Storing data and associated metadata in a dispersed storage network

A dispersed storage processing unit of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the dispersed storage processing unit comprises:

• an interface;
• a local memory;
• and
• a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory to generate metadata for a data object;
• a first dispersed storage error encoder to encode the metadata to produce a set of metadata slices, wherein the first disperse storage error encoder utilizes first dispersal parameters to store metadata, the first dispersal parameters including a decode threshold of 1;
• a data partitioner to partition the data object to produce a plurality of data segments;
• the first dispersed storage error encoder encoding at least a first data segment of the plurality of data segments to produce a first set of encoded data slices, wherein the first dispersed storage error encoder utilizes the first dispersal parameters of the metadata, the first dispersal parameters including a decode threshold of 1;
• second dispersed storage error encoder encoding additional data segments of the plurality of data segments to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, wherein the additional data segments do not include the at least a first data segment and wherein the second dispersed storage error encoder utilizes second dispersal parameters, the second dispersal parameters different from the first dispersal parameters and including a decode threshold greater than 1;
• and
• a grouping selector facilitating storage of the set of metadata slices, the first set of encoded data slices and the plurality of sets of encoded data slices in one or more storage units of the DSN;
• and
• wherein subsequent accessing of the set of metadata slices reproduces the metadata and the first data segment of the data object, making the first data segment of the data object available for use by one or more computing devices while continuing to retrieve the additional data segments from the DSN.

A storage unit in a dispersed storage network (DSN) comprises:

• a grouping de-selector facilitating retrieval of a set of encoded metadata slices and a plurality of sets of encoded data slices from one or more storage units of the DSN;
• a first dispersed storage error decoder decoding the set of encoded metadata slices to produce metadata, wherein the first dispersed storage error decoder utilizes first dispersal parameters including a decode threshold of 1;
• the first dispersed storage error decoder further decoding at least a first set of encoded data slices to produce at least a first data segment of a plurality of data segments, wherein the first disperse storage error decoder utilizes the first dispersal parameters of the set of encoded metadata slices including a decode threshold of 1;
• a second dispersed storage error decoder decoding additional ones of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices data segments to produce a plurality of additional data segments, wherein the additional data segments do not include the at least a first data segment and wherein the second disperse storage error decoder utilizes second dispersal parameters, the second dispersal parameters different from the first dispersal parameters and including a decode threshold greater than 1;
• and
• a data de-partitioner combining the at least a first data segment with the plurality of additional data segments to produce a data object;
• and
• wherein accessing of the set of encoded metadata slices reproduces the metadata and the first data segment of the data object, making the first data segment of the data object available for use by the one or more computing devices while continuing to retrieve the additional data segments from the DSN.