Utilizing memories of different operational speeds in a vast storage network

A method for execution by a computing device, the method comprising:

• receiving, via an interface of the computing device configured to interface and communicate with a storage network, a data access request for an encoded data slice associated with a data object;
• determining whether the encoded data slice is stored in a first memory;
• and
• in response to a determination that the encoded data slice is not stored in the first memory:
• issuing another data access request for the encoded data slice to a second memory, wherein the first memory includes access characteristics that are faster than the second memory, wherein the first memory and the second memory are associated with a same storage unit;
• receiving a data access response from the second memory, wherein the data access response includes the encoded data slice;
• and
• transmitting a response, via the storage network, wherein the response includes the encoded data slice.

A non-transient computer readable medium containing program instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of:

• receiving, via an interface of the computing device configured to interface and communicate with a storage network, a data access request for an encoded data slice associated with a data object;
• determining whether the encoded data slice is stored in the first memory;
• and
• in response to a determination that the encoded data slice is not stored in the first memory:
• issuing another data access request for the encoded data slice to a second memory, wherein the first memory and the second memory are associated with a same storage unit, wherein the first memory includes access characteristics that are faster than the second memory;
• receiving a data access response from the second memory, wherein the data access response includes the encoded data slice;
• and
• transmitting a response, via the storage network, wherein the response includes the encoded data slice.