Coordination of task execution in a distributed storage network

A computing device comprises:

• at least one network interface;
• memory that stores operational instructions;
• and
• processing circuitry operably coupled to the at least one network interface and to the memory, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to execute the operational instructions to:
• receive, via the at least one network interface, a maintenance task to be performed by a plurality of storage units of a storage network, wherein the maintenance task does not include a user data allocation request, and wherein an execution of the maintenance task by a particular storage unit of the plurality of storage units results in temporary unavailability of the particular storage unit for performing a request to store data;
• determine the availability of processing resources of storage units of the plurality of storage units for execution of the received maintenance task;
• compare the respective availability of the processing resources of the storage units of the plurality of storage units to identify a storage unit for execution of the received maintenance task;
• and
• allocate, via the at least one network interface, the received maintenance task to the identified storage unit of the plurality of storage units.

A computer readable storage medium comprises:

• at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a storage network, causes the one or more computing devices to:
• receive a maintenance task to be performed by a plurality of storage units of the storage network, wherein the maintenance task does not include a user data allocation request, and wherein an execution of the maintenance task by a particular storage unit of the plurality of storage units results in temporary unavailability of the particular storage unit to perform a user data allocation request;
• determine the availability of processing resources of storage units of the plurality of storage units for execution of the received maintenance task;
• compare the respective availability of the processing resources of the storage units of the plurality of storage units to identify a storage unit for execution of the received maintenance task;
• and
• allocate the received maintenance task to the identified storage unit of the plurality of storage units.