Metadata management system for an information dispersed storage system

An apparatus comprises:

• a processing module operably coupled to:
• receive a request to create a file, wherein the request includes an identity of a user;
• create, or update, system level metadata based on the identity of the user;
• create, or update, user level metadata of the user to include data regarding the file;
• create file level metadata regarding the file that includes a plurality of file slices;
• create slice level metadata regarding the plurality of file slices;
• and
• generate a data storage message that identifies at least one of the plurality of storage nodes that will store at least one of the plurality of file slices;
• and
• a network interface operably couple to:
• convert the data storage message into a network data storage message;
• and
• transmit the network data storage message.

An data storage node comprises:

• a network interface operably coupled to:
• receive a network data storage message;
• and
• convert the network data storage message into a data storage message;
• memory;
• and
• a processing module operably coupled to:
• interpret the data storage message to identify at least one of a plurality of file slices and to determine a file slice level data storage transaction request;
• accessing data space metadata to determine whether file slice specific metadata exists for the at least one of the plurality of file slices;
• when the file slice specific metadata exists for the at least one of the plurality of file slices, access the memory to execute the file slice level data storage transaction request on the at least one of the plurality of file slices;
• and
• update the file slice specific metadata when the file slice level data storage transaction request has been executed.