Creating and using virtual memory blocks in a storage network
A method for execution by a storage network begins by creating a plurality of vaults in memory addressable by the storage network, where a vault is a virtual memory block associated with a portion of storage network memory, and then determining dispersed storage error encoding parameters for each vault. The method then continues by creating a plurality of vault regions within each vault, wherein a vault region is configured to store a data type of a plurality of data types, where at least one data type of the plurality of data types is associated with a unique access restriction.
1. A storage network comprises:
a network interface;
a processing module operably coupled to the network interface, wherein the processing module is configured to:
create a plurality of vaults, wherein a vault is a virtual memory block associated with a portion of a storage network memory, wherein storage network memory is memory addressable by the storage network;
determine dispersed storage error encoding parameters for each vault of the plurality of vaults; and
create a plurality of vault regions within a vault of the plurality of vaults, wherein a vault region is configured to store a data type of a plurality of data types and wherein at least one data type of the plurality of data types is associated with a unique access restriction.
2. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein the storage network memory includes a plurality of memory types.
3. The storage network of claim 2 , wherein the memory types include solid state memory and hard drive memory.
4. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein the storage network memory is located at a same physical location.
5. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein the storage network memory is located at a plurality of physical locations.
6. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein a vault is associated with storage network memory located at a plurality of physical locations.
7. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein a unique access restriction is an access restriction that is different from other access restrictions for data types stored in a vault region.
8. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data type is associated with cryptographic keys.
9. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein the dispersed storage error encoding parameters are adapted for generating encoded data slices from a data object.
10. The storage network of claim 9 , wherein a vault region of the plurality of vault regions is designated for storage of encoded slices relating to one or more cryptographic keys.
11. The storage network of claim 1 , wherein a vault region of the plurality of vault regions includes a dedicated storage address range in a vault.
12. A method for execution by one or more modules in one or more processors of a storage network comprises:
creating a plurality of vaults in memory addressable by the storage network, wherein a vault is a virtual memory block associated with a portion of storage network memory;
determining dispersed storage error encoding parameters for each vault of the plurality of vaults; and
creating a plurality of vault regions within a vault of the plurality of vaults, wherein a vault region is configured to store a data type of a plurality of data types and wherein at least one data type of the plurality of data types is associated with a unique access restriction.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the memory addressable by the storage network includes a plurality of memory types.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the memory types include solid state memory and hard drive memory.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the memory addressable by the storage network is located at a plurality of physical locations.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein a vault is associated with memory located at a plurality of physical locations.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein a unique access restriction is an access restriction that is different from other access restrictions for data types stored in a vault region.
18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one data type is associated with cryptographic keys.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dispersed storage error encoding parameters are adapted for generating encoded data slices from a data object, wherein a vault region of the plurality of vault regions is designated for storage of encoded slices relating to one or more cryptographic keys.
20. A storage network comprises:
a network interface;
a plurality of storage units, wherein the plurality of storage units includes a plurality of memory types;
a processing module operably coupled to the network interface, wherein the processing module is configured to:
create a plurality of vaults, wherein a vault is a virtual memory block associated with a portion of a storage network memory, wherein storage network memory is memory addressable by the storage network;
determine dispersed storage error encoding parameters for each vault of the plurality of vaults; and
create a plurality of vault regions within a vault of the plurality of vaults, wherein a vault region is configured to store a data type of a plurality of data types and wherein at least one data type of the plurality of data types is associated with cryptographic keys.