Virtual memory mapping in a dispersed storage network

1. A method for generating virtual dispersed storage network (DSN) addresses for pluralities of sets of encoded data slices in a DSN, the method comprises:

dispersed storage error encoding a data segment of a data object to produce a set of encoded data slices of a plurality of sets of encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices;

generating, for each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices, a virtual DSN address having a slice name that includes a vault identifier, a slice index, a data object identifier, and a data segment identifier thereby producing a set of DSN addresses for the set of encoded data slices;

obtaining a mapping of a vault to a set of storage units of the DSN, wherein the vault is associated with the vault identifier and is a virtual memory space that is supported by the set of storage units and wherein the mapping indicates how the set of encoded data slices are to be stored by the set of storage units; and

outputting the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units in accordance with the mapping for the set of storage units therein.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on the slice index such that a first storage unit of the set of storage units stores encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first slice index, wherein, when the set of encoded data slices includes “N” encoded data slices, each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices has a unique slice index in a range of 1 to N.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the data object identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first data object identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the data segment identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first data segment identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

generating, for each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices, the virtual DSN address having the slice name to further include a generation identifier; and

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the generation identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first generation identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

dispersed storage error encoding a first data segment of another data object to produce another set of encoded data slices of another plurality of sets of encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices;

generating, for each encoded data slice of the other set of encoded data slices, a second virtual DSN address having a second slice name that includes a second vault identifier, the slice index, the data object identifier, and the data segment identifier thereby producing a second set of DSN addresses for the set of encoded data slices;

obtaining a second mapping of a second vault to the set of storage units of the DSN, wherein the second vault is associated with the second vault identifier and is a second virtual memory space that is supported by the set of storage units and wherein the second mapping indicates how the other set of encoded data slices are to be stored by the set of storage units; and

outputting the other set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units in accordance with the second mapping for storage therein.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage device comprises:

a first storage section storing operational instructions that, when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to:

dispersed storage error encode a data segment of a data object to produce a set of encoded data slices of a plurality of sets of encoded data slices of pluralities of sets of encoded data slices;

a second storage section storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

generate, for each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices, a virtual dispersed storage network (DSN) address having a slice name that includes a vault identifier, a slice index, a data object identifier, and a data segment identifier thereby producing a set of DSN addresses for the set of encoded data slices; and

obtain a mapping of a vault to a set of storage units of the DSN, wherein the vault is associated with the vault identifier and is a virtual memory space that is supported by the set of storage units and wherein the mapping indicates how the set of encoded data slices are to be stored by the set of storage units; and

a third storage section storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

output the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units in accordance with the mapping for the set of storage units therein.

8. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on the slice index such that a first storage unit of the set of storage units stores encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first slice index, wherein, when the set of encoded data slices includes “N” encoded data slices, each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices has a unique slice index in a range of 1 to N.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the data object identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first data object identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 7 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the data segment identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first data segment identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 7 further comprises:

the second storage section further storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

generate, for each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices, the virtual DSN address having the slice name to further include a generation identifier; and

the mapping including distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the generation identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first generation identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage device of claim 7 further comprises:

the first storage section further storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

dispersed storage error encode a first data segment of another data object to produce another set of encoded data slices of another plurality of sets of encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices;

the second storage section further storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

generate, for each encoded data slice of the other set of encoded data slices, a second virtual DSN address having a second slice name that includes a second vault identifier, the slice index, the data object identifier, and the data segment identifier thereby producing a second set of DSN addresses for the set of encoded data slices;

obtain a second mapping of a second vault to the set of storage units of the DSN, wherein the second vault is associated with the second vault identifier and is a second virtual memory space that is supported by the set of storage units and wherein the second mapping indicates how the other set of encoded data slices are to be stored by the set of storage units; and

the third storage section further storing operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, causes the computing device to:

output the other set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units in accordance with the second mapping for storage therein.

13. A computing device comprises:

an interface;

memory; and

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

dispersed storage error encode a data segment of a data object to produce a set of encoded data slices of a plurality of sets of encoded data slices of pluralities of sets of encoded data slices;

generate, for each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices, a virtual dispersed storage network (DSN) address having a slice name that includes a vault identifier, a slice index, a data object identifier, and a data segment identifier thereby producing a set of DSN addresses for the set of encoded data slices;

obtain a mapping of a vault to a set of storage units of the DSN, wherein the vault is associated with the vault identifier and is a virtual memory space that is supported by the set of storage units and wherein the mapping indicates how the set of encoded data slices are to be stored by the set of storage units; and

output, via the interface, the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units in accordance with the mapping for the set of storage units therein.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on the slice index such that a first storage unit of the set of storage units stores encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first slice index, wherein, when the set of encoded data slices includes “N” encoded data slices, each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices has a unique slice index in a range of 1 to N.

15. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the data object identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first data object identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

16. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the mapping comprises:

distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the data segment identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first data segment identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

17. The computing device of claim 13 further comprises:

the processing module is further operable to generate, for each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices, the virtual DSN address having the slice name to further include a generation identifier; and

the mapping including distributing the set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units based on virtual DSN boundaries that partition a virtual DSN address space of the vault in accordance with the generation identifier, such that encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices having a first generation identifier are stored in a first virtual DSN address range of the virtual DSN address space.

18. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the processing module is further operable to:

dispersed storage error encode a first data segment of another data object to produce another set of encoded data slices of another plurality of sets of encoded data slices of the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices;

generate, for each encoded data slice of the other set of encoded data slices, a second virtual DSN address having a second slice name that includes a second vault identifier, the slice index, the data object identifier, and the data segment identifier thereby producing a second set of DSN addresses for the set of encoded data slices;

obtain a second mapping of a second vault to the set of storage units of the DSN, wherein the second vault is associated with the second vault identifier and is a second virtual memory space that is supported by the set of storage units and wherein the second mapping indicates how the other set of encoded data slices are to be stored by the set of storage units; and

output, via the interface, the other set of encoded data slices to the set of storage units in accordance with the second mapping for storage therein.