Deterministically determining affinity for a source name range

1. A method of storing a data object in a dispersed storage network, the dispersed storage network including a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units, the method comprising:

receiving a write data object request;

determining a source name for the data object;

identifying a source name range corresponding to the source name;

identifying a storage pattern associated with the source name range;

identifying a set of DS units of the plurality of DS units corresponding to the source name;

identifying affinity DS units of the set of DS units that correspond to the storage pattern;

encoding the data object to produce encoded affinity data slices;

outputting the encoded affinity data slices to the affinity DS units;

determining an encoded affinity data slice of the encoded affinity data slices was improperly stored; and

outputting another encoded data slice corresponding to the data object to a DS unit of the set of DS units other than one of the affinity DS units.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data object includes a data name.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the source name is based on the data name.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of identifying the storage pattern associated with the source name range includes identifying the storage pattern from a list of storage patterns associated with the source name range.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data object is a data segment.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the encoded affinity data slice of the encoded affinity data slices was improperly stored includes determining the encoded affinity data slice was not stored within a time period.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the encoded affinity data slice of the encoded affinity data slices was improperly stored includes determining an error has occurred.

8. A dispersed storage processing unit for storing a data object in a dispersed storage network, the dispersed storage network including a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units, the dispersed storage processing unit comprising:

a memory; and

a computer processor;

where the memory includes instructions for causing the computer processor to:

receive a write data object request;

determine a source name for the data object;

identify a source name range corresponding to the source name;

identify a storage pattern associated with the source name range;

identify a set of DS units of the plurality of DS units corresponding to the source name;

identify affinity DS units of the set of DS units that correspond to the storage pattern;

encode the data object to produce encoded affinity data slices;

output the encoded affinity data slices to the affinity DS units;

determine an encoded affinity data slice of the encoded affinity data slices was improperly stored; and

output another encoded data slice corresponding to the data object to a DS unit of the set of DS units other than one of the affinity DS units.

9. The dispersed storage processing unit of claim 8 , wherein the data object includes a data name.

10. The dispersed storage processing unit of claim 9 , wherein the source name is based on the data name.

11. The dispersed storage processing unit of claim 8 , wherein the memory includes instructions for further causing the computer processor to identify the storage pattern from a list of storage patterns associated with the source name range.

12. The dispersed storage processing unit of claim 8 , wherein the data object is a data segment.

13. The dispersed storage processing unit of claim 8 , wherein the memory includes instructions for further causing the computer processor to determine the encoded affinity data slice was not stored within a time period.

14. The dispersed storage processing unit of claim 8 , wherein the memory includes instructions for further causing the computer processor to determine an error has occurred.

15. A dispersed storage network comprising:

a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units;

a dispersed storage processing unit for storing a data object in the dispersed storage network including:

a memory; and

a computer processor;

where the memory includes instructions for causing the computer processor to:

receive a write data object request;

determine a source name for the data object;

identify a source name range corresponding to the source name;

identify a storage pattern associated with the source name range;

identify a set of DS units of the plurality of DS units corresponding to the source name;

identify affinity DS units of the set of DS units that correspond to the storage pattern;

encode the data object to produce encoded affinity data slices;

output the encoded affinity data slices to the affinity DS units;

determine an encoded affinity data slice of the encoded affinity data slices was improperly stored; and

output another encoded data slice corresponding to the data object to a DS unit of the set of DS units other than one of the affinity DS units.

16. The dispersed storage network of claim 15 , wherein the data object includes a data name.

17. The dispersed storage network of claim 16 , wherein the source name is based on the data name.

18. The dispersed storage network of claim 15 , wherein the memory includes instructions for further causing the computer processor to identify the storage pattern from a list of storage patterns associated with the source name range.

19. The dispersed storage network of claim 15 , wherein the memory includes instructions for further causing the computer processor to determine the encoded affinity data slice was not stored within a time period.

20. The dispersed storage network of claim 15 , wherein the memory includes instructions for further causing the computer processor to determine an error has occurred.