Pre-positioning pre-stored content in a content distribution system

A computing device of a group of computing devices of a storage network, the computing device comprises:

• an interface;
• a local memory;
• and
• a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory, wherein the processing module is configured to:
• select a plurality of network edge units for staging public pillar encoded data slices;
• identify target content for partial download to the plurality of network edge units;
• identify public pillars corresponding to the target content for partial download, wherein the target content is encoded as a pillar width set of encoded data slices including the public pillar encoded data slices and private pillar encoded data slices;
• determine a partial downloading schedule for sending the public pillar encoded data slices to each network edge unit of the plurality of network edge units;
• and
• facilitate partial downloading of the target content by facilitating sending of the public pillar encoded data slices to each network edge unit of the plurality of network edge units.

A system including a storage network, the system comprises:

• an interface;
• a local memory;
• and
• a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory, wherein the processing module is configured to:
• select a plurality of network edge units for staging public pillar encoded data slices;
• identify target content for partial download to the plurality of network edge units;
• identify public pillars corresponding to the target content for partial download, wherein the target content is encoded as a pillar width set of encoded data slices including the public pillar encoded data slices and private pillar encoded data slices;
• determine a partial downloading schedule for sending the public pillar encoded data slices to each network edge unit of the plurality of network edge units;
• and
• facilitate partial downloading of the target content by facilitating sending of the public pillar encoded data slices to each network edge unit of the plurality of network edge units.