Managing data container instances in a dispersed storage network

A processing system of a container instance manager (CIM) comprises:

• at least one processor;
• a memory that stores operational instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor cause the processing system to:
• determine to create a new instance of a first data container, wherein the first data container is stored in a first memory location;
• facilitate creation of the new instance of the first data container for storage in a second memory location in response to the determining to create the new instance;
• determine to remove a duplicate instance of a second data container, wherein determining to remove the duplicate instance of the second data container includes evaluating a plurality of duplicate instances of the second data container and selecting the duplicate instance from the plurality of duplicate instances in response to determining at least one of:
• the duplicate instance has a smallest amount of free space of the plurality of duplicate instances or the duplicate instance has a most expensive bandwidth of the plurality of duplicate instances;
• and
• facilitate deletion of the duplicate instance of the second data container from memory in response to the determining to remove the duplicate instance.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises:

• at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a dispersed storage network (DSN) that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing system to:
• determine to create a new instance of a first data container, wherein the first data container is stored in a first memory location;
• facilitate creation of the new instance of the first data container for storage in a second memory location in response to the determining to create the new instance;
• determine to remove a duplicate instance of a second data container wherein determining to remove the duplicate instance of the second data container includes evaluating a plurality of duplicate instances of the second data container and selecting the duplicate instance from the plurality of duplicate instances in response to determining at least one of:
• the duplicate instance has a smallest amount of free space of the plurality of duplicate instances or the duplicate instance has a most expensive bandwidth of the plurality of duplicate instances;
• and
• facilitate deletion of the duplicate instance of the second data container from memory in response to the determining to remove the duplicate instance.