Virtualization of storage units in a dispersed storage network

A storage unit for use in a dispersed storage network (DSN), the storage unit comprises:

• a network interface;
• at least one connection interface;
• a memory comprising instructions;
• and
• one or more processing modules in communication with the network interface, the at least one connection interface, and the memory, wherein the one or more processing modules execute the instructions to:
• receive, via the network interface, a set of write slice requests including a set of encoded data slices to be stored in the DSN and further including a set of slice names corresponding to the set of encoded data slices, wherein at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices is required to recover a corresponding data segment;
• identify a set of storage devices of a plurality of storage devices for storage of the set of encoded data slices, wherein the plurality of storage devices includes one or more memory devices of the storage unit and one or more temporary memory devices accessible by the storage unit via the at least one connection interface;
• store the set of encoded data slices in the identified set of storage devices;
• generate a set of write slice responses relating to the set of encoded data slices;
• and
• output, via the network interface, the set of write slice responses for receipt by a requesting entity.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises:

• at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by one or more processing modules of a storage unit of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the one or more processing modules to:
• receive a set of write slice requests including a set of encoded data slices to be stored in the DSN and further including a set of slice names corresponding to the set of encoded data slices, wherein at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices is required to recover a corresponding data segment;
• identify a set of storage devices of a plurality of storage devices for storage of the set of encoded data slices, wherein the plurality of storage devices includes one or more memory devices of the storage unit and one or more temporary memory devices accessible by the storage unit;
• store the set of encoded data slices in the identified set of storage devices;
• generate a set of write slice responses relating to the set of encoded data slices;
• and
• output the set of write slice responses for receipt by a requesting entity.