Dispersed Storage Network Data Slicing for Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer storage systems face challenges with data integrity and security due to the failure of memory devices, particularly those using physical movement technologies, which can lead to data loss and increased maintenance demands, as well as security risks from redundant data copies.
Innovation Solution
A distributed storage network (DSN) system that employs error coding dispersal storage to partition data into slices, which are then stored across multiple geographically diverse locations, allowing for reliable and secure data retrieval even in the event of device failures, using a dispersed storage network (DSN) with error-coded data slices stored across multiple DS units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant data copies are stored for data integrity, then data reliability is improved, but security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into multiple slices and distributes them across different storage locations. Instead of storing complete redundant copies, the system divides data into fragments (slices) and stores them separately, so that no single location contains a complete copy. This segmentation approach maintains data reliability through distribution while reducing security risks associated with complete redundant copies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by storing different slices of data at different geographic locations with varying security characteristics. Each slice is stored in a location optimized for its specific requirements, allowing the system to balance reliability and security locally at each storage node while maintaining overall system integrity.
2Reliability
If multiple redundant copies are stored for data protection, then data availability is improved, but maintenance demands increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting data into slices distributed across multiple locations, the system reduces maintenance demands compared to storing complete redundant copies. When maintenance is needed, only specific slices require attention rather than entire data copies, making the system easier to maintain while preserving data availability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If data is partitioned and distributed across multiple locations, then security is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into slices and distributes them across multiple locations, improving security through geographic distribution and reduced attack surface. While this increases system complexity, the modular nature of slice-based storage allows for manageable complexity through standardized operations on individual slices rather than complex whole-data management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs universal slice operations that can be applied across all distributed data slices regardless of location. This multi-functionality approach allows the same security and retrieval mechanisms to work uniformly across all slices, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from location-specific management procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system includes a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) processing units operable to receive a continuous data stream, simultaneously disperse storage error encode the continuous data stream to produce a plurality of encoded data slices and store the plurality of encoded data slices in a DS memory.