Global coordination of multiple distributed storage network (dsn) memories

Abstract

A distributed storage network (DSN) includes multiple distributed computing systems including DSN memories. The DSN memories include distributed storage and task processing network (DSTN) managing units. The DSTN managing units initiate connections with a coordination unit that is part of the DSN by periodically sending messages to the coordination unit. The coordination unit transmits a coordination message to each DSTN managing unit that initiates a connection. Each of the DSTN managing units processes the coordination message, in some cases assisting in completion of tasks indicated in the coordination message, and transmits a response to the coordination unit. The coordination unit makes the responses from the DSTN managing units available for use by other applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for use in a dispersed storage network (DSN) including a plurality of distributed computing systems, each computing system including a DSN memory, the method comprising:
 initiating connections between a coordination unit and a plurality of managing units associated with the plurality of distributed computing systems, the connections initiated based on messages transmitted from the plurality of managing units to the coordination unit;   in response to initiation of each connection between the coordination unit and a particular managing unit, transmitting a coordination message from the coordination unit to the particular managing unit;   receiving, at the coordination unit, a plurality of responses to a plurality of coordination messages from a plurality of particular managing units; and   at the coordination unit, making the responses transmitted by the plurality of managing units available for use by other applications.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordination message includes:
 at least one request specifying an information gathering task to be executed by a distributed computing system associated with the particular managing unit.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the information gathering task includes:
 collecting logs for a DSN memory associated with the particular managing unit.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coordination message includes:
 a software update to be installed at a distributed computing system associated with the particular managing unit.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the coordination unit obtains software updates for each of the plurality of distributed computing systems; and wherein   at least of the coordination messages includes a software update applicable to a particular distributed computing system.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to initiation of each connection, the coordination unit records at least a fingerprint of a public key associated with the particular managing unit.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the coordination unit requiring authentication of each managing unit attempting to initiate a connection with the coordination unit.   
     
     
         8 . A processing system configured to implement a distributed storage network (DSN) memory, the processing system comprising:
 at least one computing core and associated memory configured to implement a distributed storage and task processing network (DSTN) managing unit coupled to a distributed storage network (DSN);   the DSTN managing unit configured to:
 initiate connections with a coordination unit included in the DSN and coupled to a plurality of DSN memories, each of the DSN memories including a DSTN managing unit; 
 receive coordination messages from the coordination unit, the coordination messages indicating tasks to be performed relating to the DSN memory; 
 assist the processing system to perform the tasks indicated by the coordination messages; and 
 transmit responses associated with the tasks indicated by the coordination message to the coordination unit. 
   
     
     
         9 . The processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the coordination messages include:
 at least one request specifying an information gathering task to be executed by the DSN memory.   
     
     
         10 . The processing system of  claim 9 , wherein the information gathering task includes:
 collecting logs for the DSN memory.   
     
     
         11 . The processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the coordination message includes:
 configuration parameters; and   the DSTN managing unit applies the configuration parameters to the DSN memory.   
     
     
         12 . The processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the coordination message includes:
 a software update to be installed at the DSN memory.   
     
     
         13 . The processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the DSTN managing unit is further configured to:
 initiate the connections at periodic intervals.   
     
     
         14 . The processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the DSTN managing unit is further configured to:
 in response to initiation of each connection, provide a public key to the coordination unit, wherein the coordination unit records at least a fingerprint of the public key.   
     
     
         15 . A distributed storage network (DSN) comprising:
 a plurality distributed computing systems implementing a plurality of DSN memories, each of the plurality of DSN memories including a DSTN managing unit;   a coordination unit coupled to the DSTN managing unit included in each of the plurality of DSN memories;   the DSTN managing unit included in each of the plurality of DSN memories including a computing core and configured to:
 initiate connections with the coordination unit included in the DSN and coupled to a plurality of DSN memories, each of the DSN memories including a DSTN managing unit; 
 receive coordination messages from the coordination unit; 
 assist an associated one of the plurality of DSN memories to perform tasks indicated by the coordination messages; and 
 transmit responses associated with the tasks indicated by the coordination message to the coordination unit. 
   the coordination unit comprising a computing core, the coordination unit configured to:
 respond to initiation of each connection between the coordination unit and a particular managing unit by transmitting a coordination message from the coordination unit to the particular managing unit; 
 receive a plurality of responses to a plurality of coordination messages from a plurality of particular managing units; and 
 make the responses transmitted by the plurality of managing units available for use by other applications. 
   
     
     
         16 . The distributed storage network of  claim 15 , wherein the coordination unit is further configured to:
 generate a list of one or more requests specifying an information gathering task to be executed by a distributed computing system associated with the particular managing unit; and wherein   the coordination message includes at least one request from the list.   
     
     
         17 . The distributed storage network of  claim 16 , wherein the coordination unit is further configured to:
 generate the list for the particular managing unit based on a response to a coordination message received from a different managing unit.   
     
     
         18 . The distributed storage network of  claim 15 , wherein the coordination message includes:
 a software update to be installed at a distributed computing system associated with the particular managing unit.   
     
     
         19 . The distributed storage network of  claim 18 , wherein the coordination unit is further configured to:
 obtain software updates for each of the plurality of distributed computing systems; and wherein   at least one of the coordination messages includes a software update applicable to a particular distributed computing system.   
     
     
         20 . The distributed storage network of  claim 15 , wherein the coordination unit is further configured to:
 require authentication of each managing unit attempting to initiate a connection with the coordination unit.