Recovering data in a storage network

A processing system of a dispersed storage and task (DST) client module 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 a selected read threshold number of encoded slices of a set of encoded slices stored in a set of storage units, wherein the set of encoded slices corresponding to a data segment;
• issue a selected read threshold number of read slice requests to storage units of the set of storage units, where the selected read threshold number of read slice requests identifies the selected read threshold number of encoded slices of the set of encoded slices;
• receive one or more encoded slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices within a response timeframe;
• when one or more other encoded data slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices is not received within the response timeframe, facilitate receiving another decode threshold number of encoded slices of the set of encoded slices;
• decode the another decode threshold number of encoded slices to produce recovered encoded data slices, where a number of the recovered encoded data slices corresponds to the selected read threshold number minus a number of the one or more encoded slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices received within the response timeframe;
• and
• output the recovered encoded data slices with the one or more encoded slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices received within the response timeframe.

A 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 a selected read threshold number of encoded slices of a set of encoded slices stored in a set of storage units, wherein the set of encoded slices corresponding to a data segment;
• issue a selected read threshold number of read slice requests to storage units of the set of storage units, where the selected read threshold number of read slice requests identifies the selected read threshold number of encoded slices of the set of encoded slices;
• receive one or more encoded slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices within a response timeframe;
• when one or more other encoded data slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices is not received within the response timeframe, facilitate receiving another decode threshold number of encoded slices of the set of encoded slices;
• decode the another decode threshold number of encoded slices to produce recovered encoded data slices, where a number of the recovered encoded data slices corresponds to the selected read threshold number minus a number of the one or more encoded slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices received within the response timeframe;
• and
• output the recovered encoded data slices with the one or more encoded slices of the selected read threshold number of encoded slices received within the response timeframe.