Listing types in a distributed storage system

Abstract

A method for execution by a dispersed storage network (DSN) begins by identifying a subset of encoded data slices stored in a set of storage units for enhanced access and determining a listing type. The method continues by generating listing slice names for the subset of encoded data slices based on the listing type and sending the listing slice names to the set of storage units, where each storage unit updating storage and/or listing of at least some of the subset of encoded data slices associated with the storage unit based on the listing type and each storage unit issuing slice access information to a requesting entity in response to one or more slice access requests in accordance with the listing type for some of the subset of encoded data slices and the requesting entity receiving slice access information from at least some of the set of storage units.

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:
 identifying a subset of encoded data slices stored in a set of storage units for enhanced access;   determining a listing type corresponding to the enhanced access;   generating listing slice names for the subset of encoded data slices based on the listing type;   sending the listing slice names to the set of storage units;   updating, for each storage unit, storage of at least some of the subset of encoded data slices associated with the storage unit based on the listing type;   issuing, for each storage unit, slice access information to a requesting entity in response to one or more slice access requests in accordance with the listing type for at least some of the subset of encoded data slices; and   wherein the requesting entity receives slice access information from at least some of the set of storage units.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying a subset of encoded data slices includes at least one of: interpreting a request, determining to delete slices, determining to migrate slices, determining to process a distributed computing task, or indicating to enable fast data retrieval. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining a listing type includes one or more of performing a lookup, receiving an indicator, or interpreting system registry information. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating listing slice names includes a listing type field of the listing slice names based on the listing type. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the generating listing slice names includes performing a lookup for a listing entry based on the listing type. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the listing entry is any of: an opcode, a bit pattern, or an indicator value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending the listing slice names to the set of storage units includes sending the listing slice names as part of a listing slice name message to the set of storage units. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending the listing slice names to the set of storage units includes issuing slice access requests to the set of storage units, where the slice access requests include the listing slice names. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the updating includes updating one or more of encoded data slice storage or a slice name list storage in accordance with the listing type. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the issuing includes the storage unit receiving the one or more slice access requests, processing the one or more slice access requests in accordance with the listing type associated with an encoded data slice of the one or more slice access requests, generating the slice access information based on the processing, and sending the slice access information to the requesting entity. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the requesting entity receiving slice access information includes receiving the slice access information and processing the received slice access information in accordance with a corresponding slice access request. 
     
     
         12 . 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:
 identify a subset of encoded data slices stored in a set of storage units for enhanced access; 
 determine a listing type corresponding to the enhanced access; 
 generate listing slice names for the subset of encoded data slices based on the listing type; 
 send the listing slice names to the set of storage units; 
 update, for each storage unit, storage of at least some of the subset of encoded data slices associated with the storage unit based on the listing type; 
 issue, for each storage unit, slice access information to a requesting entity in response to one or more slice access requests in accordance with the listing type for at least some of the subset of encoded data slices; and 
 wherein the requesting entity receives slice access information from at least some of the set of storage units. 
   
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the determine a listing type includes one or more of performing a lookup, receiving an indicator, or interpreting system registry information. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the generate listing slice names includes a listing type field of the listing slice names based on the listing type. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the generate listing slice names includes performing a lookup for a listing entry based on the listing type. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the update includes updating one or more of encoded data slice storage or a slice name list storage in accordance with the listing type. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the issue includes the storage unit receiving the one or more slice access requests, processing the one or more slice access requests in accordance with the listing type associated with an encoded data slice of the one or more slice access requests, generating the slice access information based on the processing, and sending the slice access information to the requesting entity. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 12 , wherein the requesting entity receives slice access information includes receiving the slice access information and processing the received slice access information in accordance with a corresponding slice access request. 
     
     
         19 . A system, the system 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:
 identify a subset of encoded data slices stored in a set of storage units for enhanced access; 
 determine a listing type corresponding to the enhanced access; 
 generate listing slice names for the subset of encoded data slices based on the listing type; 
 send the listing slice names to the set of storage units; 
 updating, for each storage unit, listing of at least some of the subset of encoded data slices associated with the storage unit based on the listing type; 
 issuing, for each storage unit, slice access information to a requesting entity in response to one or more slice access requests in accordance with the listing type for at least some of the subset of encoded data slices; and 
 wherein the requesting entity receives slice access information from at least some of the set of storage units. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the generate listing slice names includes any of: a listing type field of the listing slice names based on the listing type or performing a lookup for a listing entry based on the listing type.