List request processing during a dispersed storage network configuration change

Abstract

A method includes identifying a set of the resources that are affiliated with a range of slice names identified by a listing request. The method further includes creating an ordered classification of the set of resources based on the system configuration change and sending the listing request to resources of the set of resources that are in a first class of the ordered classification. The method further includes processing, by the resources in the first class, the listing request to generate a first listing responses and sending the listing request and the first listing responses to second resources of a second class of the ordered classification. The method further includes processing, by the second resources in the second class, the listing request to generate second listing responses. The method further includes generating, by the second resources, cumulated listing responses based on the first and second listing responses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing a listing request by resources of a dispersed storage network (DSN) during a system configuration change, the method comprises:
 identifying a set of resources that are affiliated with a range of slice names identified by the listing request;   creating an ordered classification of the set of resources based on the system configuration change;   sending the listing request to one or more resources of the set of resources that are in a first class of the ordered classification;   processing, by a first one or more resources in the first class, the listing request to generate a first one or more listing responses, wherein a first listing response of the first one or more listing responses is regarding encoded data slices associated with slice names within a sub-range of slice names of the range of slice names, wherein the sub-range of slices names is affiliated with a first resource of the first one or more resources; and   sending, by the first one or more resources, the listing request and the first one or more listing responses to a second one or more resources of a second class of the ordered classification, wherein the first class is a higher class than the second class in the ordered classification;   processing, by the second one or more resources in the second class, the listing request to generate a second one or more listing responses, wherein a second listing response of the second one or more listing responses is regarding encoded data slices associated with slice names within a second sub-range of slice names of the range of slice names, wherein the second sub-range of slices names is affiliated with a second resource of the second one or more resources; and   generating, by the second one or more resources, one or more cumulated listing responses based on the first and second one or more listing responses.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 when a third class of the ordered classification exists: 
 sending, by the second one or more resources, the listing request and the one or more cumulated listing responses to a third one or more resources of the third class of the ordered classification, wherein the third class is a lower class than the first and second classes in the ordered classification. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 when a third class of the ordered classification does not exist: 
 sending, by the second one or more resources, the one or more cumulated listing responses to a requesting computing device that issued the listing request. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the creating the ordered classification comprises:
 identifying the set of resources for the range of slice names in accordance with a distributed agreement protocol based an old system configuration of the DSN and a new system configuration of the DSN;   identifying an old weight factor and a new weight factor for each resource in the set of resources, wherein the old weight factor corresponds to the old system configuration and the new weight factor corresponds to new system configuration;   determining a relative weight change for each resource in the set of resources based on the old weight factor and the new weight factor; and   establishing the ordered classification based on the relative weight changes of the set of resources.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the listing request comprises:
 a request to at least one of: identify valid encoded data slices having slice names within the range of slice names and to determine location of the valid encoded data slices.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the valid encoded data slices comprise:
 encoded data slices that are stored in one or more storage units;   encoded data slices that are being created or modified by a computing device; and   encoded data slices that being rebuilt by a rebuilding agent.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the system configuration change comprises one or more of:
 an addition of a resource;   a deletion of a resource; and   a change in weighting factors of a DAP.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a resource of the resources comprises one of:
 a storage unit;   a storage location within the storage unit;   a storage pool;   a computing device; and   a rebuilder.   
     
     
         9 . A computer readable storage device comprises:
 a first memory section for storing operational instructions, that when executed by a resource of a dispersed storage network (DSN), cause the resource to:   identify a set of resources that are affiliated with a range of slice names identified by a listing request;   create an ordered classification of the set of resources based on a system configuration change;   send the listing request to one or more resources of the set of resources that are in a first class of the ordered classification;   a second memory section for storing operational instructions, that when executed by the first one or more resources in the first class, cause the first one or more resources to:   process the listing request to generate a first one or more listing responses, wherein a first listing response of the first one or more listing responses is regarding encoded data slices associated with slice names within a sub-range of slice names of the range of slice names, wherein the sub-range of slices names is affiliated with a first resource of the first one or more resources; and   send the listing request and the first one or more listing responses to a second one or more resources of a second class of the ordered classification, wherein the first class is a higher class than the second class in the ordered classification;   a third memory section for storing operational instructions, that when executed by the second one or more resources in the second class, cause the second one or more resources to:   process the listing request to generate a second one or more listing responses, wherein a second listing response of the second one or more listing responses is regarding encoded data slices associated with slice names within a second sub-range of slice names of the range of slice names, wherein the second sub-range of slices names is affiliated with a second resource of the second one or more resources; and   generate one or more cumulated listing responses based on the first and second one or more listing responses.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein when a third class of the ordered classification exists, the third memory section stores further operational instructions, that when executed by the second one or more resources in the second class, cause the second one or more resources to:
 send the listing request and the one or more cumulated listing responses to a third one or more resources of the third class of the ordered classification, wherein the third class is a lower class than the first and second classes in the ordered classification.   
     
     
         11 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein when a third class of the ordered classification does not exist, the third memory section stores further operational instructions, that when executed by the second one or more resources in the second class, cause the second one or more resources to:
 send the one or more cumulated listing responses to a requesting computing device that issued the listing request.   
     
     
         12 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the first memory section stores further operational instructions, that when executed by the resource, cause the resource to create the ordered classification by:
 identifying the set resources for the range of slice names in accordance with a distributed agreement protocol based an old system configuration of the DSN and a new system configuration of the DSN;   identifying an old weight factor and a new weight factor for each resource in the set of resources, wherein the old weight factor corresponds to the old system configuration and the new weight factor corresponds to new system configuration;   determining a relative weight change for each resource in the set of resources based on the old weight factor and the new weight factor; and   establishing the ordered classification based on the relative weight changes of the set of resources.   
     
     
         13 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the listing request comprises:
 a request to at least one of: identify valid encoded data slices having slice names within the range of slice names and to determine location of the valid encoded data slices.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 13 , wherein the valid encoded data slices comprise:
 encoded data slices that are stored in one or more storage units;   encoded data slices that are being created or modified by a computing device; and   encoded data slices that being rebuild by a rebuilding agent.   
     
     
         15 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 9 , wherein the system configuration change comprises one or more of:
 an addition of a resource;   a deletion of a resource; and   a change in weighting factors of a DAP.   
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage device of  claim 9  comprises one of:
 a storage unit; 
 a storage location within the storage unit; 
 a storage pool; 
 a computing device; and 
 a rebuilder.