Using global namespace addressing in a dispersed storage network

A computing device for a distributed storage network (DSN) comprises:

• an interface for interfacing with a network memory;
• and
• a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module is operable to:
• receive, from a requesting entity, a first data object for storage in the DSN, wherein the requesting entity transmitted the first data object to the processing module based on an identifier associated with the first data object;
• store the first data object in the DSN;
• facilitate storage of the first data object in a cache memory according to an address-based map, wherein the first data object and a second data object of a plurality of data objects are stored in the cache memory;
• determine whether to transfer one or more data objects of the plurality of data objects from the cache memory;
• based on a determination to transfer one or more data objects, identify the second data object for the transfer and another processing module to receive the data object;
• initiate a capacity query for the another processing module;
• receive a capacity query response from the another processing module;
• facilitate transfer of the second data object to the another processing module;
• receive, from the another processing module, a transfer confirmation message;
• and
• facilitate updating the address-based map to disassociate the second data object with the another processing module and associate the data object with the another processing module.

A method for execution by a plurality of processing modules of a plurality of computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises:

• receiving at a first processing module of the plurality of processing modules, from a requesting entity, a first data object for storage in the DSN, wherein the requesting entity transmitted the first data object to the processing module based on an identifier associated with the first data object;
• storing, by the first processing module, the first data object in the DSN;
• facilitating, by the first processing module, storage of the first data object in a cache memory according to an address-based map, wherein the first data object and a second data object of a plurality of data objects are stored in the cache memory;
• determining, by the first processing module, whether to transfer one or more data objects of the plurality of data objects from the cache memory;
• based on a determination to transfer one or more data objects, identifying, by the first processing module, the second data object for the transfer and a second processing module of the plurality of processing modules to receive the data object;
• initiating, by the first processing module, a capacity query for the second processing module;
• receiving, by the first processing module, a capacity query response from the second processing module;
• facilitating, by the first processing module, transfer of the second data object to the second processing module;
• receiving, by the first processing module, a transfer confirmation message from the second processing module;
• facilitating, by the first processing module, updating the address-based map to disassociate the second data object from the first processing module and associate the data object with the second processing module;
• receiving, by the second processing module, from the requesting entity, a retrieval request for the second data object wherein the requesting entity transmitted the second data object to the processing module based on an identifier associated with the second data object;
• determining, by the second processing module, whether the second data object is in cache memory;
• based on a determination the second data object is in cache memory, retrieving, by the second processing module, the second data object from cache memory;
• and
• sending, by the second processing module, the second data object to the requesting entity.