Re-encoding data in a storage network based on addition of additional storage units

A processing system of a computing device 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:
• encode data in accordance with a width parameter to produce a first set of data slices that includes a first number of data slices based on a value of the width parameter;
• store the data based on maintaining storage of the first set of data slices in a first plurality of selected locations across a set of storage units of a storage pool;
• maintain storage of the first set of data slices in the set of storage units of the storage pool after addition of an additional set of storage units added to the storage pool;
• increase the value of the width parameter to an increased value, based on an expanded set of storage units of the storage pool that includes the additional set of storage units added to the storage pool, to produce an updated width parameter;
• re-encode the data in accordance with the updated width parameter to produce a second set of data slices that includes a second number of data slices based on the increased value of the updated width parameter, wherein the second number of data slices is strictly greater than the first number of data slices based on the increased value of the updated width parameter being strictly greater than the value of the width parameter;
• and
• re-store the data based on maintaining storage of the second set of data slices in a second plurality of selected locations across the expanded set of storage units of the storage pool, wherein the second plurality of selected locations includes a greater number of locations than the first plurality of selected locations based on the second number of data slices being strictly greater than the first number of data slices.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises:

• at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing system of a storage network that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing system to:
• encode data in accordance with a width parameter to produce a first set of data slices that includes a first number of data slices based on a value of the width parameter;
• store the data based on maintaining storage of the first set of data slices in a first plurality of different locations across a set of storage units of a storage pool;
• maintain storage of the first set of data slices in the set of storage units of the storage pool after addition of an additional set of storage units added to the storage pool;
• increase the value of the width parameter to an increased value, based on an expanded set of storage units of the storage pool that includes the additional set of storage units added to the storage pool, to produce an updated width parameter;
• re-encode the data in accordance with the updated width parameter to produce a second set of data slices that includes a second number of data slices based on the increased value of the updated width parameter, wherein the second number of data slices is strictly greater than the first number of data slices based on the increased value of the updated width parameter being strictly greater than the value of the width parameter;
• and
• re-store the data based on maintaining storage of the second set of data slices in a second plurality of different locations across the expanded set of storage units of the storage pool, wherein the second plurality of different locations includes a greater number of locations than the first plurality of different locations based on the second number of data slices being strictly greater than the first number of data slices.