Detecting a Memory Error While Servicing Encoded Data Slice Access Messages

Abstract

A method includes detecting a memory error associated with a memory device of a storage unit of a set of storage units that is storing a set of encoded data slices, the storage unit services encoded data slice access messages from a processing unit, and the detecting occurs while attempting to access one or more of: a read threshold number (R) of encoded data slices, a decode threshold number (D) of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment, or a write threshold number (W) indicating a number of encoded data slices that must be accurately stored. The method further includes identifying an error descriptor code based on the detected memory error. The method further includes determining to perform an action based on the error descriptor code and executing the action to produce an action result.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a storage network, the method comprises:
 detecting a memory error associated with a memory device of a storage unit of a set of storage units that is storing a set of encoded data slices, wherein the storage unit services encoded data slice access messages from a processing unit of the storage network, wherein the detecting occurs while attempting to access one or more of: a read threshold number (R) of encoded data slices to be read from one or more of the storage units for decoding of a data segment of data, a decode threshold number (D) of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment, or a write threshold number (W) indicating a number of encoded data slices that must be accurately stored in the set of storage units before the data segment is deemed to have been properly stored;   identifying an error descriptor code based on the detected memory error;   determining to perform an action based on the error descriptor code; and   executing the action to produce an action result.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises interpreting an error message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises interpreting a test result. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting a timing issue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting a data error. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting a naming error. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises detecting a data age error. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises performing a look up. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises interpreting a query response. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises interpreting system registry information. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identifying comprises receiving the error descriptor code. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 issuing memory status information to managing unit of the storage network. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the memory status information comprises:
 an identifier of the memory device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the memory status information comprises:
 the error descriptor code.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  further comprises:
 determining whether the memory device is to remain in service to the storage network based on the action result. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprises:
 determining whether the memory device is to remain in service to the storage network based on the error descriptor code. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the determining whether the memory device is to remain in service comprises:
 comparing the action result to a desired action result; and   when the action result compares unfavorably to the desired action result, determining the memory device is not to remain in service.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprises:
 issuing memory status information to a managing unit of the storage network. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing the action comprises:
 power cycling of the memory device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the executing the action comprises:
 initiating a memory test of the memory device; and   generating test results as the action result.