Patent ID: 8572282

Claim:
A method for execution by a router, the method comprises: receiving a data packet; determining a destination of the data packet; accessing a routing table based on the destination; determining whether the router has an affiliation with the destination based on the routing table, wherein the destination is a dispersed storage unit of a dispersed storage network and wherein the dispersed storage network has agreed to the affiliation; when the router has the affiliation with the destination, determining whether to temporarily locally store the data packet; when the determination to temporarily locally store the data packet is favorable: locally storing the data packet; and forwarding the data packet to the destination in accordance with a route of the routing table determining that another router does not have an active affiliation with the destination; and when the other router does not have the active affiliation, determining to establish the affiliation with the destination based on one or more of: a destination performance indicator; a maximum number of routes; a minimum number of routes; and an affiliation history record.