MANAGED STORAGE UNIT SHUTDOWN IN A DISTRIBUTED STORAGE NETWORK

1 . A method for execution by a load balancing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises:

receiving, at the load balancing module, status information from each DSN processing unit of a set of DSN processing units;

based on the status information, selecting, by the load balancing module, a DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units to process a data access request;

transmitting, by the load balancing module, the data access request to the DSN processing unit selected to process a data access request;

receiving, at the load balancing module, a first indication from the DSN processing unit, wherein the DSN processing unit continues to process previously pending data access requests, and further wherein the first indication indicates unfavorable performance;

detecting, by the load balancing module, the first indication from the DSN processing unit;

based on the first indication, cancelling, by the load balancing module, the selecting the DSN processing unit to process the data access request; and

receiving, at the load balancing module, a second indication from the DSN processing unit, wherein the second indication indicates favorable performance.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the status information from each DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units includes at least one of an indicator of a time frame of availability, an indicator of a time frame of unavailability, a time frame for a scheduled software update, a time frame for a scheduled new hardware addition, an error message, a maintenance schedule, a communications error rate, and a storage error rate.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first indication indicates unfavorable performance based on the DSN processing unit determining to temporarily suspend operation.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the determining, by the DSN processing unit to temporarily suspend operation is based on at least one of adding new software, activating new hardware, recovering from a storage error, recovering from a communications error, receiving a suspend request, and interpreting a maintenance schedule.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the previously pending data access requests include one or more encoded data slice access activities.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting, by the load balancing module, a DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units to process a data access request is further based on at least one of receiving resource status information, initiating a query, receiving an error message, and detecting an unfavorable performance state.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selecting, by the load balancing module, a DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units to process a data access request is further based on the DSN processing unit comparing favorably to availability of other DSN processing units of the set of DSN processing units.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first indication indicating unfavorable performance includes the DSN processing unit doing at least one of ignoring the request, sending a late unfavorable response, issuing unfavorable resource status information, and ignoring resource status requests from the load balancing module.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after cancelling, by the load balancing module, the selecting the DSN processing unit to process the data access request selecting another DSN processing unit to process the data access request.

10 . A computing device comprises:

an interface for interfacing with a network;

memory; and

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

receive status information from each DSN processing unit of a set of DSN processing units;

based on the status information, select a DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units to process a data access request;

transmit the data access request to the DSN processing unit selected to process a data access request;

receive a first indication from the DSN processing unit, wherein the DSN processing unit continues to process previously accepted data access requests, and further wherein the first indication indicates unfavorable performance;

detect the first indication from the DSN processing unit;

based on the first indication, cancel the data access request for the DSN processing unit; and

receive a second indication from the DSN processing unit, wherein the second indication indicates favorable performance.

11 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the status information from each DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units includes at least one of an indicator of a time frame of availability, an indicator of a time frame of unavailability, a time frame for a scheduled software update, a time frame for a scheduled new hardware addition, an error message, a maintenance schedule, a communications error rate, and a storage error rate.

12 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the first indication indicates unfavorable performance based on a temporary suspension of operation.

13 . The computing device of claim 12 , wherein the DSN processing unit has determined to temporarily suspend operation based on at least one of adding new software, activating new hardware, recovering from a storage error, recovering from a communications error, receiving a suspend request, and interpreting a maintenance schedule.

14 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the previously pending data access requests include one or more encoded data slice access activities.

15 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the processing module is further operable to operable to select a DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units to process a data access request further based on at least one of receiving resource status information, initiating a query, receiving an error message, and detecting an unfavorable performance state.

16 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the processing module is further operable to operable to select a DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units to process a data access request is further based on the DSN processing unit comparing favorably to availability of other DSN processing units of the set of DSN processing units.

17 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the first indication includes the DSN processing unit executing at least one of ignoring the request, sending a late unfavorable response, issuing unfavorable resource status information, and ignoring resource status requests from the computing device.

18 . The computing device of claim 10 , further comprising:

select another DSN processing unit to process the data access request.

19 . A computer readable storage medium comprises:

at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by one or more processing resources of a plurality of processing resources of one or more computing devices of a distributed network, causes the one or more computing devices to:

receive status information from each DSN processing unit of a set of DSN processing units;

based on the status information, select a DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units to process a data access request;

transmit the data access request to the DSN processing unit selected to process a data access request;

receive a first indication from the DSN processing unit, wherein the DSN processing unit continues to process previously accepted data access requests, and further wherein the first indication indicates unfavorable performance;

detect the first indication from the DSN processing unit;

based on the first indication, cancel the data access request for the DSN processing unit; and

receive a second indication from the DSN processing unit, wherein the second indication indicates favorable performance.

20 . The computer readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the status information from each DSN processing unit of the set of DSN processing units includes at least one of an indicator of a time frame of availability, an indicator of a time frame of unavailability, a time frame for a scheduled software update, a time frame for a scheduled new hardware addition, an error message, a maintenance schedule, a communications error rate, and a storage error rate.