Ensuring consistency between content and metadata with intents

A storage unit (SU) comprising:

• an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN);
• memory that stores operational instructions;
• and
• a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the SU based on the operational instructions, is configured to:
• store, based on a first write command that is received via the DSN and via the interface from a computing device, at least one encoded data slice (EDS) of a first set of encoded data slices (EDSs) corresponding to a data object that are distributedly stored in a first plurality of SUs that includes the SU within the DSN, wherein the data object is segmented into a first plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the first plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the first set of EDSs;
• store, based on a second write command that is received via the DSN and via the interface from the computing device or another computing device, an intent message that includes specifications for consistency between the data object and metadata of the data object, wherein a second set of EDSs corresponding to the metadata of the data object are distributedly stored in a second plurality of SUs within the DSN, wherein the metadata is segmented into a second plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the second plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with the dispersed error encoding parameters or other dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the second set of EDSs;
• determine a time at or during which to service the intent message;
• service the intent message at or during the time to determine whether the data object and the metadata of the data object are consistent based on the specifications including to determine that the data object and the metadata of the data object are inconsistent based on the specifications when a commit phase or a finalize phase of a 3 phase write process that includes a write phase, the commit phase, and the finalize phase for storage of the first set of EDSs corresponding to the data object within the first plurality of SUs that includes the SU within the DSN or the second set of EDSs corresponding to the metadata of the data object within the second plurality of SUs within the DSN is determined to have failed;
• when the data object and the metadata of the data object are determined to be consistent based on the service the intent message, delete the intent message that is stored in the SU;
• and
• when the data object and the metadata of the data object are determined to be inconsistent based on the service the intent message, eliminate inconsistency between the data object and the metadata of the data object within the DSN.

A method for execution by a storage unit (SU), the method comprising:

• storing, based on a first write command from a computing device that is received via an interface of the SU that is configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN), at least one encoded data slice (EDS) of a first set of encoded data slices (EDSs) corresponding to a data object that are distributedly stored in a first plurality of SUs that includes the SU within the DSN, wherein the data object is segmented into a first plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the first plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the first set of EDSs;
• storing, based on a second write command from the computing device or another computing device that is received via the interface of the SU, an intent message that includes specifications for consistency between the data object and metadata of the data object, wherein a second set of EDSs corresponding to the metadata of the data object are distributedly stored in a second plurality of SUs within the DSN, wherein the metadata is segmented into a second plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the second plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with the dispersed error encoding parameters or other dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the second set of EDSs;
• servicing the intent message to determine whether the data object and the metadata of the data object are consistent based on the specifications;
• when the data object and the metadata of the data object are determined to be consistent based on the service the intent message, deleting the intent message that is stored in the SU;
• and
• when the data object and the metadata of the data object are determined to be inconsistent based on the service the intent message, eliminating inconsistency between the data object and the metadata of the data object within the DSN.