Recovering data copies in a dispersed storage network

Abstract

A method for use in a dispersed storage network operates to initiate retrieval of a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of one or more sets of encoded data slices in accordance with a first recovery approach. When a recovery time frame expires prior to receiving a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices, the method proceeds to select a second data recovery approach that differs from the first recovery approach; recover a sufficient number of encoded data slices in accordance with the second data recovery approach; and dispersed storage error decode the sufficient number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by a processing system of a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit that includes a processor, the method comprises:
 storing data as one or more first sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units, the one or more first sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a first information dispersal algorithm having a first decode threshold number;   storing data as one or more second sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units, the one or more second sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a second information dispersal algorithm having a second decode threshold number;   recovering the data stored as the one or more first sets of encoded data slices by:
 identifying, via the processing system, the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on an identifier of the data; 
 initiating, via the processing system, retrieval of a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices in accordance with a first recovery approach; 
 when a recovery time frame expires prior to receiving a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices:
 selecting, via the processing system, a second data recovery approach that differs from the first recovery approach; 
 recovering, via the processing system, a sufficient number of encoded data slices in accordance with the second data recovery approach; and 
 dispersed storage error decoding, via the processing system, the sufficient number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein identifying the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on the identifier of the data includes converting the identifier of the data to a source name of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices utilizing a deterministic function. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting the second data recovery approach is based on one or more of storage unit availability information, a recovery time requirement, an interpretation of system registry information, or a predetermination. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sufficient number of encoded data slices correspond to a the first decode threshold number of each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the sufficient number of encoded data slices correspond to a the second decode threshold number of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices, that are selected based on a failure of the first recovery approach. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices includes a first IDA width number of encoded data slices, and wherein the first decode threshold number of each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices is required to recover the data using the first IDA, and wherein the first decode threshold number is greater than half of the first IDA width number. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices includes a second IDA width number of encoded data slices, and wherein the second decode threshold number of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices is required to recover the data using the second IDA, and where the second decode threshold number is less than or equal to half of the second IDA width number. 
     
     
         8 . A processing system of a first dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit comprises:
 at least one processor;   a memory that stores operational instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor cause the processing system to perform operations including:
 storing data as one or more first sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units, the one or more first sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a first information dispersal algorithm having a first decode threshold number; 
 storing data as one or more second sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units, the one or more second sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a second information dispersal algorithm having a second decode threshold number; 
 recovering the data stored as the one or more first sets of encoded data slices by:
 identifying the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on an identifier of the data; 
 initiating retrieval of a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices in accordance with a first recovery approach; 
 when a recovery time frame expires prior to receiving a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices:
 selecting a second data recovery approach that differs from the first recovery approach; 
 recovering a sufficient number of encoded data slices in accordance with the second data recovery approach; and 
 dispersed storage error decoding the sufficient number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data. 
 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The processing system of  claim 8  wherein identifying the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on the identifier of the data includes converting the identifier of the data to a source name of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices utilizing a deterministic function. 
     
     
         10 . The processing system of  claim 8  wherein selecting the second data recovery approach is based on one or more of storage unit availability information, a recovery time requirement, an interpretation of system registry information, or a predetermination. 
     
     
         11 . The processing system of  claim 8  wherein the sufficient number of encoded data slices correspond to a the first decode threshold number of each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         12 . The processing system of  claim 8  wherein the sufficient number of encoded data slices correspond to a the second decode threshold number of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices, that are selected based on a failure of the first recovery approach. 
     
     
         13 . The processing system of  claim 8  wherein the each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices includes a first IDA width number of encoded data slices, and wherein the first decode threshold number of each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices is required to recover the data using the first IDA, and wherein the first decode threshold number is greater than half of the first IDA width number. 
     
     
         14 . The processing system of  claim 13  wherein the each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices includes a second IDA width number of encoded data slices, and wherein the second decode threshold number of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices is required to recover the data using the second IDA, and where the second decode threshold number is less than or equal to half of the second IDA width number. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises:
 at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a dispersed storage network (DSN) that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing system to perform operations including:
 storing data as one or more first sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units, the one or more first sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a first information dispersal algorithm having a first decode threshold number; 
 storing data as one or more second sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units, the one or more second sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a second information dispersal algorithm having a second decode threshold number; 
 recovering the data stored as the one or more first sets of encoded data slices by:
 identifying the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on an identifier of the data; 
 initiating retrieval of a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices in accordance with a first recovery approach; 
 when a recovery time frame expires prior to receiving a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices:
 selecting a second data recovery approach that differs from the first recovery approach; 
 recovering a sufficient number of encoded data slices in accordance with the second data recovery approach; and 
 dispersed storage error decoding the sufficient number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data. 
 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15  wherein identifying the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on the identifier of the data includes converting the identifier of the data to a source name of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices utilizing a deterministic function. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15  wherein selecting the second data recovery approach is based on one or more of storage unit availability information, a recovery time requirement, an interpretation of system registry information, or a predetermination. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15  wherein the sufficient number of encoded data slices correspond to a the first decode threshold number of each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15  wherein the sufficient number of encoded data slices correspond to a the second decode threshold number of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices, that are selected based on a failure of the first recovery approach. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15  wherein the each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices includes a first IDA width number of encoded data slices, and wherein the first decode threshold number of each of the one or more first sets of encoded data slices is required to recover the data using the first IDA, and wherein the first decode threshold number is greater than half of the first IDA width number; and
 wherein the each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices includes a second IDA width number of encoded data slices, and wherein the second decode threshold number of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices is required to recover the data using the second IDA, and where the second decode threshold number is less than or equal to half of the second IDA width number.