Delegating dispersed storage network configuration capabilities while preserving ownership constraints

1. A method comprises:

delegating, by a managing unit of a dispersed storage network (DSN), authority to configure a sub-portion of at least a portion of the DSN managed by the managing unit to a designated entity of the DSN according to one or more configuration constraints, wherein the managing unit manages parent configuration data, wherein the parent configuration data contains a compilation of configuration changes made to the at least a portion of the DSN, and wherein the parent configuration data is stored in a first storage container of the DSN;

managing, by the designated entity, child configuration data, wherein the child configuration data includes a compilation of configuration changes made to the sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN, wherein the child configuration data is stored in a second storage container of the DSN;

when resolution of the child configuration data and the parent configuration data is triggered: determining, by the managing unit, whether the child configuration data is formatted in a manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data; and

when the child configuration data is formatted in the manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data:

incorporating, by the managing unit, the child configuration data into the parent configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

when the child configuration data is not formatted in the manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data, ignoring, by the managing unit, format inconsistencies between the parent configuration data and the child configuration data; and

incorporating, by the managing unit, the child configuration data into the parent configuration data minus the format inconsistencies.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

when the child configuration data is not formatted in the manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data, rejecting, by the managing unit, the child configuration data from inclusion in the parent configuration data.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

delegating, by the managing unit, authority to configure a second sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN to a second designated entity of the DSN according to one or more second configuration constraints; and

managing, by the second designated entity, second child configuration data, wherein the second child configuration data includes a compilation of configuration changes made to the second sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN, wherein the second child configuration data is stored in a third storage container of the DSN, and wherein the second storage container has a second access control list that includes the designated entity and the third storage container has a third access control list that includes the second designated entity.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resolution of the child configuration data and the parent configuration data is triggered by one or more of: expiration of a time period, an amount of configuration changes made by the designated entity, and execution of a task relating to the at a least a portion of the DSN managed by the managing unit.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the DSN includes dispersed storage units and storage pools of the DSN, wherein the sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN includes a first storage pool of the storage pools of the DSN, and wherein the one or more configuration constraints include vault configuration.

7. A computer readable memory comprises:

a first memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a managing unit of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the managing unit to:

delegate authority to configure a sub-portion of at least a portion of the DSN managed by the managing unit to a designated entity of the DSN according to one or more configuration constraints, wherein the managing unit manages parent configuration data, wherein the parent configuration data contains a compilation of configuration changes made to the at least a portion of the DSN, and wherein the parent configuration data is stored in a first storage container of the DSN;

a second memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the designated entity, causes the designated entity to:

manage child configuration data, wherein the child configuration data includes a compilation of configuration changes made to the sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN, wherein the child configuration data is stored in a second storage container of the DSN; and

a third memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the managing unit, causes the managing unit to:

when resolution of the child configuration data and the parent configuration data is triggered:

determine whether the child configuration data is formatted in a manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data; and

when the child configuration data is formatted in the manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data:

incorporate the child configuration data into the parent configuration data.

8. The computer readable memory of claim 7 , wherein the third memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the managing unit, causes the managing unit to:

when the child configuration data is not formatted in the manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data, ignore format inconsistencies between the parent configuration data and the child configuration data; and

incorporate the child configuration data into the parent configuration data minus the format inconsistencies.

9. The computer readable memory of claim 7 , wherein the third memory element further stores operational instructions that, when executed by the managing unit, causes the managing unit to:

when the child configuration data is not formatted in the manner consistent with formatting of the parent configuration data, reject the child configuration data from inclusion in the parent configuration data.

10. The computer readable memory of claim 7 further comprises:

a fourth memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the managing unit, causes the managing unit to:

delegate authority to configure a second sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN to a second designated entity of the DSN according to one or more second configuration constraints; and

a fifth memory element that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the second designated entity, causes the second designated entity to:

manage second child configuration data, wherein the second child configuration data includes a compilation of configuration changes made to the second sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN, wherein the second child configuration data is stored in a third storage container of the DSN, and wherein the second storage container has a second access control list that includes the designated entity and the third storage container has a third access control list that includes the second designated entity.

11. The computer readable memory of claim 7 , wherein the resolution of the child configuration data and the parent configuration data is triggered by one or more of: expiration of a time period, an amount of configuration changes made by the designated entity, and execution of a task relating to the at least a portion of the DSN managed by the managing unit.

12. The computer readable memory of claim 7 , wherein the at least a portion of the DSN includes dispersed storage units and storage pools of the DSN, wherein the sub-portion of the at least a portion of the DSN includes a first storage pool of the storage pools of the DSN, and wherein the one or more configuration constraints include vault configuration.