Generation collapse

1. A computing device comprising:

an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN);

memory that stores operational instructions; and

a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to:

determine to convert sets of encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with a data object stored within a generation-based storage pool set of storage units (SUs) to a Decentralized, or Distributed, Agreement Protocol (DAP)-based storage pool set of SUs, wherein the generation-based storage pool set of SUs stores a plurality of sets of EDSs associated with the data object, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of the sets of encoded data slices (EDSs);

convert a first storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a first DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP and stored within a first DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to pre-establish DAP scoring information that correspond to slice names of EDSs of the first storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object;

for additional generation sets of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs:

perform a DAP function on a slice name to produce first DAP scoring information for DAP-based storage pools of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs and to produce second DAP scoring information for sets of the EDSs associated with the data object stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs having the slice name; and

migrate an EDS of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs associated with the slice name and having highest DAP scoring information based on the second DAP scoring information to a DAP-based storage pool of SUs among the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs having highest DAP scoring information based on the first DAP scoring information.

2. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

determine to convert the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within a generation-based storage pool set of SUs to the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs based on detection of detect an unfavorable storage efficiency of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs.

3. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

facilitate migration of a second storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a second DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP to be stored in a second DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs;

facilitate migration of a third storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a third DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP to be stored in a third DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs;

perform the DAP function on the second storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the second DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to generate third DAP scoring information;

perform the DAP function on the third storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the third DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to generate fourth DAP scoring information;

select the second DAP-based storage pool of SUs as the DAP-based storage pool of SUs when the third DAP scoring information is higher than the fourth DAP scoring information; and

select the third DAP-based storage pool of SUs as the DAP-based storage pool of SUs when the fourth DAP scoring information is higher than the third DAP scoring information.

4. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

for the data segment, migrate at least a write threshold number of EDSs to the DAP-based storage pool of SUs among the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs, wherein the write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of a set of the sets of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN; and

after migration of the at least a write threshold number of EDSs, re-provision at least one pool of SUs of the generation-based storage pool set of SUs to store at least one EDSs associated with another data object.

5. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein:

a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment associated with the set of the sets of EDSs;

a read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment associated with the set of the sets of EDSs; and

for the data segment, a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of the sets of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN.

6. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is located at a first premises that is remotely located from at least one SU of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs or the generation-based storage pool set of SUs within the DSN.

7. The computing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a SU of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs or the generation-based storage pool set of SUs within the DSN, a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, or a video game device.

8. The computing device of claim 1 , wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).

9. A computing device comprising:

an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN);

memory that stores operational instructions; and

a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to:

determine to convert sets of encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with a data object stored within a generation-based storage pool set of storage units (SUs) to a Decentralized, or Distributed, Agreement Protocol (DAP)-based storage pool set of SUs based on detection of detect an unfavorable storage efficiency of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs, wherein the generation-based storage pool set of SUs stores a plurality of sets of EDSs associated with the data object, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of the sets of encoded data slices (EDSs), wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment associated with the set of the sets of EDSs, wherein a read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment associated with the set of the sets of EDSs, and wherein a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of the sets of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN for the data segment;

convert a first storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a first DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP and stored within a first DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to pre-establish DAP scoring information that correspond to slice names of EDSs of the first storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object;

for additional generation sets of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs:

perform a DAP function on a slice name to produce first DAP scoring information for DAP-based storage pools of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs and to produce second DAP scoring information for sets of the EDSs associated with the data object stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs having the slice name; and

migrate an EDS of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs associated with the slice name and having highest DAP scoring information based on the second DAP scoring information to a DAP-based storage pool of SUs among the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs having highest DAP scoring information based on the first DAP scoring information.

10. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

facilitate migration of a second storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a second DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP to be stored in a second DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs;

facilitate migration of a third storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a third DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP to be stored in a third DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs;

perform the DAP function on the second storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the second DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to generate third DAP scoring information;

perform the DAP function on the third storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the third DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to generate fourth DAP scoring information;

select the second DAP-based storage pool of SUs as the DAP-based storage pool of SUs when the third DAP scoring information is higher than the fourth DAP scoring information; and

select the third DAP-based storage pool of SUs as the DAP-based storage pool of SUs when the fourth DAP scoring information is higher than the third DAP scoring information.

11. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

for the data segment, migrate at least a write threshold number of EDSs to the DAP-based storage pool of SUs among the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs, wherein the write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of a set of the sets of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN; and

after migration of the at least a write threshold number of EDSs, re-provision at least one pool of SUs of the generation-based storage pool set of SUs to store at least one EDSs associated with another data object.

12. The computing device of claim 9 further comprising:

a SU of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs or the generation-based storage pool set of SUs within the DSN, a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, or a video game device.

13. The computing device of claim 9 , wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).

14. A method for execution by a computing device, the method comprising:

determining to convert sets of encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with a data object stored within a generation-based storage pool set of storage units (SUs) to a Decentralized, or Distributed, Agreement Protocol (DAP)-based storage pool set of SUs within a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN), wherein the generation-based storage pool set of SUs stores a plurality of sets of EDSs associated with the data object, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of the sets of encoded data slices (EDSs);

converting a first storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a first DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP and stored within a first DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to pre-establish DAP scoring information that correspond to slice names of EDSs of the first storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object;

for additional generation sets of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs:

performing a DAP function on a slice name to produce first DAP scoring information for DAP-based storage pools of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs and to produce second DAP scoring information for sets of the EDSs associated with the data object stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs having the slice name; and

migrating, via an interface configured to interface and communicate with the DSN, an EDS of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs associated with the slice name and having highest DAP scoring information based on the second DAP scoring information to a DAP-based storage pool of SUs among the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs having highest DAP scoring information based on the first DAP scoring information.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining to convert the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within a generation-based storage pool set of SUs to the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs based on detection of detect an unfavorable storage efficiency of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

facilitating migration of a second storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a second DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP to be stored in a second DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs;

facilitating migration of a third storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object and stored within the generation-based storage pool set of SUs into a third DAP-based set of the sets of EDSs in accordance with the DAP to be stored in a third DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs;

performing the DAP function on the second storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the second DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to generate third DAP scoring information;

performing the DAP function on the third storage generation set of the sets of EDSs associated with the data object stored within the third DAP-based storage pool of SUs of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs to generate fourth DAP scoring information;

selecting the second DAP-based storage pool of SUs as the DAP-based storage pool of SUs when the third DAP scoring information is higher than the fourth DAP scoring information; and

selecting the third DAP-based storage pool of SUs as the DAP-based storage pool of SUs when the fourth DAP scoring information is higher than the third DAP scoring information.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

for the data segment, migrating at least a write threshold number of EDSs to the DAP-based storage pool of SUs among the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs, wherein the write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of a set of the sets of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN; and

after migration of the at least a write threshold number of EDSs, re-provisioning at least one pool of SUs of the generation-based storage pool set of SUs to store at least one EDSs associated with another data object.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein:

a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment associated with the set of the sets of EDSs;

a read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment associated with the set of the sets of EDSs; and

for the data segment, a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of the sets of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the computing device includes a SU of the DAP-based storage pool set of SUs or the generation-based storage pool set of SUs within the DSN, a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, or a video game device.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).