Zone storage optimization using predictive protocol patterns

A computer program product, the computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage media having program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions executable to:

• receive data for storage in a dispersed storage network;
• write the data to a first location;
• generate a first pointer to the first location;
• receive updated data that is an updated version of the data;
• write the updated data to a second location;
• generate a second pointer to the second location;
• and
• delete the first pointer at a time after writing the updated data and generating the second pointer.

A system for performing I/O optimization in a Zone Slice Storage (ZSS) system, the system comprising:

• a dispersed storage unit in a dispersed storage network, the dispersed storage unit comprising a processor, a computer readable memory, one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for execution by the processor, wherein execution of the program instructions cause the dispersed storage unit to update a current version of data with an updated version of the data by:
• generating a first metadata reference to a first storage location containing the current version of data;
• during a persist phase, generating a second metadata reference to a second storage location containing the updated version of the data;
• and
• in a finalize phase, deleting the first metadata reference.