Maximizing redundant information in a mirrored vault

Abstract

A method for execution by one or more processing modules of computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by dispersed storage error encoding data for storage utilizing a first encoding matrix to produce a first plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues when the data is to be mirror stored, by dispersed storage error encoding the data for storage utilizing a second encoding matrix to produce extension slices of a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices, sending, via a network, the first plurality of encoded data slices to a first set of storage units, sending, via the network, the second plurality of encoded data slices to a second set of storage units and retrieving at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices from one or more of the sets of storage units to enable recovery of the data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises:
 dispersed storage error encoding data for storage utilizing a first encoding matrix to produce a first plurality of sets of encoded data slices;   when the data is to be mirror stored, dispersed storage error encoding the data for storage utilizing a second encoding matrix to produce extension encoded data slices of a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices;   sending, via a network, the first plurality of sets of encoded data slices to a first set of storage units;   sending, via the network, the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices to a second set of storage units; and   when retrieving the data, retrieving at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices from one or more of the first or second sets of storage units to enable recovery of the data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispersed storage error encoding utilizing a first encoding matrix includes: dividing the data into a plurality of data segments, and for each data segment, dispersed storage error encoding the data segment utilizing an encoding matrix A to produce a set of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the dispersed storage error encoding utilizing a second encoding matrix includes: for each data segment, dispersed storage error encoding the data segment utilizing an encoding matrix B to produce corresponding extension encoded data slices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each set of encoded data slices of the first plurality of sets of encoded slices includes a first information dispersal algorithm (IDA) width number of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each set of encoded data slices of the second plurality of sets of encoded slices includes a second IDA width number of encoded data slices, and where the second IDA width number is equal to, smaller than or larger than the first IDA width number. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending includes identifying one of the first or second sets of storage units and issuing write slice requests. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises dispersed storage error encoding N additional sets of encoded data slices as additional mirrored vaults. 
     
     
         8 . A computing device of a group of computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the computing device comprises:
 an interface;   a local memory; and   a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory, wherein the processing module functions to:
 disperse storage error encode data for storage utilizing an encoding matrix to produce a first plurality of sets of encoded data slices; 
 when the data is to be mirror stored, disperse storage error encoding the data for storage utilizing a second encoding matrix to produce extension encoded data slices of a second plurality of sets of encoded data slices; 
 send, via a network, the first plurality of sets encoded data slices to a first set of storage units; 
 send, via the network, the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices to a second set of storage units; and 
 when retrieving the data, for each set, recover at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of either of the first or second plurality of sets of encoded data slices. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein the dispersed storage error encoding utilizing a first encoding matrix includes: dividing the data into a plurality of data segments, and for each data segment, dispersed storage error encoding the data segment utilizing an encoding matrix A to produce a set of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the dispersed storage error encoding utilizing a second encoding matrix includes: for each data segment, dispersed storage error encoding the data segment utilizing an encoding matrix B to produce corresponding extension encoded data slices. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein each set of encoded data slices of the first plurality of sets of encoded slices includes a first information dispersal algorithm (IDA) width number of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein each set of encoded data slices of the second plurality of sets of encoded slices includes a second IDA width number of encoded data slices, and where the second IDA width number is equal to, smaller than or larger than the first IDA width number. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 8 , wherein sending includes identifying one of the first or second sets of storage units and issuing write slice requests. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 8  further comprises dispersed storage error encoding N additional sets of encoded data slices as additional mirrored vaults. 
     
     
         15 . A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises:
 dispersed storage error encoding data for storage utilizing an encoding matrix to produce a first plurality of sets of encoded data slices;   when the data is to be mirror stored, dispersed storage error encoding the data utilizing an extension encoding matrix to produce a plurality of groups of extension encoded data slices;   sending, via a network, the first plurality of sets of encoded data slices to a first set of storage units;   sending, via the network, the second plurality of sets of encoded data slices to a second set of storage units; and   when retrieving the data, for each set, recovering at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of either of the first or second plurality of sets of encoded data slices.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each set of encoded data slices of the first plurality of sets of encoded slices includes a first information dispersal algorithm (IDA) width number of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each set of encoded data slices of the second plurality of sets of encoded slices includes a second IDA width number of encoded data slices, and where the second IDA width number is equal to, smaller than or larger than the first IDA width number. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein sending includes identifying one of the first or second sets of storage units and issuing write slice requests. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprises dispersed storage error encoding N additional sets of encoded data slices as additional mirrored vaults. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein recovering includes: obtaining a decode threshold number of encoded data slices for each set of encoded data slices partially from both of the first and second storage sets.