Relocating storage unit data in response to detecting hotspots in a dispersed storage network

A processing system of a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit 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:
• generate storage unit heat data based on a plurality of temperature readings received from each of a plurality of storage units, wherein the storage unit heat data indicates a first hot storage unit;
• select a pair of storage units from the plurality of storage units based on the storage unit heat data, wherein the pair of storage units includes the first hot storage unit and a second storage unit;
• and
• generate a data swap request for transmission to the pair of storage units, wherein the data swap request includes an instruction to transfer at least one first data slice from the first hot storage unit to the second storage unit and to transfer at least one second data slice from the second storage unit to the first hot storage unit.

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 dispersed storage network (DSN) that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing system to:
• generate storage unit heat data based on a plurality of temperature readings received from each of a plurality of storage units, wherein the storage unit heat data indicates a first hot storage unit;
• select a pair of storage units from the plurality of storage units based on the storage unit heat data, wherein the pair of storage units includes the first hot storage unit and a second storage unit;
• and
• generate a data swap request for transmission to the pair of storage units, wherein the data swap request includes an instruction to transfer at least one first data slice from the first hot storage unit to the second storage unit and to transfer at least one second data slice from the second storage unit to the first hot storage unit.