Recovering data copies in a dispersed storage network

A processing system of a first 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 perform operations including:
• storing data as one or more first sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units, the one or more first sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a first information dispersal algorithm having a first decode threshold number;
• storing data as one or more second sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units, the one or more second sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a second information dispersal algorithm having a second decode threshold number;
• recovering the data stored as the one or more first sets of encoded data slices by:
• identifying the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on an identifier of the data;
• initiating retrieval of a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices in accordance with a first recovery approach;
• when a recovery time frame expires prior to receiving a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices:
• selecting a second data recovery approach that differs from the first recovery approach;
• recovering a sufficient number of encoded data slices in accordance with the second data recovery approach;
• and
• dispersed storage error decoding the sufficient number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data.

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 perform operations including:
• storing data as one or more first sets of encoded data slices in a set of storage units, the one or more first sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a first information dispersal algorithm having a first decode threshold number;
• storing data as one or more second sets of encoded data slices in the set of storage units, the one or more second sets of encoded data slices encoded utilizing a second information dispersal algorithm having a second decode threshold number;
• recovering the data stored as the one or more first sets of encoded data slices by:
• identifying the one or more second sets of encoded data slices based on an identifier of the data;
• initiating retrieval of a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices in accordance with a first recovery approach;
• when a recovery time frame expires prior to receiving a second decode threshold number of encoded data slices of each of the one or more second sets of encoded data slices:
• selecting a second data recovery approach that differs from the first recovery approach;
• recovering a sufficient number of encoded data slices in accordance with the second data recovery approach;
• and
• dispersed storage error decoding the sufficient number of encoded data slices to produce recovered data.