Cycling out dispersed storage processing units from access pools to perform expensive operations

A computer readable memory comprises:

• a first memory that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a dispersed storage (DS) processing unit of a plurality of DS processing units of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the DS processing unit to:
• identify a DSN operation to be performed that will adversely interfere with processing of DSN access requests;
• send a suspension request to a process balancing module of the DSN, wherein the suspension request is for temporarily suspending processing of DSN access requests;
• and
• a second memory that stores operational instructions that, when executed by the process balancing module, causes the process balancing module to:
• determine whether sufficient processing resources of active DS processing units of the plurality of DS processing units are available for processing DSN access requests on behalf of the DS processing unit;
• and
• when determined that sufficient processing resources are available:
• grant the suspension request;
• and
• allocate DSN access requests of the DS processing unit to one of more of the active DS processing units.