may be sent to a second storage server.

A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module selecting a subset of a set of encoded data slices, wherein the subset of encoded data slices includes less than a decode threshold number of encoded data slices. When a receiving entity is affiliated with a first wireless communication resource, the method continues with the DS processing module outputting the subset of encoded data slices via the first wireless communication resource to the receiving entity, wherein the first wireless communication resource has a first wireless geographic coverage area. When the receiving entity is affiliated with a second wireless communication resource and is located outside of the first wireless geographic coverage area, the method continues with the DS processing module outputting one or more encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices via the second wireless communication resource to the receiving entity.

A method begins with a processing module selecting one of a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) processing modules for facilitating access to a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory. The method continues with the processing module sending a DSN memory access request to the one of the plurality of DS processing modules. The method continues with the processing module selecting another one of the plurality of DS processing modules when no response is received within a given time frame or when the response to the access request does not include an access indication. The method continues with the processing module sending the DSN memory access request to the another one of the plurality of DS processing modules.

A method begins with a processing module querying distributed storage network (DSN) storage units regarding storage errors associated with a data segment. The method continues with the processing module receiving query responses and depending on the responses, assigning a first threshold priority or a second threshold priority to encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with the data segment. The method proceeds with the processing module, depending on the assigned threshold priority, issuing read slice requests and rebuilding EDS associated with the data segment.

A method begins with a processing module transmitting list slice requests to distributed storage network (DSN) storage units regarding storage errors associated with a data segment. The method continues with the processing module receiving list slice response messages and depending on the list slice response messages, determining whether a first threshold priority or a second threshold priority number of error-free EDSs associated with the first data segment has been stored. The method proceeds with the processing module, depending on the number of error-free EDSs associated with the first data segment that have been stored, issuing read slice requests and rebuilding one or more EDSs associated with the data segment.

A method begins by a requesting device transmitting a certificate signing request to a managing unit, wherein the certificate signing request includes fixed certificate information and suggested certificate information. The method continues with the managing unit forwarding the certificate signing request to a certificate authority and receiving a signed certificate from the certificate authority, wherein the signed certificate includes a certificate and a certification signature and wherein the certificate includes the fixed certificate information and determined certificate information based on the suggested certificate information. The method continues with the managing unit interpreting the fixed certificate information of the signed certificate to identify the requesting device and forwarding the signed certificate to the identified requesting device.

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.

A method includes obtaining, by a computing device of a storage network, provenance information for data associated with a set of storage units of the storage network, where the data is error encoded into a set of encoded data slices, in accordance with error encoding parameters, for storage in the set of storage units. The method further includes determining, by the computing device, probable error locations associated with the set of storage units based on the provenance information. The method further includes scanning, by the computing device, the probable error locations to determine whether an error exists for the set of encoded data slices.

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.

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.