Storing raid data as encoded data slices in a dispersed storage network

1. A method for a computer of a dispersed storage network to convert data stored in a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) format into data in a dispersed storage error encoded format, the method comprises:

receiving the data for storage;

interpreting the data to identify sets of RAID data blocks and corresponding RAID parity blocks; and

for a set of RAID data blocks and a corresponding RAID parity block:

converting format of the data from the RAID format to the dispersed storage error encoded format by:

reconstructing a portion of the data from the at least some of the RAID data blocks of the set of RAID data blocks and, when needed, the corresponding RAID parity block;

generating a data matrix of the portion of the data;

generating a set of encoded data slices by encoding the data matrix using an encoding matrix in accordance with error coding dispersal storage function parameters, wherein the set of encoded data slices includes a total number of encoded data slices, wherein the portion of the data is recoverable from a threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices, and wherein the threshold number is at least two less than the total number; and

outputting the set of encoded data slices to a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage therein.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reconstructing the portion of the data comprises:

determining accuracy of the set of RAID data blocks based on the corresponding RAID parity block; and

when the accuracy of the set of RAID data blocks compares unfavorably to a desired accuracy, correcting the set of RAID data blocks based on the RAID parity block.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

for a second set of RAID data blocks and a second corresponding RAID parity block:

encoding the second set of RAID data blocks in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce a second set of encoded data slices; and

outputting the second set of encoded data slices to the DSN memory for storage therein.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the data for storage comprises:

sending a request to a RAID memory device regarding the data; and

receiving the data from the RAID memory device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encoding the set of RAID data blocks further comprises:

determining the error coding dispersal storage function parameters based on at least one of: the data, detection of the set of RAID data blocks, the RAID parity block, detection of a RAID data stripe, RAID data checksum information, a vault lookup, RAID memory configuration information, a command, a message, a predetermination, a data object name, a data object, a data object size, a data type, a data block, parity information, a user identifier (ID), RAID unit information, disk drive information, address information, memory information, a command, and a request.

6. A method for a computer of a dispersed storage network to read data that is stored in a dispersed storage error encoded format as data having a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) format, the method comprises:

receiving a data retrieval request;

determining whether the data retrieval request is a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) data retrieval request or an error coding dispersed storage request;

when the data retrieval request is the RAID data retrieval request, converting the data retrieval request into the error coding dispersed storage request to retrieve a threshold number of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices, wherein the set of encoded data slices includes a total number of encoded data slices, wherein the data is recoverable from the threshold number of encoded data slices, and wherein the threshold number is at least two less than the total number;

decoding the threshold number set of encoded data slices in accordance with error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce the data;

interpreting the data to determine whether the data represents a stripe of RAID data or a stripe-block of RAID data, wherein a stripe of RAID data includes a set of RAID data blocks and a corresponding RAID parity block and the stripe-block of RAID data includes the set of data blocks; and

when the data represents the stripe of RAID data:

generating the corresponding RAID parity block from the set of RAID data blocks; and

outputting the set of RAID data blocks and the corresponding RAID parity block.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprises:

when the data represents the stripe-block of data, outputting the data.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the interpreting the data comprises:

interpreting a header section of the data to determine whether the data represents the stripe of data or the stripe-block of data.

9. A computer comprises:

an interface;

a memory; and

a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein the processing module is operable to:

receive, via the interface, the data for storage;

interpret the data to identify sets of RAID data blocks and corresponding RAID parity blocks; and

for a set of RAID data blocks and a corresponding RAID parity block:

convert format of the data from the RAID format to the dispersed storage error encoded format by:

reconstructing a portion of the data from the at least some of the RAID data blocks of the set of RAID data blocks and, when needed, the corresponding RAID parity block;

generating a data matrix of the portion of the data;

generating a set of encoded data slices by encoding the data matrix using an encoding matrix in accordance with error coding dispersal storage function parameters, wherein the set of encoded data slices includes a total number of encoded data slices, wherein the portion of the data is recoverable from a threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices, and wherein the threshold number is at least two less than the total number; and

output, via the interface, the set of encoded data slices to a set of storage units of a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory for storage therein.

10. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the processing module further functions to reconstruct the portion of the data by:

determining accuracy of the set of RAID data blocks based on the corresponding RAID parity block; and

when the accuracy of the set of RAID data blocks compares unfavorably to a desired accuracy, correcting the set of RAID data blocks based on the RAID parity block.

11. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the processing module further functions to:

for a second set of RAID data blocks and a second corresponding RAID parity block:

encode the second set of RAID data blocks in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce a second set of encoded data slices; and

output the second set of encoded data slices to the DSN memory for storage therein.

12. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the processing module functions to receive the data for storage by:

sending, via the interface, a request to a RAID memory device regarding the data; and

receiving, the interface, the data from the RAID memory device.

13. The computer of claim 9 , wherein the processing module further functions to encode the set of RAID data blocks by:

determining the error coding dispersal storage function parameters based on at least one of: the data, detection of the set of RAID data blocks, the corresponding RAID parity block, detection of a RAID data stripe, RAID data checksum information, a vault lookup, RAID memory configuration information, a command, a message, a predetermination, a data object name, a data object, a data object size, a data type, a data block, parity information, a user identifier (ID), RAID unit information, disk drive information, address information, memory information, a command, and a request.

14. A computer comprises:

an interface;

a memory; and

a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the memory, wherein the processing module is operable to:

receive, via the interface, a data retrieval request;

determine whether the data retrieval request is a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) data retrieval request or an error coding dispersed storage request;

when the data retrieval request is the RAID data retrieval request, converting the data retrieval request into the error coding dispersed storage request to retrieve, via the interface, a threshold number of encoded data slices of a set of encoded data slices, wherein the set of encoded data slices includes a total number of encoded data slices, wherein the data is recoverable from the threshold number of encoded data slices, and wherein the threshold number is at least two less than the total number;

decode the threshold number set of encoded data slices in accordance with error coding dispersal storage function parameters to produce the data;

interpret the data to determine whether the data represents a stripe of RAID data or a stripe-block of RAID data, wherein a stripe of RAID data includes a set of RAID data blocks and a corresponding RAID parity block and the stripe-block of RAID data includes the set of data blocks; and

when the data represents the stripe of data:

generate the corresponding RAID parity block from the set of RAID data blocks; and

output the set of RAID data blocks and the corresponding RAID parity block.

15. The computer of claim 14 , wherein the processing module further functions to:

output, via the interface, the data when the data represents the stripe-block of RAID data.

16. The computer of claim 14 , wherein the processing module interprets the data by:

interpreting a header section of the data to determine whether the data represents the stripe of RAID data or the stripe-block of RAID data.